PR sponsor: Canada pausing parent, grandparent applications [Video]

OTTAWA –

Canada will not accept new parent and grandparent permanent residency sponsorship applications until further notice, according to a ministerial directive.

The directive published in the Canada Gazette states the government remains committed to family reunification but will focus on processing applications received last year.

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According to the directive, it’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller’s opinion that this will “best support” the government’s goals around immigration and family reunification.

Other immigration streams have also seen new sponsorships paused in order to help clear the existing backlog.

Under the government’s immigration levels plan, which sees an overall decrease in immigration over the next three years, the goal is to admit more than 24,000 people through the parent and grandparent stream this year.

The new directive says a maximum of 15,000 applications made in 2024 through the family reunification …