The Canadian government will not accept new applications for the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2025, causing concern. Only 2024 applications will be processed, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, addressing the backlog of immigration applications. This decision has left families worried about reuniting with parents and grandparents in Canada due to the application pause. If you want to meet your parents or grandparents soon, Flyopedia offers unpublished fares on International Canada To India Flights. Get them now!!
About Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program
Canadian citizens can use the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada permanently. Approved applicants gain permanent residency, granting them access to future citizenship and numerous rights, services, and benefits in Canada
Permanent residency includes healthcare, job opportunities, social programs, and legal protections under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, sponsorship opportunities have been unavailable since 2020, with the last invitations issued that year, leaving many families without this option.
Causes for the Suspension of New Applications
A reduction of 20% in 2025 permanent resident targets resulted in pausing fresh applications for the Parents and Grandparents Program. The Immigration Levels Plan initially aimed for 34,000 PGP sponsorships in 2025, but this was reduced to 24,500 sponsorships.
Duration of PGP Application Processing
For sponsorship applications, IRCC processing times vary, with Canada averaging 24 months and Quebec requiring up to 48 months.
Alternatives for PGP Sponsorship
Despite the suspension of the Parents and Grandparents Program, Indian immigrants in Canada can explore alternatives to reunite with family.
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- Canada Super Visa
The Canada Super Visa serves as a practical solution to the PGP. It allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods without the need for permanent residency.
Key benefits include:-
- Long validity:- The visa remains valid for up to 10 years, offering flexibility for multiple extended visits.
- Extended stays:- Parents and grandparents can stay for up to 5 years without needing to renew their visitor status.
- Extensions:- A 2-year extension can be requested after the initial 5-year stay, allowing even longer visits.
- Temporary Visitor Visa
Parents and grandparents are able to visit Canada for up to six months with a temporary visitor visa. These visas are easy to gat compared to permanent residency, which offers a shorter-term solution for family visits in Canada.
Visitor Visa Fees
- Fees per Person:- CAD 100 (approximately ₹6,300) for a standard visitor visa covering a single applicant for six months.
- Family (up to 5 members):- CAD 500 (₹31,500), providing a cost-effective solution for families visiting parents or grandparents in Canada.
- Extension Fee (per person):- CAD 100 (₹6,300), enabling applicants to extend their stay beyond the initial six-month visitor visa period.
- Humanitarian Grounds for Residency
Individuals can apply for permanent residency on compassionate or humanitarian grounds under limited circumstances. This route is typically for situations involving health-related dependencies or other urgent needs that require a bypass of normal processing protocols. Although the temporary halt on the PGP in 2025 is frustrating for many, these alternatives offer options for families to remain connected and navigate the immigration process.
Bottom Lines
Although the PGP is paused, alternatives like Super Visas and visitor visas ensure families can remain close and connected. Also, flyopedia has cheap last minute flight to India—take the first step to reconnecting with your family today.
Also Read: Canada Launches New Immigration Programs to Boost Rural & Francophone Regions
