published on 9 January 2025 @ 4:12 pm · COMMENT

Canada Pauses New Applications for Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship in 2025

The Canadian government has announced that it will not accept any new applications to sponsor parents and grandparents for permanent residence in 2025, putting their focus on prioritizing the processing of existing applications submitted in 2023 and 2024.

The government’s revised targets for 2025 includes 24,500 landings of foreign nationals sponsored through the Parent-Grandparent Program —a significant reduction compared to earlier targets. This aligns with the reduced immigration targets set in the latest Immigration Levels Plan.

For Canadian citizens and permanent residents hoping to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada, the absence of new intake under the Parent-Grandparent Program in 2025 is a significant disappointment. Since 2020, the Parent-Grandparent Program has operated on a lottery-based invitation system due to the overwhelming demand and invitations to apply have been issued only to individuals who submitted an interest to sponsor form during the 2020 intake period.

As the government continues to manage application backlogs and adjust immigration priorities, families are encouraged to explore all available options for reuniting with loved ones. For those who cannot pursue sponsorship under the Parent-Grandparent Program, the super visa remains a viable alternative. This program allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada periods of up to five years per entry, offering long-term flexibility for families seeking to spend more time together in Canada.

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE