Recent Updates on Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program

Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program offers Canadians, permanent residents, and community organizations the opportunity to provide refugees with a safe haven and a chance to start anew. Due to overwhelming demand, the program has experienced a surge in applications and extended processing times. In response, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a temporary pause on new applications for the group of five and community sponsor streams until December 31, 2026. However, applications already in the system will continue to be processed, and Canada remains committed to meeting its refugee admissions targets outlined in the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. While this pause may impact sponsors and partners, IRCC assures ongoing support for the refugee sponsorship community and collaborative efforts with partners to enhance the PSR Program.