Parents and Grandparents’ program 2025: Canada will accept up to 10,000 existing applications

In January 2025, Canada had paused parents’ and grandparents’ permanent resident visa applications but is now going back on its decision to not accept any applications this year. However, instead of accepting new applications, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept existing ones through a randomized draw, the same approach for the intakes organized from 2020 to 2024.

Processing times for Parents and Grandparents’ Program

Processing times for the PGP are about 24 months for the rest of Canada, and 48 months for Quebec, because of the province’s limited number of spots available for family reunification.

Any sponsorship or permanent resident visa application referred to in the instructions received in 2024 must have been submitted electronically (applied online) to be accepted for processing. An alternate application format would be provided to foreign nationals, sponsors, and their representatives who could not apply online.

Despite accepting applications under the Parents and Grandparents’ Program, Canada’s overall objective is to slow down national immigration rates over the next three years, said Marc Miller, Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

“We’re aware of our country’s current challenges and are stepping up to address Canada’s evolving needs,” he said.“Our immigration plan will support our economy while responding to the pressures that families and communities are facing today. Canada’s immigration plan for the next three years will pause our population growth in the short term to maintain well‑managed and sustainable growth for the long term.”

Alternative to Parents and Grandparents’ Program

As an alternative to the PGP, those interested in reunification with their families can apply for a super visa, which allows parents and grandparents to visit family members for five years at a time, over 10 years.

The super visa has been made more accessible with changes being made to the health insurance requirements. More details about the 2025 Parents and Grandparents’ Program intake will be made available in the coming months, including when ITAs (invitations to apply) will be sent.