Ottawa, November 29, 2024 – For over 40 years, Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program has been a beacon of hope, resettling hundreds of thousands of refugees. However, surging demand has now led the government to make a tough but necessary decision: a temporary pause on new refugee sponsorship applications from groups of five and community sponsors under the PSR Program.
The pause, effective November 29, 2024, through December 31, 2025, aims to address an overwhelming backlog of applications, ensuring shorter and more predictable processing times. The PSR Program’s overwhelming success has led to a growing inventory of applications, exceeding annual sponsorship spaces allocated under Canada’s immigration levels plan.
For 2025, the country remains committed to welcoming 23,000 privately sponsored refugees, focusing on processing existing applications.
Why This Decision Matters:
- Improved Certainty for Refugees and Sponsors: IRCC is focusing on reducing wait times and increasing predictability for applicants.
- Enhanced Planning: Stakeholder feedback and inventory size were key factors in this decision, as Canada works toward refining intake measures.
- Commitment to Resettlement: While intake is paused, Canada will continue to process pending applications and engage with stakeholders to improve the program long-term.
This strategic pause reflects Canada’s dedication to maintaining its global leadership in refugee resettlement while ensuring fairness and efficiency for all.
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