Key takeaways

• Canada is not accepting new PGP applications in 2026.
• IRCC can process up to 10,000 cases from the 2025 intake during 2026.
• Nepali families in Canada who were not in the 2025 invited group must wait longer to sponsor parents/grandparents for PR.
• The Super Visa remains the main option for long visits (up to 5 years per stay), but it is not PR.

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Canada will not reopen the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) in 2026, so no new applications to sponsor parents or grandparents for permanent residence will be accepted this year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says it will keep working on older files already in the system. New Ministerial Instructions (MI89), in effect from January 1, 2026, allow IRCC to accept into processing up to 10,000 applications from the 2025 PGP intake during the 2026 calendar year.

The same rules also clearly say no new parent or grandparent permanent residence applications, and no new sponsorship applications, will be received for processing until further instructions are issued.

What this means for Nepali families in Canada

For many Nepali families living in Canada, this slows down a common plan: bringing parents or grandparents as permanent residents so the family can live together long-term.

If you were not already part of the 2025 invited group, you cannot start a new PGP sponsorship file in 2026. That means longer waiting, especially for families who need parents for childcare support or family care.

What this means for Nepalis outside Canada

For parents and grandparents living outside Canada, including in Nepal, it means the PR route through PGP is basically “not available” in 2026. Families may still visit, but permanent reunification through this program is on pause.

What this means for people planning a Canada visa soon

If you are applying soon for student, work, or other pathways, this PGP decision does not change those visa rules directly.

But it does matter for planning. If your long-term plan was “I’ll move to Canada first, then quickly bring my parents through PGP,” that timeline is now delayed at least through 2026.

The main alternative: Super Visa

IRCC continues to point families toward the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.

It is not permanent residence, but it can let parents and grandparents stay up to 5 years per visit, with multiple entries for up to 10 years.

The trade-off is that it’s still a visitor status, and families usually need to arrange private medical insurance and plan for costs during a long stay.

IRCC says it will share details on any next PGP intake when they are available.