Canada: Permanent Residence Sponsorship Applications Under the Parents and Grandparents Program Paused
March 24, 2025
Update March 24, 2025: The government has issued an update for the Parents and Grandparents Program, stating it intends to process up to 10,000 applications for sponsorship in 2025. As in previous years (2020–2024), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will not open new interest to sponsor slots; instead, it will invite randomly selected potential sponsors from the existing 2020 pool.
January 6, 2025: The Canadian government has published a ministerial directive announcing that it will not accept any new applications for sponsorship for the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2025. During 2025, the government will only be processing up to 15,000 permanent resident visa applications received in 2024 under this program. The measure aligns with the government’s plan to reduce permanent resident targets over the next three years. The Parents and Grandparents Program allows sponsoring Canadian citizens or permanent residents to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada as permanent residents. As an alternative, Canadian citizens and permanent residents seeking to have their parents and grandparents join them in Canada may still be able to sponsor them under the Super Visa Program, a separate program that allows parents and grandparents to visit their Canadian or permanent resident children or grandchildren in Canada for an extended period. Affected foreign nationals should contact their immigration professionals for case-specific advice.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
Explore more at Fragomen
Podcast
David Kipp von der Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik im Gespräch mit Marius Tollenaere, Partner im Frankfurter Büro von Fragomen.
Blog post
Partner Dan Schwarz and Senior Associate Mikhail (Mike) Izrailev provide an overview of the EB-5 visa program, highlighting its benefits and key considerations for potential investors.
Blog post
Business Immigration Consultant Ryaihanny Sahrom discusses Timor-Leste's ASEAN debut and its impact on regional mobility.
Blog post
Destination Services Manager Ali Sikandar provides essential information for expats navigating the Saudi real estate market.
Blog post
This blog highlights the most significant immigration developments shaping the Middle East and Africa in 2025, drawing from Fragomen’s upcoming 2025 Regional Immigration Overviews—available mid-July.
Video
Immigration Consultant Azela Hadia covers everything you need to know about French citizenship by decree, a legal process through which a foreign national can acquire French nationality.
Blog post
This blog provides an overview of the key factors to consider when deciding in which jurisdiction to set up a company in the UAE.
Media mentions
Manager Alexander Hood explains how the UK’s Global Talent visa helps tech founders start and grow businesses without employer sponsorship.
Blog post
Partner Siobhan Owers and Senior Associate Asif Hanif discuss the latest UK immigration announcements and their impact on the future of care work.
Media mentions
Senior Business Immigration Analyst Rabaa Biry recently shared her journey to Canada and how support and perseverance helped shape her path forward.
Fragomen news
Media mentions
Partner Abeer Al Husseini highlights how Saudi Arabia’s growing film industry is creating jobs, attracting global talent and supporting economic diversification.
Podcast
David Kipp von der Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik im Gespräch mit Marius Tollenaere, Partner im Frankfurter Büro von Fragomen.
Blog post
Partner Dan Schwarz and Senior Associate Mikhail (Mike) Izrailev provide an overview of the EB-5 visa program, highlighting its benefits and key considerations for potential investors.
Blog post
Business Immigration Consultant Ryaihanny Sahrom discusses Timor-Leste's ASEAN debut and its impact on regional mobility.
Blog post
Destination Services Manager Ali Sikandar provides essential information for expats navigating the Saudi real estate market.
Blog post
This blog highlights the most significant immigration developments shaping the Middle East and Africa in 2025, drawing from Fragomen’s upcoming 2025 Regional Immigration Overviews—available mid-July.
Video
Immigration Consultant Azela Hadia covers everything you need to know about French citizenship by decree, a legal process through which a foreign national can acquire French nationality.
Blog post
This blog provides an overview of the key factors to consider when deciding in which jurisdiction to set up a company in the UAE.
Media mentions
Manager Alexander Hood explains how the UK’s Global Talent visa helps tech founders start and grow businesses without employer sponsorship.
Blog post
Partner Siobhan Owers and Senior Associate Asif Hanif discuss the latest UK immigration announcements and their impact on the future of care work.
Media mentions
Senior Business Immigration Analyst Rabaa Biry recently shared her journey to Canada and how support and perseverance helped shape her path forward.
Fragomen news
Media mentions
Partner Abeer Al Husseini highlights how Saudi Arabia’s growing film industry is creating jobs, attracting global talent and supporting economic diversification.