Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor certain family members for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides each application. In 2026 the spouse, partner and child programs are open, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is paused, and the super visa is available as a long-stay visitor option for parents and grandparents.
At a glance (as of 10 October 2026)
| Program | Status | What it leads to |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner | Open | Permanent residence |
| Dependent children | Open | Permanent residence |
| Parents and grandparents (PGP) | Paused since 15 July 2026 | Permanent residence |
| Parent and grandparent super visa | Open | Long-term visits (temporary status) |
Spouses, partners and dependent children
Who can sponsor
- You are at least 18 and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. A permanent resident who lives outside Canada can't sponsor.
- You sign an undertaking to support your spouse or partner financially for 3 years.
- If you were yourself sponsored as a spouse or partner, you generally can't sponsor a new spouse or partner for 5 years after becoming a permanent resident.
Who can be sponsored
- A spouse, a common-law partner or a conjugal partner. IRCC assesses whether the relationship is genuine, so the evidence you provide matters.
- A dependent child, which generally means a child under 22 who is not a spouse or common-law partner.
Applying from inside Canada. A spouse or partner who is already in Canada and is being sponsored may be eligible for an open work permit once IRCC acknowledges receipt of the application.
Fees and timelines. Government fees changed on 30 April 2026; see the IRCC fee list. Check the current times for spouses in IRCC's processing-times tool. Times change monthly, so check IRCC's processing-times tool. Sponsors who live in Québec also go through a Québec stage.
Parents and grandparents: the PGP is paused
On 15 July 2026, IRCC announced that it "will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice". There is no 2026 intake.
- In 2026, IRCC is processing up to 10,000 applications received from the 2025 intake.
- The 2025 intake invited potential sponsors who had submitted an interest form in 2020. Invitations went out from 28 July 2025, and the deadline to apply was 9 October 2025.
- If the program reopens, IRCC will publish the rules and dates on its PGP page. Be careful with anyone who offers to "reserve a spot" in the meantime.
Parent and grandparent super visa
The super visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents visit for long periods without applying for permanent residence.
- Stays of up to 5 years per entry, on a visa that can be valid for up to 10 years. Extensions of up to 2 years at a time can be requested from inside Canada.
- Private medical insurance of at least $100,000 for at least 1 year. Since 28 January 2025, a foreign insurer authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) can also be used.
- The child or grandchild who invites the parent must meet a minimum income, based on the low-income cut-off (LICO) for the household size. Since 31 March 2026, a host whose own income is at least 75% of the LICO can add the visiting parent's or grandparent's income to reach the total. The LICO table is updated about once a year; see IRCC's host financial support page.
More detail: our super visa page. For citizenship and citizenship by descent, see Canadian citizenship.
Recent changes
- 15 July 2026: the PGP is paused until further notice.
- 30 April 2026: new IRCC permanent residence fees.
- 31 March 2026: super visa hosts can combine their income with the parent's or grandparent's income (with the 75% minimum).
- 28 January 2025: OSFI-authorized foreign insurers accepted for the super visa.
If a sponsorship is refused
A refused family-class sponsorship can usually be appealed to the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Strict deadlines apply. Our licence (CICC Class L2) does not allow us to represent clients at the IRB, so we refer appeals to a lawyer or an RCIC-IRB (Class L3) licensee. See refused applications and our scope of practice.
How we can help
Anasse Boulbaroud, RCIC, can:
- check whether you can sponsor and which program fits your family;
- help you plan the relationship evidence and the documents for a spouse, partner or child sponsorship, and prepare the application;
- prepare a super visa application, including the income and insurance documents;
- explain your options while the PGP is paused.
Only IRCC decides. Book a consultation, or see our fees.