Canada Halts Parents and Grandparents Program Applications in 2025

The Canadian Government will not accept any applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program for permanent residence in 2025. IRCC will process the PGP applications submitted in 2024 until further notice. They will issue invitations to eligible sponsors from last year’s batch throughout 2025 and hence no new applications will be accepted this year. While you cannot sponsor your parents or grandparents for permanent residency in 2025, you can still sponsor them for a super visa.

Why PGP Applications are Paused in 2025?

Family reunification has always been a major goal of the Canadian Government. They have paused any new applications for the Parents and Grandparents Program to clear the existing backlog. IRCC wants to process the PGP applications submitted in 2024 and issue invitations to apply to a maximum of 15000 applicants based on a lottery system.

In October 2024, IRCC announced a 20% reduction in permanent resident targets for 2025 including PGP applications. This decision was influenced by several factors such as rapid population growth, housing problems and changes in labour market demands.

In 2024, IRCC issued invitations to apply under the Parents and Grandparents Program to 35,700 candidates who were chosen randomly based on a lottery system. The goal was to accept 20,500 applications.

However, the 2024 annual report to parliament on immigration states that there were at least 40,000 parent and grandparent permanent residency sponsorships waiting to be processed by the end of 2023. A PGP sponsorship application takes around 24 months to process.

Can You Still Invite Your Relatives to Canada in  2025?

Yes, you can still invite your parents and grandparents to Canada in 2025 through the Super Visa. A super visa is a long-term, multiple-entry visa for parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time. They don’t need to renew their status during their stay.

Eligibility criteria for a super visa in Canada

• You must provide a letter of invitation.
• Proof of financial support and income (meeting the Low Income Cut-Off, or LICO).
• Purchase medical insurance for them valid for at least one year and covering $100,000 or more.
• They may need to undergo a medical examination.

Applying for a Super Visa to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada can be a rewarding but complex process. While it is possible to apply on your own, working with an experienced immigration consultant can significantly ease the process and improve your chances of success. Whether it is understanding eligibility requirements or drafting a persuasive invitation letter, the professionals can assist you through the super visa application process.

List of Updated Immigration Fees in Canada from 1st December 2024

The Canadian Government increased specific immigration application fees from 1st December 2024. Whether you want to restore your status as a student in Canada or get your temporary resident permit, it is crucial to abide by the updated immigration fees set by IRCC. This blog discusses the new fees that you must follow from 1st December 2024.

New Immigration Fees 2024 in Canada

What if You Have Already Paid the Immigration Fees Prior to The Change?

It is okay if you have paid the old fees before the new fees rule was implemented. Chances are you submitted an online application before the updated fee structure was announced. In that case, IRCC processes the applications based on the previous fees.

Things are different if you have submitted a paper application. IRCC may not reject your paper application if you:

• Pay the entire old fees
• Submit a complete application
• Send the application via email before the fees changed

Once IRCC receives the application, they will ask you to submit the rest of the amount based on the fees you paid and the new amount that you are supposed to.

How do I pay the right fees?

Let’s say you have submitted a paper application for a PGWP and paid the old fee ($250) before the new fee ($300)was announced.

So, you need to pay $50 ($300-$250) more to complete the entire payment.

Here’s how to do it:

• Create an account or sign into yours if you have one on IRCC’s official website.
• Choose the option “make an additional payment” under the online payment tool button.
• Enter the amount you must pay and make the payment.
• IRCC will send a receipt for every payment.

It can be tedious and time-consuming to keep track of every change in immigration rules whether it's prices or eligibility criteria. You can however seek assistance from trustworthy immigration firms like Onkar Immigration. They can make the process easy and effective for you.

Canada Announced New Eligibility Criteria for Specific PGWP Candidates

Some foreign students who applied for a PGWP after 1st November 2024 must meet additional fields of study requirements to be eligible for the work permit.  The new requirements do not apply to students graduating from a university with bachelor's, master’s, or doctoral degree programs. Students graduating from any other program including degree programs must meet the new eligibility criteria to obtain their PGWP.

What are the New Selection Criteria for PGWP?

IRCC announced a detailed list of 966 instructional programmes grouped into five categories. International students who graduated from a university degree program need not meet this criteria and are eligible for PGWP for up to three years. All other students need to be a part of any one instructional program relevant to specific fields of study to be eligible for a PGWP.

Here are some examples of academic/instructional programs along with their field of study

You can visit here to get the complete list of programmes and their respective field of study.

The programmes listed above are categorized based on the CIP or Classification of Instructional Programs. CIP is how Canada describes and categorizes academic or instructional programs for foreign students. Consider it similar to the NOC system for classifying jobs in Canada.

Tips to Know CIP Code for Your Program

Follow these steps to find the CIP code for your educational/instructional program.

• Go to this link of Statistics Canada.
• Click on the code beside your academic program.
• You will be redirected to the sub-programs that will help you prepare for a career in your relevant field.
• Click the code beside your sub-programs.
• Now you will find the instructional program classes under the subcategories.
• Click the relevant program.
• You will find more detailed information about the program. You must read the program description before picking the CIP code to ensure that you choose the right one.

Are There Any Requirements for International Students?

Yes, students must meet the new language requirements to be eligible for PGWP if they apply on or after 1st November 2024. The language criteria vary depending on the student’s study levels in Canada.

For international students graduating with a university bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree

You need CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 languages

For international students graduating from any other university program

CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 languages

For any other program not mentioned above

CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all 4 languages

The new eligibility criteria changes are an attempt by IRCC to align PGWP with the current labour market needs. The government wants to ensure a smooth experience for all international students while stabilizing the Canadian economy. You can make the most of the PGWP options if you stay informed on the changes and new selection criteria. Professional immigration consultants can help you out with the necessary support and guidance.

Canada Ends Its Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express Stream

Canada ended the fast-track study visa programs under Student Direct Stream (SDS) and Nigeria Express Stream (NSE) on 8th November 2024. These programs enabled quicker processing of eligible post-secondary international students from 14 countries. Nigeria Student Express (NSE) was a similar application process for students in Nigeria. Eligible international students now need to apply through the general study permit stream to study in Canada. 

Why Did Canada Stop the SDE and NSE Program?

Canada wants to provide all its students with a smooth and efficient academic experience. Putting an end to the Student Direct Stream and Nigeria Student Express Stream is one of the government measures to ensure that every student enjoys “fair and equal” access to the application process. It is a major step that helps stabilize the population of international students in Canada. 

How does it impact foreign students?

SDS and NSE were launched in 2018 to provide fast-track application processing to international students from 14 countries including Brazil, Colombia, India, Philippines and Pakistan. Applications under these streams were processed within 20 business days.

Now all prospective students need to apply for the regular study permit which takes around 2 to 20 weeks to process applications outside Canada. The processing time can also vary depending on your application form’s completeness, seasonal fluctuations and your country of residence. 

However, if you have submitted SDS or NSE applications before 2 pm ET on 8th November 2024, they will be processed within 20 days. Any other application submitted after 8th November 2024 will be processed through the regular study permit stream. 

What key changes should international students expect?

SDS and NSE streams allowed eligible students to immigrate to Canada faster than the regular study permit process. You can still apply for a Canadian study permit but go through longer processing times. 

Here are some key changes that come along with the end of NSE and SDS programs:

Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) as a Financial Proof

A GIC was a mandatory financial requirement for SDS applicants. Though the stream has ended, eligible students can provide GIC as financial proof for the regular study permit application. 

Study Permit Requirements Remain the Same

IRCC has set specific academic, financial and language proficiency standards for international students applying for the study permit. These requirements remain unchanged for all the countries included in SDS and NGE. 

How Can Eligible Students Still Apply for Study Permits in Canada?

The processing time of current study permit applications will take longer than SDS and NGE streams. But, you can increase your chances of getting an invitation to apply using these tips.

• Submit your applications through the regular study permit stream irrespective of your country of origin. Be familiar with all the selection criteria under this stream to get through the process efficiently. 
• Be ready with the necessary financial proofs like GIC.
• Stay informed on policy changes for foreign students. 

The Canadian Government adopts a unified approach to regulate the international student population in the country. Prospective students should educate themselves on the updated policies and meet application requirements completely. You can follow the government’s official website or consult with licensed immigration service providers like Onkar Immigration.

Canada Further Strengthens Temporary Residence Programs to Respond to the Country’s Needs

The goal of any immigration is to respond to the country’s needs. Canada is no exception. The Canadian Government launched a wide slew of programs to let candidates who are eligible to contribute to the economy settle in the country. As of 2024, the economy has evolved in Canada and so has the need for newcomers from across the world. Thus, Canada is all set to strengthen temporary residence programs to support the current economic needs and labour market shortages.

IRCC Reduces Temporary Resident Arrivals

Canada announced that they would reduce the number of temporary residents arriving to 5% from 6.5% of their total population in the next three years. The announcement was made in March 2024.

Some measures to manage an optimum number of temporary residents:

Reforms on the International Student Program

• The government set an intake cap on international student permit applications.
• A letter of acceptance verification system has been introduced.
• The financial requirements for applicants have also increased.

Stricter Eligibility Requirements for Temporary Foreign Workers

LMIAs for low-wage occupation categories will be valid for one year and confined to specific regions in Canada with high unemployment rates. Employers cannot hire more than 10% of their total workforce through the Temporary Work Permit Programs.

More Thorough LMIA Processing

The processing of LMIA applications got more rigorous from 26th September 2024. For instance, the Government will no longer approve LMIAs in the low-wage categories from specific regions. It is applicable in census metropolitan areas where the unemployment rate is 6% or higher.

This plan to reduce the number of temporary residents in 2024 is an informed response to the labour and economic needs of the country. This is applicable to temporary foreign workers and international students.

How Canada Plans to Manage the Number of Temporary Resident Arrivals?

Canada has always been keen on welcoming newcomers from all around the world. But, it needs to change its immigration policies according to the ongoing labour market needs.

• The government has announced a further reduction in the intake cap on international study permit applications for 2025. They would reduce 10% of the 485,000 permits issued in 2024 and stabilize the intake cap for 2026. So, the number of study permits to be issued in 2025 would be 437,000.
• The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will be updated to align with the current labour market needs and economic goals of the country.
• Canada may restrict work permit eligibility for spouses of master's degree students whose academic programs are at least 16 months long.
• Canada may also restrict work permit eligibility for spouses of foreign workers who belong to management occupations or in sectors with labour gaps.

The government wants to make sure the arrival of temporary residents does not affect the ones already living in the country. They made some additional changes to the temporary resident programs to ensure that the temporary residents eligible are supported adequately in the country.

How Does The Government Improve In-Canada Asylum System?

The number of asylum claims has increased with the increase in the number of displaced people all over the world. The displaced individuals may want to seek asylum in Canada for a specific period and hence contribute to the temporary resident volumes.

The Canadian Government is working on measures as mentioned below to improve the asylum system inside the country and help those in need.

• Partial visa requirements for Mexican nationals
•  Exploring stringent measures to strengthen visa integrity
• Making the system of processing asylum claims better
• Reducing the number of non-genuine or ineligible visitors

The United States and Canada introduced an Additional Protocol to the Safe Third Country Agreement in March 2023.  This ensured that only the most eligible individuals could be allowed to enter and live in the country.

Final Thoughts,

The refurbished immigration system confuses newcomers. But, it is also necessary for the country to keep upgrading its immigration policies and realign with the current economic and labour gaps. The significant reduction in temporary resident arrivals and restrictions on international student permit applications are all measures to streamline the Canadian immigration system and respond to the changing needs of the country better. You can get help from licensed immigration firms such as Onkar Immigration to keep yourself up-to-date with all norms and immigrate successfully.