Canada has announced a temporary pause on private refugee sponsorship applications from groups of five or more people and community organizations, aiming to address a growing backlog of cases. The suspension, effective immediately, will remain in place until December 31, 2025, according to a notice from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The move comes as the number of annual applications has significantly exceeded the available sponsorship spaces. Canada’s immigration plan for 2025-2027 targets the admission of 23,000 privately sponsored refugees, with a total refugee intake goal of just over 58,000 for 2025.
The backlog underscores the strain on Canada’s immigration system, with the Immigration and Refugee Board reporting over 85,000 pending refugee claims as of October. Officials hope the pause will allow the system to process existing claims more efficiently and better manage future admissions.
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This decision highlights the challenges of balancing humanitarian commitments with system capacity, leaving many refugee sponsors and advocates awaiting updates on when new applications might resume.
