CILA wishes to highlight the challenges arising from IRCC’s decision to extend the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (“PSR”) Program moratorium.
The prolonged pause has created significant uncertainty for private sponsors and refugee applicants, underscoring the need for transparent planning and clear communication to ensure that integrity measures do not unintentionally restrict access to protection or erode stakeholder confidence.
Overview of the PSR Program and Sponsorship Streams
Sponsors, including individuals, community groups, and organizations, play an essential role in refugee resettlement by offering financial, social, and emotional support to help newcomers rebuild their lives in Canada. The PSR Program operates through three distinct streams, each with its own process and requirements. Sponsorship Agreement Holders are organizations that have formal agreements with IRCC to resettle refugees and provide settlement support. These organizations may sponsor directly or work with Constituent Groups and co-sponsors and designate a Sponsorship Agreement Signatory, a Main Contact, and a Signing Authority for all dealings with IRCC.
The Groups of Five stream allows at least five Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or Registered Indians aged 18 or older who live in the community where the refugee will settle to come together to support a refugee for approximately twelve months.
The Community Sponsor stream allows local organizations, or organizations with local representatives, to assume responsibility for financial and non-financial settlement support for one year and requires these organizations to designate a Signing Authority to act on their behalf with IRCC.
IRCC’s Moratorium and the Rationale for Its Extension
On November 29, 2024, IRCC announced a pause on new applications in the Groups of Five and Community Sponsor streams due to demand consistently exceeding the number of available allocations in the immigration levels plan. The pause was originally set to end on December 31, 2025, but as of November 2025, has been extended to December 2026 to streamline application processes and address the growing inventory of files and processing delays. While applications submitted before the pause will continue to be processed, and refugees may still arrive through other pathways, no new applications under the Groups of Five or Community Sponsor streams will be accepted during this period. During the pause, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors wishing to participate in refugee resettlement may do so only through the Blended Visa Office-Referred (“BVOR”) Program, which is currently the sole available sponsorship pathway for these groups.
Gaps, Impacts, and Areas of Concern
IRCC has stated that the moratorium is intended to allow time to reset the application process, reduce backlogs, and improve efficiency within the PSR Program. IRCC’s 2025–26 Departmental Plan outlines broader modernization initiatives, including the development of a new digital case management system and efforts to improve service standards across immigration streams. While these measures may contribute to long-term improvement, the Plan does not outline specific PSR-focused actions or timelines to manage the accumulated inventory or mitigate the direct impacts of the moratorium on sponsors and applicants.
While CILA appreciates the rationale behind the extension, we remain concerned about broader implications for Canada’s immigration system and for the individuals, communities, and organizations affected by the pause.
Impact on Sponsors and Communities
Humanitarianism has long been a hallmark of Canada’s immigration system, reflected in the work of communities and organizations that consistently step forward to support people in vulnerable situations, including through the PSR Program. With the continued pause on new applications, many of these humanitarian efforts are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Groups that are ready and willing to support refugees cannot proceed and must reconsider their plans, reorganize finances, or look for other pathways. Community organizations must adjust programming and budgets without clarity on when the pause will be lifted. Redirecting Groups of Five and Community Sponsor applicants to the BVOR Program further strains a stream with limited capacity, adding pressure for both sponsors and refugees seeking timely protection.
Impact on Refugees
For refugees, the pause is a profound setback. Conflict, persecution, and mass violence are becoming increasingly persistent realities globally, contributing to a growing need for resettlement. Many refugees rely on private sponsorship to escape danger or to reunite with family members already in Canada. For individuals in volatile or life-threatening situations, uncertainty can mean the difference between reaching safety and being unable to flee. With the Groups of Five and Community Sponsor intakes halted, refugees hoping to seek protection in Canada now face uncertainty about when or whether they will be able to do so. Even applicants who submitted files before the pause have no clear indication of when their cases will be processed, resulting in prolonged delays and extended family separations with emotional and financial consequences. Many of these refugees have no alternative pathways, and some may be required to restart or duplicate application efforts once the streams reopen.
Risks to Public Confidence and System Integrity
Extending the moratorium without meaningful consultation also risks undermining public confidence in IRCC and the immigration system. To ensure that the program resumes smoothly and does not encounter further backlogs, CILA encourages IRCC to take steps to strengthen processing capacity, expand sponsorship opportunities, reduce administrative barriers, improve communication systems, and maintain regular engagement with sponsors, community organizations, and sector partners. Increasing internal resources would help address existing backlogs more quickly. Expanding the number of sponsorship spaces in the immigration levels plan would reduce pressure across all streams. Simplifying application procedures would improve accessibility and efficiency, while more reliable communication mechanisms would reduce unnecessary inquiries and administrative strain. Ongoing engagement with stakeholders would ensure that program reforms are informed by practical experience and reflect the needs of sponsors and refugees.
Recommendations and Next Steps for Sponsors
Although the moratorium is currently expected to be lifted in December 2026, there is no certainty that it will not be extended again. Sponsors and community groups are therefore encouraged to begin preparing documentation early so that applications are ready once intake resumes. In the meantime, CILA recommends that sponsors and community organizations regularly monitor IRCC’s official notices page for updates on the moratorium and related policy changes, follow up on existing applications to ensure ongoing processing, and explore partnerships or networks of support for refugees as conditions allow.
Conclusion
CILA recognizes the federal government’s efforts to maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and acknowledges the pressures IRCC faces in managing increasing application volumes. Effective program reform is essential to ensuring that immigration processes remain fair, efficient, accessible, and grounded in humanitarian values. Public confidence is vital, as it enables Canada to continue welcoming newcomers, reunifying families, and offering protection to those in need.
