Canada Pauses New Applications for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship in 2025
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that it would not be taking in new applications for its Parents and Grandparents Program in 2025. This moves against the plans many Canadian citizens and permanent residents had been looking forward to trying to bring their parents or grandparents in as permanent residents.
Here is everything you might want to know about this decision, why it has been taken, and what the other ways are to reunite a family.
What is the Parents and Grandparents Program?
PGP allows Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents/grandparents for permanent residency in Canada. This program has been a key pathway for family reunification.
- Sponsored parents and grandparents gain access to Canada’s healthcare system and other social services.
- It provides families with a way to live together permanently.
Because this program is in high demand, IRCC uses a lottery system. Sponsors must submit an Interest to Sponsor form, and IRCC randomly selects individuals who can then apply. Since 2020, IRCC has only been processing applications submitted that year and no new applications have been accepted. This will continue in 2025.
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Why is IRCC not accepting new applications in 2025?
IRCC opted not to focus on receiving new applications but concentrate on how to intensify the processing of applications received in 2025. This decision would be taken as a better strategy for the level of immigration and working on the time that is taken to process applications.
- Lower Immigration Targets: For 2025, IRCC reduced the number of permanent resident spots under the PGP to 24,500. Down from 32,000 in 2024.
- Backlog Management: IRCC intends to work out 15,000 applications already in the system during 2025. By addressing pending applications, IRCC aims at wait time reduction and increasing efficiency.
This pause is another step in making Canada’s immigration system quicker and more orderly.
What if you already applied for the PGP?
Have you already applied under the PGP? Then, here are some things that you need to know:
- Outside Quebec Processing Times: An application generally takes about 24 months to process.
- Processing Times (In Quebec): Processing takes about 48 months because the province requires additional steps.
You can check the status of your application using IRCC’s online tracking tools. Staying updated is important, as processing timelines can change.
The Canada Super Visa: A Practical Alternative
For families who cannot apply through the PGP, the Canada Super Visa is an excellent alternative.
What is the Super Visa?
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods without becoming permanent residents. The Super Visa processes faster and is more flexible than the PGP and doesn’t rely on immigration targets.
Key advantages of the super visa include:
- Long Validity: The super visa has a validity of up to 10 years.
- Long-term Stay: Parents and grandparents will be allowed to stay continuously in Canada for up to 5 years without having to renew their visa.
- An additional 2-year extension can be requested after the 5 years.
The Super Visa allows for the reunification of families while they wait for permanent sponsorship windows to reopen. It is also ideal for those who would not want to go through the long processing times that come with the PGP.
Why did IRCC stop accepting new applications for PGP?
The temporary suspension of new applications in 2025 is directly related to IRCC’s ongoing need to balance immigration levels and backlog reduction. The government hopes balancing resources by focusing on pending applications will result in swifter processing times for those already within the system.
It also addresses families waiting for a decision earlier and alleviates the burden on the immigration system. It also means that those aiming to sponsor their parents or grandparents need to look elsewhere—possibly the Super Visa—for the time being.
What can families do now?
While the PGP is on hold for new applicants, families can do several things, including:
- Apply for the Super Visa: The Super Visa will be the quickest and most flexible way to reunite with parents and grandparents in Canada, offering them a long stay and easily extendable—a practical alternative to sponsorship.
- Keep Informed: IRCC will make announcements on immigration policy changes and future intake opportunities under the PGP.
- Other Visa Options: In some situations, temporary or permanent visa options may be available that allow family reunification.
In this respect, families can remain close through other alternatives by being proactive and looking into them, despite the temporary suspension of new PGP applications.
IRCC’s decision to pause new PGP applications in 2025 focuses on clearing backlogs and improving the processing of existing applications. While this pause limits opportunities for permanent sponsorship next year, the Canada Super Visa offers a reliable and flexible way to reunite with parents and grandparents. With its long validity and extended stays, the Super Visa will keep families close without having to wait for sponsorship opportunities to open again.
Families should be informed about immigration changes and utilize alternatives such as the Super Visa to keep their families close. Plan so that you have meaningful family reunions while IRCC works on improving its processes. Share to inform others of these changes and how to best find a solution for their loved ones.
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