Parents and Grandparents Program Closed for 2025

In addition to putting the brakes on new applications, IRCC will only process 15,000 applications made in 2024, out of the 35,700 potential sponsors who received an invitation to apply (ITA). 

In the announcement published in the Canada Gazette on January 4, 2025, the government has not specified when new applications for the PGP will resume or when new Interest to Sponsor forms will be accepted. 

When the program does reopen we expect a huge volume of pent-up interest.

Key Takeaways:

• No new PGP applications will be accepted in 2025. Only those who received an invite to apply in 2024 will be processed.
• In addition to no new PGP applications being accepted, IRCC will limit the number of PGP application it will process in 2024.
• Over 70,000 potential sponsors are waiting in the interest to sponsor pool since 2020.
• Potential sponsors should explore other ways to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada.

What is the Parents and Grandparents Program

The PGP allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency. In recent years, the program has faced significant demand, leading to substantial backlogs, extended processing times and thousands unable to sponsor. 

A History Of The PGP System And What This Can Tell Us About The Future. 

The Past:

In the last decade, the PGP program has undergone a significant number of changes.

2017- 2019

Since 2017, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) has operated on an Expression of Interest style process, whereby those looking to sponsor their parents or grandparents first needed to complete an “Interest to Sponsor”(ITS) online form between January 3, 2017, to February 2, 2017. Sponsors were then chosen at random, with 10,000 applications processed. 

This continued for 2018, but 2019 saw this lottery system scrapped in favour of a first-come, first-served online submission process. Under this system, the online portal opened briefly for sponsors to submit their ITS online form, with a cap of 20,000 submissions accepted. All 20,000 spots were filled within minutes, sparking backlash over the lack of accessibility for many.

2020 to Present

Following the backlash, the lottery system was re-introduced in 2020. Those interested in sponsoring their parents or grandparents could submit an “Interest to Sponsor” form during the three weeks between October 13, 2020 and November 3, 2020. Potential sponsors were then randomly selected and will be invited via email to submit a sponsorship application. In 2020, 13,400 Invitations to Apply for Sponsorship were issued out of 203,213 Interest to Sponsor form submissions. 

No new ITS forms have been accepted since the original intake in 2020 which saw over 200,000 submissions. Instead, each year IRCC has issued ITAs randomly to potential sponsors PGP submitted an interest to sponsor form back in 2020. In 2021, 34,500 ITA’s were issued, In 2022, 23,100 ITA’s were issued and in 2023, 24,200 ITA’s were issued. 

With 35,700 invitations in 2024, the number of ITS from 2020 still waiting for selection going into 2025 should be around 72,300. 

The Future: 

In addition to the freeze on new applications, IRCC will process a smaller number of full applications submitted in 2024. This means that a number of applicants who submitted a full application in 2024 will suffer extended processing times, with their application being pushed to 2026 for processing. 

The question thousands are asking though, when will IRCC accept new ITS forms? 

With 72,300 ITS forms from the 2020 intake still waiting for an ITA, it is not clear when or if new ITS forms will be accepted in the coming years. 

For those who submitted an ITS in 2020, whilst you wait, it is imperative that you remain eligible to sponsor including meeting the minimum income requirements and exploring other options to bring your parents and grandparents to Canada.

For those who are waiting for an opportunity to submit a new ITS form, although eligibility to submit an ITS may change, as can the process, be sure to check how you would qualify to sponsor your parents and grandparents and explore other options to bring your parents and grandparents to Canada.

What Other Options Are Available To Bring Parents and Grandparents to Canada?

During this freeze, individuals interested in bringing their parents or grandparents to Canada can consider alternative options, such as the Super Visa program. The Super Visa permits eligible parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods however, as this is a temporary visa, it comes with its share of disadvantages in comparison to the PGP program, including the inability to work in Canada, no access to social benefits and the need for medical insurance.

An obstacle to the Super Visa program is the need for adequate medical coverage. To be eligible for a Super Visa, the parent or grandparents applying must have proof of a health insurance policy  should:

• Be valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry- although a super visa holder must have valid medical insurance for the duration of their stay in Canada. 
• Be paid in full or in installments with a deposit (quotes aren’t accepted).
• Cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
• Provide a minimum of $100,000 of emergency coverage.

If your parent or grandparents have a pre-exisitng medical condition, finding adequate insurance may be challenging. We recommend working with BestQuote Travel Insurance Agency for your Super Visa insurance. Not only are they a skilled insurance agency, but they allow you to compare many different insurance providers so you can ensure you’re getting the best policy available! You can check out BestQuote here.