Parents to Canada in 2026: PGP Paused and the New Super Visa Income Rules

For most Indian families in 2026, the realistic way to bring parents to Canada is the Super Visa, not permanent residence. IRCC paused the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) by a notice dated 15 July 2026: no new interest to sponsor forms and no invitations until further notice. Separately, the way IRCC counts income for the Super Visa changed on 31 March 2026, which makes the visa easier to qualify for. This guide sets out what is paused, how the new income and insurance rules work, and what a family can do now.

What Exactly Is Paused in the Parents and Grandparents Program?

IRCC's notice of 15 July 2026 says it is pausing the intake of new applications under the PGP. The PGP page, last modified on 18 August 2026, shows the status as paused.

• Paused: new interest to sponsor forms, invitations to apply, and therefore new sponsorship applications.
• Not paused: processing of applications already submitted. IRCC plans to approve up to 15,000 people through the program in 2026.
• Not stated: an end date. The notice does not mention 2027.

The notice does not describe a "2026 intake" that opened or closed. It describes an open-ended pause. IRCC's 2025 intake notice, dated 16 July 2025, said it would accept up to 10,000 complete applications that year from sponsors who submitted an interest form in 2020, and would not open a new form because of the number still in that pool.

What IRCC Says About 2027

Nothing official promises a reopening. IRCC's levels plan for 2027 to 2029, released on 5 November 2026, lists a Parents and Grandparents target of 15,000 admissions in each year (range 12,000 to 18,000), inside a family class target of 81,000. It gives targets only and does not say whether intake will resume, so do not build a plan around a reopening date.

See our guide to the 2027 to 2029 Immigration Levels Plan and our Parents and Grandparents Program page.

The Super Visa in Brief

The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visa for the parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. From IRCC:

• Length of stay: for applications made on or after 22 June 2023, you can stay 5 years at a time. The visa itself gives multiple entries for a period of up to 10 years.
• Extensions: IRCC's PGP page says Super Visa holders can apply for 2-year extensions while in Canada.
• Fee: CAD 100 per person, plus CAD 85 for biometrics if required. You apply online and must be outside Canada when you submit.
• Dependants: dependants of the parent or grandparent cannot be included.
• Shorter visits: a visitor visa may suit stays of 6 months or less. See our visitor visa page.

The Income Rules That Changed on 31 March 2026

IRCC announced the change on 20 March 2026 and applied it from 31 March 2026, including to applications already in processing. Families who qualified before keep qualifying. There are now two ways to meet the minimum necessary income:

• Option 1, either of two tax years. The host's total income, including the co-signer's if there is one, meets or exceeds the minimum in either of the 2 tax years before the application is submitted. Before the change, IRCC looked only at the year before.
• Option 2, 75% plus the visitor's income. The host's total income, including any co-signer, in the year before the application was at least 75% of the minimum. The parent or grandparent then adds their own income to cover the rest, and the combined amount must meet or exceed the minimum. The visitor must also prove they will keep earning income while in Canada, and the proof must state the currency they are paid in.

Minimum necessary income (IRCC table updated 29 July 2025)

The 75% column is our arithmetic on IRCC's figures. IRCC's table gives the minimum only.

Family size counts the applicants, the host, the host's spouse or common-law partner, their dependent children, and anyone previously approved on a Super Visa or sponsored whose undertaking is still in effect. The host's letter of invitation must show that the host meets the minimum and list each person counted, with names and dates of birth.

Worked arithmetic

Take a host couple with one dependent child, inviting two parents. Family size is 5: two applicants, the host, the spouse and the child. The IRCC minimum for 5 persons is CAD 64,336, and 75% of it is CAD 48,252. If the host's income in the year before applying were CAD 50,000, it would clear 75% but fall CAD 14,336 short (64,336 minus 50,000), and the parents' documented income would need to cover that gap. If the host had reached CAD 64,336 in either of the last two tax years, Option 1 would work with no parental income. The figures are illustrative, not a real file.

For documents, IRCC prefers the CRA notice of assessment for the host or co-signer. For a parent's own income it lists 12 months of pay stubs, an original employer letter, bank statements or other proof such as pension statements or rental property documents. For parents in Gujarat, the practical task is to document that income, and its currency, in a form an officer can read.

Insurance and Medical Requirements

IRCC sets these conditions for the health insurance policy:

• Valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry, with proof of a policy on each entry to Canada.
• Covers the applicant's health care, hospitalization and repatriation, with minimum emergency coverage of CAD 100,000.
• Paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit. Quotes are not accepted.
• Issued by a Canadian insurer, or since 28 January 2025 by a foreign insurer authorised by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), listed on OSFI's public list, and issued under its Canadian insurance business. Brokers and claims administrators do not qualify.

IRCC says holders should have valid cover for the whole stay and may need to renew the policy before they leave. Applicants must also complete an immigration medical exam with a panel physician.

What Indian Families Can Do Now

If your parents already have a PGP application, IRCC says it will continue processing it. Be careful with anyone offering a PGP slot, an invitation or a certain result: IRCC says no one can promise that a visa will be approved, and with the PGP paused such an offer deserves suspicion.

Trade-offs and What Is Not Yet Known

• No path to PR. A Super Visa keeps the family together for long visits. It does not give your parents permanent residence.
• Recurring cost. Insurance must be in force for each entry. The IRCC pages give no premium figure, so get quotes from OSFI-listed insurers.
• Unknown: whether and when the PGP reopens. For Super Visa processing times, use IRCC's processing times tool rather than a fixed figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Parents and Grandparents Program closed in 2026?

IRCC has paused it. Under a notice dated 15 July 2026 it will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors until further notice. Existing applications continue to be processed, and IRCC plans up to 15,000 approvals through the program in 2026.

Will the PGP reopen in 2027?

IRCC has not said. The 2027 to 2029 levels plan keeps a target of 15,000 PGP admissions a year, but it sets targets and does not announce an intake. Watch the PGP page on canada.ca for any change.

What changed in the Super Visa income rules on 31 March 2026?

The host, with any co-signer, can meet the minimum in either of the 2 tax years before applying. Or, if the host reached at least 75% of the minimum in the year before applying, the parent or grandparent can add their own income to cover the rest.

Can my parents' pension count toward the Super Visa income?

Under the 75% option, yes. They must document the income, show that it will continue while they are in Canada, and state the currency they are paid in.

How much health insurance does the Super Visa need?

At least 1 year of cover from the date of entry, including health care, hospitalization and repatriation, with minimum emergency coverage of CAD 100,000. The insurer must be Canadian or an OSFI-authorised foreign insurer listed on OSFI's public list.

How long can my parents stay on a Super Visa?

For applications made on or after 22 June 2023, IRCC says 5 years at a time, with multiple entries over up to 10 years. IRCC also says holders can apply for 2-year extensions while in Canada. It does not lead to permanent residence by itself.