Ottawa closes doors on elderly parent, grandparent immigration applications in 2026
Canada is slamming the door shut on new applications to its parental and grandparental immigration sponsorship program in 2026, meaning the government will stop family reunification for those hoping t
Canada is slamming the door shut on new applications to its parental and grandparental immigration sponsorship program in 2026, meaning the government will stop family reunification for those hoping to bring their elderly relatives to Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced late last year that it will no longer accept new applicants to its Parents and Grandparents program. The program allowed Canadian citizens and permanent residents to “sponsor” their parents and grandparents to join them in Canada.
The announcement noted the last day to apply was Oct. 9, 2025, and it will not accept new applications in 2026. The government states that this decision will help with the processing of existing applications already in the stream.
Individuals who expressed interest in sponsoring family members living abroad in 2020 were invited to apply for the 2025 intake. The notice states IRCC plans to accept only 10,000 applicants, which is just over 55 per cent of the 17,860 invited to apply.
As a sponsor, applicants agree to financially support the sponsored individuals for 20 years (10 years if they live in Quebec). Financial responsibility takes effect “the day the people they’re sponsoring become permanent residents.”
The agreement ensures that sponsored individuals “won’t need to ask the government for social assistance.” The bulletin states that if a sponsored person receives social assistance, the sponsor must repay the amount and “won’t be able to sponsor anyone else” until the repayment is complete.
IRCC notes that sponsors remain responsible for their parents and grandparents even if the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen, moves “to another province or country,” or faces financial difficulties.
Sponsors enter into an agreement to pay for food, clothing, shelter and other everyday living needs, including healthcare not covered by public health services.
The IRCC was not immediately available for comment.
The government of Canada plans to reduce the total number of new permanent residents in Canada by four per cent from last year, stating it will only grant permanent resident status to a total of 380,000 in 2026.
Sadly too little too late.
Too little... Liberals.
Too late.... Liberals.
Canada's systems, housing, medical and others are already broken pretty much beyond repair.
For that..
Thank Liberal Governance.
In this case Better Late than Never is too late and Never as in NEVER AGAIN is what should have happened to Liberal Governance in the Spring of 2025.
I was wondering why my doctor's waiting room and the hospital emergency room were full of old foreigners, now I know.