The Canadian federal government has announced it will not accept new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Programme (PGP) for permanent residence in 2025.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that only sponsorship applications submitted in 2024 will be processed throughout 2025. The department aims to process up to 15,000 such applications during the year.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to have their parents and grandparents join them for an extended period can still apply for a super visa, which allows relatives to visit Canada for up to five years at a time.
The PGP, in contrast, enables individuals to sponsor parents and grandparents to become permanent residents. Sponsors are required to commit to financially supporting their relatives, including accompanying family members if applicable, for a specific period, regardless of changes in their personal circumstances.
In May 2024, IRCC randomly invited potential sponsors who had submitted an “interest to sponsor” form in 2020 to apply under the 2024 intake. The department aimed to send out 35,700 invitations and accept up to 20,500 complete applications. However, the deadline for submissions was 2 August 2024.
For 2025, no new applications will be accepted under the PGP, continuing the focus on processing 2024 submissions.
The earlier Immigration Levels Plan, published in 2023, had set targets of 32,000 for 2024 and 34,000 for 2025 under the PGP. However, reports indicate that IRCC has cut permanent resident targets by 20% for 2025. The revised target for parents and grandparents under the PGP now stands at 24,500 landings for the year.
The decision to halt new applications reflects adjustments in Canada’s immigration policy and priorities. While the PGP remains a valuable pathway for family reunification, the super visa continues to serve as an alternative option for those seeking to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada for extended visits.
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