For Ahmed Tila, Canada’s decision to keep the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) closed through 2026 has added fresh uncertainty to an already difficult personal journey. The continued suspension, first announced in 2025 has intensified his fear of being permanently separated from his closest family members.
Explaining what the program means to him on a deeply personal level, Tila said to City News, “I have no wife, no children. Basically, my parents and siblings are all I have in terms of family. So it would be a very strong incentive for me to have them join me here while they still physically can.” The video was shared on X by a journalist, Harrison Faulkner.
Tila added that the prolonged pause has left him questioning how long he may have to wait for reunification, particularly as his parents grow older and travel becomes more difficult.
As the suspension continues, Canadian immigration authorities have said they will process only those applications submitted before 2025, with a cap of 10,000 cases. The Parents and Grandparents Program remain closed to new applicants, with no clear timeline for reopening.
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With permanent sponsorship options unavailable, immigration experts are urging families to explore Canada’s super visa as an alternative. While the super visa does not provide permanent residency, it allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time and can be renewed, making it the only viable pathway for temporary family reunification.
Canadian officials have cited a significant application backlog as the main reason for extending the program’s suspension. By the end of 2023, more than 40,000 sponsorship applications were still pending, prompting the government to halt new intakes in 2025 to focus on clearing existing cases. That pause, authorities have confirmed, will remain in effect throughout 2026.
After formally closing the program to new submissions on January 1, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) turned to a pool of potential sponsors who had submitted an interest to sponsor form in 2020. Invitations for the 2025 intake were issued between July 28 and October 9, 2025. During that period, IRCC said it sent out 17,860 invitations over roughly two weeks, with the goal of receiving 10,000 complete applications.
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The Parents and Grandparents Program was designed to help immigrants who have settled in Canada reunite with their immediate family members. Under the program, permanent residents and Canadian citizens can sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency, allowing them to live and work in Canada and access provincial healthcare.
Sponsors are required to commit to financially supporting their parents or grandparents for 20 years from the date they become permanent residents, ensuring they do not rely on public assistance. The tightening of the program also comes as Canada moves to reduce overall immigration levels. The federal government has said it plans to cut new permanent resident admissions by four percent compared with last year, targeting approximately 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026.