Parent and Grandparent Program Update - UPDATED 2025

Among the immigration programs in Canada, one of the most important is the Parent and Grandparent Program. This is a visa that aims for family reunification.

The purpose of this program is to help Canadian citizens and permanent residents reunite with their family members through sponsorship.

As part of the new changes in Canadian immigration policy, the Parent and Grandparent Program will undergo an update for 2025. Throughout this article, we will explain in detail what these changes consist of.

What is the Parent and Grandparent Program?

The Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) is an immigration program where Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsor parents and grandparents to migrate to Canada and obtain permanent residency.

This is one of the programs where obtaining permanent residency is the easiest and fastest. Additionally, it allows for family reunification on Canadian soil.

As part of the requirements for this program, in addition to permanent residency or Canadian citizenship, sponsors must demonstrate their financial capability to support those being sponsored. A financial support commitment must also be signed.

The Parent and Grandparent Program operates through a lottery system. In this case, candidates are randomly selected, and invitations are sent to those potential sponsors who submitted their application for this program.

What are the New Changes to the Parent and Grandparent Program in 2025?

As we have already mentioned, Canadian immigration policies are changing. One of those changes is the update to the Parent and Grandparent Program. Below are the changes:

Number of Applications for 2025

The first change for the Parent and Grandparent Program is the number of applications for 2025. This year, immigration authorities estimate accepting up to 10,000 applications for this program.

In previous years, the numbers ranged from 20,000 to 37,000 applications, reflecting a reduction in the number of applications compared to previous years.

Processing Time of the Application

The processing time for your application will depend on the city where it is submitted. If you live outside of Quebec, the processing time is 24 months. If you reside in Quebec, processing your application could take 48 months.

Due to its benefits, the Parent and Grandparent Program is one of the most requested. For this reason, the application times are so lengthy. In the case of Quebec, the 48-month duration is due to it being the province with the highest number of applications.

New Applications in 2025

Immigration authorities will only consider calls made between 2020 and 2024. This means that, for now, there will be no new call for the Parent and Grandparent Program.

During this year, invitations have been sent to those applicants who were waiting during these years. Therefore, if you have received an invitation, you are considered a highly qualified sponsor.

Are There Alternatives to the Parent and Grandparent Program?

Without a doubt, these updates to the Parent and Grandparent Program will have a significant impact on families that did not have the opportunity to submit their forms between 2020 and 2024.

The denial of new applications for 2025 creates uncertainty for many families. However, there is a program called the Super Visa, which allows parents and grandparents to visit their children or grandchildren for 5 consecutive years, with the possibility of multiple entries over a period of 10 years.

While these changes to the Parent and Grandparent Program make family reunification more difficult, there are still alternatives for reuniting with your relatives. If you have any questions about these updates or want to learn more about the Super Visa, we are here to help.