Family reunification remains a cornerstone of Canada’s immigration system, enabling Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their loved ones to live and work alongside them. Through the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program, the government remains committed to reuniting as many families as possible.
For 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans to accept up to 10,000 complete sponsorship applications under the PGP Program.
Due to the existing pool of interest to sponsor forms from 2020, IRCC will continue its approach from previous years, inviting randomly selected potential sponsors from that pool rather than opening a new intake. This method has been in place since 2020.
As of February 5, 2025, processing times for PGP applications are approximately 24 months for applicants outside Quebec and 48 months for those destined for Quebec. The longer processing time in Quebec reflects the province’s lower family class admission targets.
To minimize wait times, IRCC carefully balances the number of applications received with available program spaces outlined in Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan. The recent reduction in immigration targets under the 2025–2027 plan has led to a recalibration of new application intake.
IRCC acknowledges that this approach may impact families who have not yet had the opportunity to submit an interest to sponsor form. For those seeking alternative options, the super visa remains available, allowing parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years per stay, with multiple entries permitted for up to 10 years. IRCC has also made the super visa more accessible by adjusting the health insurance requirement.
Further details on the 2025 PGP intake, including invitation timelines, will be announced in the coming months.
