Key Takeaways
- IRCC will accept up to 10,000 Parents and Grandparents Program applications in 2025, selecting only from 2020 interest forms.
- Processing times are 24 months outside Quebec and 48 months in Quebec, reflecting high demand and administrative delays.
- Super Visa offers a temporary alternative, allowing extended stays for up to 5 years with multi-entry over 10 years.
In a move aimed at maintaining its reputation as a global leader in family reunification, Canada 🇨🇦 has announced updates to its Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025. This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency, providing families with the chance to live together in Canada while also benefitting from healthcare and a pathway to citizenship. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has set a maximum of 10,000 sponsorship applications to be accepted in 2025. However, new submissions will not be opened this year, as selection will be based entirely on those who submitted interest-to-sponsor forms in 2020. This policy reflects a strategic step in managing the extraordinary demand for family-class immigration programs.
Understanding the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
The Parents and Grandparents Program plays a central role in Canada’s immigration framework. It allows families to reunite and provides sponsored parents and grandparents with significant benefits, such as access to healthcare through Canada’s universal healthcare system, the eligibility to work, and the opportunity to eventually apply for citizenship. This initiative is rooted in the belief that family reunification contributes to the overall well-being of immigrants and their families. Parents and grandparents provide emotional, cultural, and even financial support, which can be invaluable for families adjusting to a new life in Canada.
Since its inception, the PGP has helped thousands of families reconnect under one roof, promoting strong familial ties and enabling multigenerational support systems. However, the program’s popularity has also created substantial challenges, with demand far exceeding supply.
Why No New Applications Will Be Accepted in 2025
IRCC’s announcement that no new PGP applications will be accepted in 2025 has stirred mixed reactions. Instead of accepting fresh submissions, applicants will be selected from the interest-to-sponsor forms submitted in 2020. This marks the continuation of a strategy intended to manage demand, as the lottery system was introduced as a fair (if contentious) method of addressing high interest in the program.
For thousands of families, this year’s restriction on new applications means postponement of sponsorship dreams. Those who did not submit their interest in 2020 will not be eligible for the program, rendering them unable to reunite their families for at least another year. While the policy ensures that individuals in the existing pool are prioritized, it may leave many disappointed.
At its core, this decision reflects Canada’s effort to streamline its immigration system, which has been affected by overwhelming interest and lengthy backlogs. With just 10,000 sponsorship spots available and tens of thousands of families vying for limited slots, the lottery remains one of the more practical solutions to managing intake volumes efficiently.
Lengthy Processing Times: The Waiting Game
Although the cap is set at 10,000 applications, families seeking sponsorship under the PGP must also contend with long processing times. As of February 2025, applications outside Quebec 🇨🇦 are expected to take about 24 months, while those involving families living in Quebec could face waiting periods as long as 48 months. These delays are due, in part, to Quebec’s unique immigration policy, which allows the province to set its own family immigration targets.
While these delays help maintain the efficiency of Canada’s entire immigration system, they come at an emotional cost for the families involved. Many had hoped for quicker processing to bring loved ones to Canada sooner, particularly since parents and grandparents often serve as caregivers and emotional pillars for younger family members trying to build lives in a new country.
Super Visa: An Alternative Path for Families
Families looking for alternative ways to bring loved ones to Canada have increasingly turned to the Super Visa. This multi-entry visa allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended stays, lasting up to five years at a time, with multiple entries allowed over a ten-year period. Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa does not grant permanent resident status, but it does provide a temporary solution for families seeking to live together.
The Super Visa has become an attractive alternative, particularly for families unable to secure permanent residence under the PGP. Recent improvements to the Super Visa process have made it even more appealing. Health insurance rules, which are a requirement for Super Visa applicants, have been adjusted to ease burdens on families. For millions who are unable to sponsor their parents immediately through the PGP, the Super Visa offers a chance to spend meaningful time together while navigating Canada’s immigration system.
For further details on applying for the Super Visa, visit Canada’s official government website.
Declining Immigration Targets for the PGP: Broader Trends
The updates to the PGP align with Canada’s larger goals as outlined in its 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. Notably, Canada has reduced its intake target for the PGP from 34,000 individuals to 24,500 in 2025. These reductions underscore the country’s efforts to balance immigration intake across different streams, including economic, humanitarian, and family-class programs.
This recalibration is intended to manage demand and ensure the sustainability of Canada’s immigration system. With an influx of interest in family reunification programs, limiting new applications is seen as a necessary step to streamline the processing of existing applications and prevent longer backlogs. However, this shift also points to the Canadian government’s focus on its economic-class immigration goals, where workers and students are being prioritized to address labor shortages.
A Historical Look at the PGP
The Parents and Grandparents Program is not new, but its policies have constantly adapted to balance public interest and administrative feasibility. Initially launched as part of family-class immigration, the program has transformed significantly over the years. While earlier models did not include a lottery system, the overwhelming demand compelled the government to rethink the approach, leading to the introduction of the interest-to-sponsor mechanism.
While these measures have provided temporary relief to the immigration system, they have also magnified the frustrations faced by families who endure long waiting times for reunification. Each policy shift over the years has been a reflection of competing priorities within Canada’s immigration strategy, particularly as socio-economic contexts and demographic pressures evolve.
Balancing Human Needs with Systemic Realities
The 2025 policy changes underscore the delicate balance Canada must strike between being a humane destination for family reunification and an efficient immigration system. The emphasis on processing backlogged applications and prioritizing those in the existing pool signals IRCC’s efforts to make the system fairer and more efficient.
However, for families anxiously awaiting the chance to bring parents or grandparents to Canada, these adjustments can feel like obstacles. Long waits, limited spots, and restricted new intakes have made the PGP a controversial program at times. While Canada remains committed to family reunification, the availability of alternatives like the Super Visa reflects recognition of the diverse needs of sponsor families.
Towards the Future of the PGP
As demand for family reunion continues to grow, the Parents and Grandparents Program will remain central to Canada’s family-class immigration strategy. However, ongoing reforms and adjustments are likely as the government navigates immigration surges, economic pressures, and evolving demographics.
Future policies might continue on the current path—or embrace innovative models to enhance application efficiency and open new pathways for permanent residency. For now, the 2025 updates amplify the challenges associated with the PGP but also highlight opportunities for sponsors and families willing to explore other options.
Conclusion: The Evolving Role of Family Immigration
The Parents and Grandparents Program is a cornerstone of Canada’s family immigration policies, fostering multigenerational unity and supporting social growth. While restrictions in 2025 may feel disheartening to some, they are part of broader efforts to streamline the system and manage overwhelming demand. The Super Visa, a readily available alternative, ensures that families still have options to connect and thrive together.
VisaVerge.com notes that Canada’s immigration policies reflect a constant balance between inclusion, practicality, and long-standing tradition. These latest measures illustrate Canada’s evolving commitment to providing a home for families, even in the face of changing realities. Canada 🇨🇦 continues to welcome families while ensuring its immigration policies remain both fair and sustainable for the future.
Learn Today
Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) → A Canadian immigration program enabling citizens and permanent residents to sponsor parents/grandparents for permanent residency.
Interest-to-Sponsor Form → An online application expressing intent to sponsor parents or grandparents under the PGP, used for selection.
Lottery System → A randomized selection process Canada uses to manage high demand for limited immigration spots in the PGP.
Super Visa → A multi-entry visa allowing parents/grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit.
Immigration Levels Plan → Canada’s strategy outlining immigration targets across various streams, balancing economic, family, and humanitarian goals.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada’s 2025 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) showcases its commitment to family reunification, offering permanent residency opportunities for loved ones. However, no new applications will be accepted; selections stem from 2020 interest forms. Despite demand challenges, alternatives like the Super Visa provide hope. Canada balances compassion with practical immigration strategies for families worldwide.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Canada Denies Half of Temporary Resident Applications in 2024
• Hong Kong Migrants Struggle with Visas and Jobs in Canada
• Canada Rejects Over 13,000 Nigerian Refugee Claims in 11 Years
• United Airlines Reduces Flights to Canada as Tensions Rise
• Canada Drops Plan to Raise Capital Gains Tax
