Parents and Grandparents Program 2025 Update
Ottawa, March 7, 2025 – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to accept up to 10,000 complete sponsorship applications for the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program in 2025.
Key Changes for the 2025 PGP Program
Random Selection of Sponsors from 2020 Pool
This year, instead of accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will invite randomly selected sponsors from the pool of interest-to-sponsor forms submitted in 2020.
What This Means for Applicants
Processing Times for PGP Applications
As of February 5, 2025, processing times are approximately 24 months for applicants outside Quebec and 48 months for those destined for Quebec due to the province’s limited family class admission targets.
Impact of Immigration Levels Plan Reductions
The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan requires IRCC to adjust the number of new applications accepted for processing. The changes may affect how quickly applications can be processed and accepted.
Super Visa: A Viable Alternative
If you haven’t had the chance to submit an interest-to-sponsor form or are seeking quicker family reunification, the super visa is still an option. This allows parents and grandparents to visit their children or grandchildren in Canada for up to five years at a time, with the ability to re-enter Canada multiple times over a period of up to 10 years. To make the super visa more accessible, IRCC has recently relaxed the health insurance requirements, making it easier for families to apply.
What’s Next for the 2025 PGP Program
For those still hoping to sponsor their parents or grandparents through the PGP Program, IRCC will provide further details about the intake process in the coming months, including information on when invitations to apply will be sent.
Stay tuned for more updates, and if you’re interested in applying for the PGP Program or the super visa, make sure to keep an eye on the latest announcements from IRCC.
