Canada has announced a temporary pause on private refugee sponsorship applications from groups of five individuals or more and community organizations to address a growing backlog. The decision, effective immediately, will remain in place until December 31, 2025, according to a notice published on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
The pause aims to manage the overwhelming number of applications submitted annually, which consistently exceed the available spots for private refugee sponsorships. Under Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, the government has set a target to admit 23,000 privately sponsored refugees annually, while the overall refugee target for 2025 stands at just over 58,000 individuals.
As of October 2024, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada reported more than 85,000 pending refugee claims. The success of Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program over the past 40 years has brought hope and new opportunities to countless refugees, inspiring similar programs worldwide. However, its popularity has also led to a significant backlog and extended processing times.
To address these challenges, IRCC has decided to stop accepting new applications under the PSR Program from groups of five and community sponsors as of November 29, 2024. This pause will help control the growing application inventory and allow the government to achieve more predictable and shorter processing times.
IRCC emphasized that the decision considered multiple factors, including stakeholder feedback, the current backlog, and the targets set in the immigration plan. During this period, the department will continue processing existing applications and resettling sponsored refugees in line with established targets.
Recognizing the impact this measure may have on sponsors and other stakeholders, IRCC has committed to collaborating with its partners and the refugee sponsorship community to adjust to these changes. Additionally, the government plans to engage stakeholders on long-term program improvements, including potential future intake measures.
This temporary measure aims to restore balance to the PSR Program while ensuring refugees and their sponsors experience a more streamlined and efficient process in the future.