Figures on this page come from IRCC's official notices and webpages on the Parents and Grandparents Program and the Super Visa, current as of July 2026. Pause dates, income rules and insurance requirements can change; always verify directly with IRCC before applying.
- IRCC paused new PGP applications and interest to sponsor forms on July 15, 2026, until further notice
- IRCC still plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026, from files already on hand
- Super Visa: multiple entries over up to 10 years, with stays of up to 5 years at a time
- A Super Visa stay can be extended by up to 2 years at a time without leaving Canada
- Super Visa insurance must provide at least $100,000 in coverage, valid for at least 1 year from entry
- Super Visa application fees start from $100
Is the Parents and Grandparents Program open in 2026?
Not for new applicants. On July 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced it is pausing the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program. The notice says IRCC will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice, and it gives no date for when intake will reopen.
Families already in the system are not affected the same way. IRCC says it will continue to process applications it has already received, and the department still plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026. In other words, the pipeline of existing files keeps moving. What has stopped is the door for anyone who has not yet submitted an interest to sponsor form or received an invitation to apply.
For Saskatchewan families who were hoping to start a PGP sponsorship this year, that leaves a real gap. IRCC's own notice points to one route that stays open year-round: the Super Visa.
What is the Super Visa, and how is it different from the PGP?
The Super Visa is a temporary resident visa built specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians. IRCC's own description is that parents and grandparents "continue to be able to visit their children and grandchildren in Canada through the super visa" while PGP intake is paused.
The core difference is status, not just paperwork. A PGP sponsorship that succeeds ends in permanent residence. A Super Visa does not. It grants visitor status, renewable and long-lasting, but visitor status all the same. A Super Visa holder cannot work or study in Canada without a separate permit, and the visa does not itself lead to permanent residence. For some families that is a real limitation. For others, particularly those who simply want a parent or grandparent to be present for an extended stretch, often years at a time, it solves the practical problem the PGP pause has created.
Who qualifies for a Super Visa, and what does it require?
Two people are assessed: the Canadian host and the visiting parent or grandparent.
The host must be the applicant's biological or adopted child or grandchild, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, at least 18 years old, and living in Canada. The host must meet IRCC's minimum necessary income test and must write and sign a letter inviting the parent or grandparent and promising financial support during the visit.
The visiting parent or grandparent must apply from outside Canada, be admissible, carry qualifying private health insurance, and complete an immigration medical exam. IRCC also assesses whether the applicant is a genuine visitor who intends to leave at the end of the authorized stay, looking at ties to the home country, the purpose of the visit, and family and financial circumstances. Dependants cannot be added to a Super Visa application.
The insurance requirement is specific and strictly enforced. IRCC requires a policy from a Canadian insurance company, or from a foreign insurer the minister has approved, providing a minimum of $100,000 in coverage. The policy must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, must be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry, and must be paid in full or through instalments with a deposit. A quote is not accepted as proof. Border officers can ask to see the policy on arrival, so it needs to be in hand, not just purchased in principle.
How long can a Super Visa holder stay in Canada?
This is where the Super Visa earns its name. IRCC allows multiple entries over a period of up to 10 years, with each stay lasting up to 5 years at a time. That is far beyond the roughly 6 months a standard visitor is typically granted. And if 5 years is not enough, a Super Visa holder already in Canada can apply for an extension of up to 2 years at a time without leaving the country, as long as the visa is still valid and the conditions continue to be met.
Application fees for the Super Visa start from $100, a modest cost next to the time it buys. What it does not buy is a path to permanent residence. Families weighing the Super Visa against waiting for PGP intake to reopen need to be clear-eyed about that trade-off from the start.
What should Saskatchewan families do while the PGP is paused?
With no reopening date announced, waiting indefinitely is not a plan on its own. A few things are worth doing now. First, confirm whether the income and insurance requirements for a Super Visa are realistic for your household before you commit to the application, since a refusal on either point is costly to fix after the fact. Second, keep an eye on IRCC's official PGP page rather than relying on secondhand reports, since the notice gives no date for when intake will reopen. Third, remember that the Super Visa is not the only family sponsorship route available. If your situation involves a spouse, partner or child rather than a parent or grandparent, different rules and spousal and family sponsorship timelines apply, and those intakes are not affected by the PGP pause.
We cannot promise an outcome on any application, and nothing here should be read as a guarantee. What we can do is look at your family's specific facts, income and timeline and tell you plainly whether a Super Visa application is likely to succeed before you spend the money and time on it. Our family sponsorship team handles both routes. For more on how the pause itself unfolded, see our earlier coverage of Canada's July 2026 decision to pause new PGP sponsorships.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Parents and Grandparents Program accepting new applications in 2026?
No. IRCC paused intake of new Parents and Grandparents Program applications on July 15, 2026, and says it will not accept new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice. IRCC is still processing applications it already received and plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the program in 2026.
What is the main difference between the Super Visa and the PGP?
The PGP leads to permanent residence. The Super Visa is a temporary resident visa: it lets a parent or grandparent visit and stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time, with multiple entries over a period of up to 10 years, but it does not grant status to live in Canada permanently and does not authorize work or study.
How much does Super Visa health insurance need to cover?
IRCC requires a minimum of $100,000 in coverage from a Canadian insurance company or a foreign insurer approved by the minister. The policy must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and must stay valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry.
Sources: CIC News, January 2026 and CIC News, August 2025; IRCC, notice on managing the Parents and Grandparents Program and Super Visa program page. This article provides general information, not legal advice.