Family Sponsorship Update — April 30, 2026
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Family sponsorship processing times declined as of February 2026, with the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) showing notable improvement, while super visa applications from the US saw a 112-day jump in processing time.
The 2025 PGP intake is now closed — 17,860 invitations were sent to 2020 interest-to-sponsor registrants with a goal of 10,000 complete applications; the next intake date has not yet been announced.
As of April 1, 2026, super visa income requirements became more flexible, allowing sponsors of parents and grandparents more options to meet the financial threshold.
What You Should Do
- If you submitted a PGP interest-to-sponsor form in 2020 and were invited to apply in 2025, confirm your application was received before the October 9, 2025 deadline — check your IRCC account at ircc.canada.ca for status updates.
- If you were not invited to apply for the PGP, consider applying for a Super Visa for your parents or grandparents — the new flexible income requirements as of April 1, 2026 may make you newly eligible. Check the updated income thresholds at canada.ca/super-visa.
- Monitor the IRCC website and social media channels for the next PGP intake announcement, as the 2025 intake is closed and the 2026 intake date has not been confirmed.
- If you are a sponsor whose family member is applying for a super visa from the US, account for the current 112-day processing time increase when planning travel — apply well in advance of intended arrival dates.
Sources
Topics Covered
Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: Family sponsorship processing times broadly declined from January to February 2026, with the PGP and other family class categories showing reduced wait times.
Parents and Grandparents Program Regional Disparities: PGP processing times improved in early 2026 while super visa applications from the US saw a 112-day spike. The 2025 intake closed October 9, 2025, with no announced date for the next intake.
More Family Sponsorship Updates
Family Sponsorship Update — June 11, 2026
Jun 11, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — June 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
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