Navigate Canada's suspended family sponsorship program and payment alternatives
On This Page You Will Find:
- Critical 2026 PGP suspension news affecting thousands of families
- Complete fee breakdown for both PGP and Super Visa applications
- Step-by-step payment instructions to avoid costly application rejections
- Alternative pathways for bringing parents to Canada this year
- Quebec-specific requirements and additional costs
- Money-saving strategies for future applications
Summary:
Immigration Canada has suspended the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) for 2026, leaving thousands of families scrambling for alternatives. While PGP applications cost $1,290 when the program resumes, the Super Visa offers immediate relief at just $185. This comprehensive guide reveals the exact payment methods, hidden Quebec fees, and strategic timing tips that could save your family both time and money. Whether you're planning ahead for PGP's return or need to bring your parents to Canada now, understanding these payment requirements is crucial for avoiding application rejections and unnecessary delays.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- PGP applications are suspended for 2026 with no confirmed restart date
- Super Visa costs only $185 compared to PGP's $1,290 fee structure
- Quebec residents face additional $335-470 in provincial fees for PGP
- Payment receipts must be saved immediately or applications will be rejected
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee can be paid early to prevent future delays
Maria Santos had been saving for months to sponsor her elderly parents from the Philippines. She'd calculated every fee, prepared every document, and marked January 2026 on her calendar as the day she'd finally submit their Parent and Grandparent Program application. Then came the devastating news: Immigration Canada suspended the entire program for 2026.
If you're like Maria, you're probably wondering what this means for your family's future and how to navigate the payment requirements for alternative options. The financial implications go far beyond the initial sticker shock – understanding these fee structures could determine whether your family reunites this year or waits indefinitely.
Understanding the 2026 PGP Suspension
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made the unprecedented decision to suspend new Parent and Grandparent Program applications for the entire 2026 calendar year. This affects an estimated 20,000 families who were preparing to apply, based on previous years' application volumes.
The suspension means no new intake period will open, no lottery system will operate, and no invitations to apply will be issued. For families who've been waiting years for this opportunity, it's a significant setback that requires immediate pivot planning.
What makes this particularly challenging is the uncertainty. IRCC hasn't provided a timeline for when the program might resume, leaving families in limbo about whether to wait or pursue alternative pathways.
Complete Fee Breakdown: What You Need to Budget
Parent and Grandparent Program Fees (When Program Resumes)
When the PGP eventually reopens, you'll face a substantial financial commitment. Here's exactly what you'll pay:
Sponsorship Fee: $85 This covers the processing of your eligibility as a sponsor, including income verification and background checks.
Principal Applicant Processing Fee: $545 The largest component, this fee covers the extensive background checks, medical examinations coordination, and case processing for your parent or grandparent.
Right of Permanent Residence Fee: $575 Often called the "landing fee," this must be paid before your parents can actually become permanent residents. Immigration experts strongly recommend paying this upfront to avoid delays later in the process.
Biometrics Fee: $85 Required for fingerprinting and photograph collection at designated service centers.
Total Investment: $1,290 per application
For families sponsoring both parents, you're looking at over $2,500 in government fees alone – not including medical exams, document translations, or legal assistance.
Quebec's Hidden Costs
If you live in Quebec, prepare for additional expenses that catch many sponsors off guard. Quebec operates its own immigration selection process, requiring a separate application to the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI).
Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) Fees:
- Principal applicant: $335
- Each additional person: $135
For a couple, Quebec residents pay an extra $470 on top of federal fees, bringing the total to $1,760 per application. This represents a 36% increase over the base federal fees – a significant budget consideration that many families overlook during initial planning.
Super Visa: Your Immediate Alternative
With PGP suspended, the Super Visa becomes the primary pathway for family reunification in 2026. The cost difference is dramatic and could influence your strategy.
Super Visa Fee Structure:
- Temporary Resident Visa fee: $100
- Biometrics fee: $85
- Total: $185
This represents an 86% cost savings compared to PGP fees. However, it's important to understand that the Super Visa doesn't lead to permanent residence – it's a long-term visitor visa allowing stays up to five years at a time.
For families like Maria's, the Super Visa offers immediate benefits: her parents could be in Canada within 3-4 months rather than waiting 24-36 months for PGP processing (when it resumes).
Critical Payment Instructions: Avoid Costly Mistakes
The payment process for immigration applications is unforgiving. One small error can result in your entire application being returned, costing months of additional waiting time.
Online Payment Requirements
All immigration fees must be paid online through IRCC's secure payment portal. You cannot pay by cash, check, or money order – these payment methods will result in automatic application rejection.
Step-by-Step Payment Process:
- Access the IRCC fee payment portal
- Select your application type (PGP or Super Visa)
- Enter the number of people you're sponsoring
- Review the calculated total carefully
- Complete payment using a valid credit or debit card
- Critical Step: Immediately save or print your receipt
The Receipt That Could Make or Break Your Application
Here's where many applicants make a costly mistake: failing to properly save their payment receipt. The moment you complete payment, you must click "Save" to download a PDF copy of your official IRCC receipt.
This isn't just recommended – it's mandatory. Without uploading this exact receipt to your online application, IRCC will return your entire application as incomplete. Given that PGP spots are limited when available, this mistake could cost you an entire year or more.
Receipt Best Practices:
- Save multiple copies (computer, cloud storage, email to yourself)
- Verify the receipt shows the correct amount and application type
- Ensure all sponsored persons are listed if applicable
- Check that your payment confirmation number is clearly visible
Strategic Payment Timing Considerations
Paying the Right of Permanent Residence Fee Early
Immigration lawyers consistently recommend paying the $575 Right of Permanent Residence Fee at the time of application, even though it's not technically required until later in the process. Here's why this strategy makes financial sense:
Avoiding Future Delays: If you don't pay upfront, IRCC will request this fee later in the process. This additional step can add 4-6 weeks to your processing time, particularly problematic given current processing delays.
Inflation Protection: Immigration fees typically increase every few years. Paying now locks in current rates and protects against future increases.
Cash Flow Management: Spreading the financial impact over the initial application period is often easier than facing an unexpected $575 bill 18-24 months later.
Planning for Program Resumption
While 2026 is a lost year for new PGP applications, smart planning now can position your family for success when the program resumes.
Financial Preparation Strategies
Start a Dedicated Savings Account: Based on historical patterns, the program will likely resume in 2027. Setting aside $110 per month starting now would fully fund a PGP application by January 2027.
Monitor Fee Changes: Immigration fees are typically adjusted every January. The current $1,290 total could increase by the time applications reopen.
Currency Considerations: If you're earning income in a currency other than Canadian dollars, consider the exchange rate impact on your budget planning.
Income Requirement Preparation
Remember that sponsorship fees are just the beginning. PGP sponsors must meet specific income thresholds for three consecutive years. Use this suspension period to strengthen your financial position and ensure you'll qualify when applications reopen.
Making the Right Choice for Your Family
The decision between waiting for PGP to resume and pursuing a Super Visa now isn't just financial – it's deeply personal. Consider these factors:
Immediate Needs: If your parents' health is declining or you have grandchildren they're missing, the Super Visa's speed advantage (3-4 months vs. 24-36 months) might outweigh the permanent residence benefits of PGP.
Long-term Goals: If your parents want to access Canadian healthcare and social benefits, only PGP provides that pathway. The Super Visa, despite its lower cost, remains a temporary solution.
Risk Tolerance: With no confirmed timeline for PGP's return, choosing to wait involves significant uncertainty. The Super Visa provides certainty and immediate family reunification.
The Parent and Grandparent Program suspension creates both challenges and opportunities for Canadian families. While the $1,290 PGP fee structure remains unchanged for future applications, the $185 Super Visa offers immediate relief for families who can't wait for the program's uncertain return.
Your payment strategy should align with your family's specific circumstances. If immediate reunification is your priority, the Super Visa's dramatic cost savings and faster processing make it the clear choice for 2026. However, if permanent residence for your parents remains the ultimate goal, use this suspension period to strengthen your financial position and prepare for PGP's eventual return.
The key is making an informed decision based on complete fee information and realistic timelines. Whether you choose the immediate path or the waiting game, understanding these payment requirements ensures you'll be ready when the time comes to bring your family together in Canada.
FAQ
Q: What are the exact fees I need to pay for a Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) application when the program resumes?
The complete PGP fee structure totals $1,290 per application and includes four mandatory components. You'll pay an $85 sponsorship fee for processing your eligibility as a sponsor, a $545 principal applicant processing fee (the largest component covering background checks and medical coordination), a $575 Right of Permanent Residence fee (the "landing fee"), and an $85 biometrics fee for fingerprinting and photos. Immigration experts strongly recommend paying all fees upfront, especially the landing fee, to avoid 4-6 week processing delays later. Quebec residents face additional provincial fees of $335 for the principal applicant plus $135 for each additional person, adding $470 for a couple and bringing their total to $1,760 per application.
Q: How much can I save by choosing a Super Visa instead of waiting for PGP to resume?
The Super Visa costs only $185 total ($100 for the Temporary Resident Visa fee plus $85 for biometrics), representing an 86% cost savings compared to PGP's $1,290 fee structure. For a family sponsoring both parents, the savings jump to over $2,200 in government fees alone. Beyond cost, the Super Visa offers processing times of 3-4 months compared to PGP's 24-36 months when operational. However, this is a trade-off decision: while the Super Visa allows stays up to five years at a time, it doesn't provide permanent residence, healthcare access, or social benefits that come with PGP approval. The Super Visa works best for families prioritizing immediate reunification over long-term permanent residence goals.
Q: What's the correct way to pay immigration fees to avoid application rejection?
All immigration fees must be paid exclusively through IRCC's secure online payment portal using a valid credit or debit card – cash, checks, and money orders will result in automatic application rejection. After selecting your application type and entering the number of people you're sponsoring, complete the payment and immediately click "Save" to download your official PDF receipt. This receipt is mandatory for your application; without uploading this exact document, IRCC will return your entire application as incomplete. Save multiple copies in different locations (computer, cloud storage, email), verify the receipt shows the correct amount and application type, and ensure your payment confirmation number is clearly visible. This single step prevents costly delays that could cost you an entire year or more.
Q: Should I pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee upfront or wait until later in the PGP process?
Immigration lawyers consistently recommend paying the $575 Right of Permanent Residence Fee at application time, despite it not being technically required until later. This strategy provides three key benefits: avoiding 4-6 week processing delays when IRCC requests the fee later (particularly problematic given current backlogs), protection against future fee increases since immigration fees typically rise every few years, and better cash flow management by spreading costs over the initial application period rather than facing an unexpected bill 18-24 months later. Given that PGP processing already takes 24-36 months when operational, any additional delays from late fee payment can significantly extend your family's separation. The upfront payment strategy locks in current rates and keeps your application moving efficiently through the system.
Q: When might the Parent and Grandparent Program resume and how should I prepare financially?
IRCC suspended PGP for all of 2026 without providing a confirmed restart date, though historical patterns suggest a potential 2027 resumption. To prepare financially, start a dedicated savings account now – setting aside $110 monthly would fully fund a PGP application by January 2027. Monitor for fee changes since immigration fees typically adjust every January, meaning the current $1,290 total could increase. Quebec residents should budget an additional $470 for provincial fees. Use this suspension period to strengthen your income position since PGP sponsors must meet specific income thresholds for three consecutive years. Consider currency exchange impacts if earning in non-Canadian dollars, and remember that government fees don't include medical exams, document translations, or potential legal assistance costs.
Q: What are the main differences between PGP and Super Visa beyond just the cost?
While PGP costs $1,290 and Super Visa costs $185, the fundamental difference lies in immigration status and benefits. PGP leads to permanent residence, providing your parents with healthcare access, social benefits, and the eventual path to Canadian citizenship after meeting residency requirements. Processing takes 24-36 months when operational, but results in permanent family reunification. Super Visa processes in 3-4 months and allows stays up to five years at a time with multiple entries, but parents remain temporary residents without healthcare coverage (requiring private insurance) or social benefits. Super Visa holders can stay long-term but must maintain ties to their home country and cannot access the same services as permanent residents. Choose Super Visa for immediate reunification needs or PGP for long-term integration and benefits.
Q: What happens if I make a payment error or my application gets rejected due to fee issues?
Payment errors result in automatic application rejection and return of your entire package, costing months of additional waiting time. Common mistakes include using incorrect payment methods (cash/check instead of online payment), failing to save the official IRCC receipt, paying incorrect amounts due to miscounting sponsored persons, or uploading generic bank statements instead of the specific IRCC receipt. If your application is rejected for fee issues, you must restart the entire process: make correct payment, obtain new receipt, and resubmit your complete application. For PGP (when operational), this mistake could cost an entire year since intake periods are limited. To prevent errors, double-check all calculations, use only the official IRCC payment portal, save receipts immediately, and verify receipt details before uploading. Consider having someone else review your payment documentation before submission.
