Family Sponsorship Update — August 13, 2026
Thursday, August 13, 2026
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) has been paused as of July 15, 2026 — IRCC is not accepting new interest to sponsor forms or inviting potential sponsors to apply until further notice, though existing applications continue to be processed.
As of August 10, 2026, PGP processing times have improved, and the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) wait time dropped from 7 to 6 months; the base Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) was the only category to see timelines lengthen.
Spousal and dependent child sponsorship processing times have been declining; spouses/partners waiting outside Canada can apply for a visitor visa and, if approved, an open work permit (OWP) upon arrival in Canada.
What You Should Do
- If you were planning to submit an interest to sponsor form for the Parents and Grandparents Program, do not submit — the program is paused as of July 15, 2026. Monitor the official page at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/sponsor-parents-grandparents.html for reopening announcements.
- If your parents or grandparents need to visit Canada while the PGP is paused, consider the Super Visa option, which allows stays of up to 5 years at a time with 2-year in-Canada extensions. Check eligibility at canada.ca.
- If you are sponsoring a spouse or partner and their PR application is in progress, advise them to apply for a visitor visa now so they can join you in Canada sooner. Once in Canada on a visitor visa, they can apply for an open work permit (OWP). Instructions are at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children/track-update-application.html.
- If you are sponsoring a spouse, partner, or child, ensure the sponsored person completes biometrics within 30 days of receiving IRCC's biometrics letter. They must bring the letter and their passport to a biometric collection site.
- Check the latest processing times for your specific application type at ircc.canada.ca/english/information/times/index.asp — as of August 10, 2026, FSWP is now 6 months and spousal sponsorship times are trending downward.
Sources
Topics Covered
Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: Spousal and dependent child sponsorship processing times have been trending downward as of early 2026, and spouses outside Canada now have a clear pathway to join sponsors sooner via visitor visa and open work permit.
Parents and Grandparents Program Regional Disparities: The PGP was paused on July 15, 2026, with no new interest to sponsor forms being accepted and no timeline given for reopening. Existing applications continue to be processed.
How these topics connect
- RelatedParents and Grandparents Program Regional Disparities→Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements
Applicants sponsoring family members destined for Quebec face compounding disadvantages across both spousal and parent/grandparent categories, suggesting the Canada-Quebec Accord's dual-assessment structure is the common structural bottleneck — regardless of the family class category being sponsored.
More Family Sponsorship Updates
Family Sponsorship Update — August 10, 2026
Aug 10, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — August 3, 2026
Aug 3, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — July 30, 2026
Jul 30, 2026
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