Major Blow to Punjabis! Canada Suspends Parents & Grandparents PR Until 2028.

Canada has dealt a major blow to Punjabis by changing its visa rules. Under the new rules, permanent residency visas for elderly individuals, often obtained under the pretext of providing care, have been suspended. However, the option of a Super Visa remains available, allowing individuals to stay in Canada for up to five years continuously.

The Canadian Immigration Department has only suspended PR visas for the elderly; there is no ban on travel to Canada. Visas for tourism or short-term visits remain unaffected.

The Canadian government is reducing the number of permanent residency visas for 2026-2028. This reduction includes a suspension of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). No new applications are being accepted under the PGP in 2025.

Only applications submitted in 2024 will be processed. In 2024, Canada issued approximately 27,330 new PR visas under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).

In addition, the Canadian government has also suspended its Caregiver program.

6,000 Punjabi elders apply for PR every year
People who have immigrated to Canada from other countries often bring their elderly relatives to live with them. Every year, approximately 25,000 to 30,000 elderly individuals receive PR visas. Around 6,000 of these are Punjabi elders. According to the Canadian Immigration Department, there are currently approximately 8.1 million people in Canada aged 65 and older. The Canadian government states that this suspension is for the period of 2026-2028, after which a review will be conducted. A decision on whether to restart the PGP program will be made after the review.

Caregiver Program also suspended
In December 2025, the Canadian government also suspended the 'Home Care Worker' pilot program, known as the Caregiver program, until further notice. This program was for individuals who wanted to go to Canada to provide care for the elderly or children. It will now not reopen until March 2026. The Canadian government has decided to limit immigration numbers under its 2026-2028 immigration policy. The main reasons cited are a housing shortage and increasing pressure on healthcare services.