Let me be clear up front: I’m not an immigration consultant. I got my PR, started looking into how to bring my parents to Canada, found that the PGP is closed again, and dug into the alternative. This isn’t professional advice — it’s what I found, shared with people in the same boat.
Getting PR plants a natural thought: “Now I can bring my parents over too, right?” I thought the same. Then I learned that path (the PGP) is currently closed. Disappointed, I dug into the alternative (the super visa) — and found the rules changed quite a bit in 2026.
I checked the facts against IRCC and canada.ca, so use this to get oriented — and confirm your final decisions with a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC).
1. The PGP is closed again — what happened
The PGP (Parents and Grandparents Program) is the formal program that sponsors parents and grandparents as permanent residents. For 2026, IRCC is not accepting any new applications — including new interest-to-sponsor forms — and is not issuing new invitations to apply.
The reason is simple: demand overwhelms the quota. As of January 1, 2026 there were roughly 60,500 applicants already in the PGP inventory, while the 2026–2028 Levels Plan allows for up to about 15,000 admissions this year. So IRCC (in a decision announced July 15, 2026) closed new intake to focus on processing the applications already in the system. See IRCC’s notice on managing the PGP.
In short, you basically can’t start a new parent PR sponsorship right now. That’s why people are turning to the super visa.
2. The alternative is the super visa — not PR, but “together for years”
The super visa brings parents and grandparents over as long-term visitors. It’s not PR. But in practice it’s close to “living together for years.”
- Up to 5 years per entry (versus the usual 6 months for a regular visitor visa)
- A multiple-entry visa valid up to 10 years
- You can apply to extend your stay by up to 2 more years from within Canada
With the PGP closed, the super visa has effectively become the main route for family reunification. Two notes: you can’t include dependants in a super visa application, and the parent must be outside Canada when applying. See IRCC’s super visa page. It’s not automatic, though — there are conditions you (the host) must meet, and that’s where 2026 changed things.
3. Eligibility (1) — the income rule actually got EASIER in 2026
The first gate is your income as the host. You must meet IRCC’s minimum necessary income for your family size to support your parents.
“Family size” here includes you + your spouse/partner + your dependent children + the parents you’re inviting (plus anyone you’ve previously sponsored or are already hosting on a super visa).
| Family size (including those invited) | Minimum income the host needs (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 2 | $38,002 |
| 3 | $46,720 |
| 4 | $56,724 |
| 5 | $64,336 |
| 6 | $72,560 |
| 7 | $80,784 |
| Each additional person | +$8,224 |
(IRCC last updated this table July 29, 2025. Always confirm the current official table when you apply.)
Here’s the part people get backwards. The change effective March 31, 2026 made this easier, not harder. Previously IRCC looked only at the single tax year before your application. Now your income can qualify in either one of the two tax years before you apply — so you pick whichever year was higher. If last year dipped but the year before was solid, you can still qualify. You prove it with your CRA Notice of Assessment (NOA). (Details in IRCC’s income-rule change notice.)
For newcomers with a short Canadian tax history this is genuinely helpful — one good year out of the last two can carry you. And if neither year fully reaches the bar, there’s a second new option. Next section.
4. Eligibility (2) — income a little short? Add your parent’s income (new in 2026)
Also introduced March 31, 2026: if the host’s income in the year before applying is at least 75% of the required minimum, you can add the visiting parent’s or grandparent’s own income to cover the rest.
- You (the host) must first reach that 75% floor; the parent’s income tops up the remainder.
- The parent must show they’ll keep earning that income while in Canada, and the proof must state the currency. Pay stubs, an employer letter, bank statements, pension statements, or rental-income contracts all work.
- Combined, the total must meet the minimum for your family size.
If your income is “just barely short,” this is a card worth checking — especially if your parent has ongoing pension or rental income.
5. Eligibility (3) — your parent’s medical insurance (required, with a trap)
After income, the next gate is your parent’s medical insurance. This isn’t optional — it’s a required document.
- From a Canadian insurer, or a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI to do insurance business in Canada
- Valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
- At least $100,000 in emergency coverage; must cover healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation
- Must be paid (a quote isn’t accepted)
The trap: super visa insurance varies a lot in coverage and price. Depending on your parent’s age and health it can run into thousands per year, and whether pre-existing conditions are covered swings the premium heavily. Buying the cheapest plan and finding it doesn’t cover what you need is common — compare the coverage and the pre-existing-condition clause, not just the price. The principle is the same as picking tenant or home insurance: read the policy, not the price tag.
6. Super visa vs. visitor visa vs. PGP — which fits your family
| Visitor visa | Super visa | PGP (PR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Visitor | Visitor (long-term) | Permanent resident |
| Stay per entry | Usually 6 months | Up to 5 years | Permanent |
| Validity | Up to 10 yrs, multiple | Up to 10 yrs, multiple | Permanent |
| Income requirement | None | MNI, either of last 2 tax years | Stricter (MNI, 3 years) |
| Medical insurance | Recommended | Required (1 yr+) | PR → provincial health (MSP) |
| Applying now | Yes | Yes | New intake closed |
Quick guide:
- Want your parents here for years at a time → super visa. The realistic best option that’s open right now.
- Just a few months now and then → a regular visitor visa is enough (no income or insurance requirement).
- Full PR → that’s the PGP, but new intake is closed — wait for it to reopen and use the super visa to be together in the meantime.
7. Preparing documents — two years of NOAs is the key
Income proof is where applications most often stall. Get ready:
- Your NOAs for the last two tax years — so you can use whichever is higher (download from CRA My Account)
- Letter of invitation + financial support — stating you’ll support your parents during the visit, with the family-size count
- Proof of relationship — documents showing the parent/child link
- Proof of your status — a copy of your citizenship or PR document
- Your parent’s medical insurance (Section 5) and proof of an immigration medical exam
- (If using Option 2) your parent’s income documents (Section 4)
If your tax history is short, filing your income accurately and keeping your NOAs in order from now on is your future super visa prep. Clean tax records early become an asset at moments like this.
8. What I concluded after PR
The one thing I took away: there’s no perfect path, but there is a path beyond the closed door (PGP). Rather than waiting on a PGP reopening and doing nothing, lining up the super visa income requirement now (two years of NOAs) is the realistic move. The rules will shift again — when they do, I’ll update this post.
Bringing your parents over is a paperwork-and-numbers problem before it’s anything else — but underneath, it’s about getting family back in one place. I hope this saved some time for others working through the same thing.
FAQ
Q1. Can I start a new parent PR sponsorship (PGP) right now?
No. For 2026 the PGP is closed to new intake (including interest-to-sponsor forms); only applications already in the system are being processed. To start now, the realistic alternative is the super visa.
Q2. How many years of income does the super visa look at?
Since March 31, 2026, you can qualify using either one of the two tax years before you apply (pick the higher one) — an easing from the old rule that looked only at the most recent year. You prove it with your CRA NOA.
Q3. My income is a bit short — any options?
Yes. If your income in the year before applying is at least 75% of the minimum, you can add your visiting parent’s own income to cover the rest (they must show the income continues while in Canada, with the currency stated).
Q4. Does the medical insurance have to be from a Canadian company?
A Canadian insurer, or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer, valid at least 1 year with a minimum $100,000 in emergency coverage. Always check whether pre-existing conditions are covered.
Q5. How long can my parents stay on a super visa?
Up to 5 years per entry, extendable by up to 2 more years from within Canada. The visa itself is valid for up to 10 years, multiple entry.
Read next
- BC Tenant Insurance Guide — once your parents arrive, check what your coverage includes
- Express Entry 2026 reform guide — for readers on the PR track
This article is a personal summary based on IRCC / canada.ca public information as of July 2026 and the author’s own research — it is not immigration legal advice. Rules and amounts change frequently and apply differently to each situation, so consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer before applying.