This Week in Canadian Immigration: New Pilot to Speed Up Spousal Sponsorship, PGP Income Requirements Updated
- Gagandeep Singh
- Aug 17
- 3 min read
Welcome to your accurate and verified weekly roundup of Canadian immigration news. As a registered Canadian immigration consultant, my commitment is to provide you with timely and factual information. This week brought significant positive news for families, with IRCC launching a new initiative to improve spousal sponsorship processing times. We also saw key financial updates for PGP sponsors and an Express Entry system on pause.
Let's break down the real news from this past week.
The Big Story: IRCC Launches Pilot to Fast-Track Spousal Sponsorship
In a welcome announcement on August 14, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a new pilot project aimed at reducing processing times for Spousal and Common-Law Partner Sponsorship applications.
This is a major development for couples facing long waits. Here’s what we know:
Advanced Analytics: The pilot will use advanced data analytics to identify straightforward, low-risk applications. These applications can then be streamlined and processed more quickly.
Target Processing Time: The goal of this initiative is to bring the average processing time for these straightforward applications down to under 10 months.
Impact on Applicants: This means that many new and existing applicants in the spousal sponsorship stream could see their files finalized much faster than the current service standards. It’s a clear move by IRCC to leverage technology to reunite families sooner.
This is undoubtedly the most impactful news of the week, offering hope to thousands of families waiting to be reunited in Canada.
Key Financial Update: New Income Requirements for PGP Sponsors
On August 13, 2025, IRCC officially updated the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) tables required for sponsoring parents and grandparents. This annual update reflects the latest Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) figures from Statistics Canada. Anyone planning to apply in the next Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) intake must meet the MNI for the three consecutive tax years preceding their application.
The newly published income requirements for 2022, 2023, and 2024 are:
Family Size of 2: $43,082 (2022), $44,530 (2023), $47,549 (2024)
Family Size of 3: $52,965 (2022), $54,743 (2023), $58,456 (2024)
Family Size of 4: $64,306 (2022), $66,466 (2023), $70,972 (2024)
For each additional person, add: $8,341 (2022), $8,723 (2023), $9,216 (2024)
Having these official figures allows potential sponsors to plan with certainty. Remember, a spouse or common-law partner can act as a co-signer to help meet these financial thresholds.
Express Entry: A Continued Pause
Confirming our reports, the Express Entry system saw no new rounds of invitations this week. This marks the first full week without a draw since July. The last draws were conducted between August 6-8.
This pause could be for administrative reasons, IT system updates, or to allow IRCC to process the large number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued in early August. We anticipate draws will resume soon, likely with a focus on specific categories like French proficiency or in-demand occupations. All candidates should ensure their profiles are active and accurate.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Highlights
The provinces continue to shape their immigration strategies for the remainder of the year. The key updates remain:
British Columbia (BC PNP): In a notice posted on August 11, the province confirmed it does not plan to resume general draws for skilled workers in 2025, instead focusing on limited invitations for high-impact candidates.
Saskatchewan (SINP): The province is contending with a significantly reduced nomination allocation for 2025, which will increase the competitiveness of its immigration streams.
Immigration Tip of the Week
Don't Mistranslate Your Job Title. When filling out your work experience for Express Entry or other skilled worker programs, don't just use the literal translation of your job title. You must find the closest matching National Occupational Classification (NOC) code that accurately reflects your duties and responsibilities. A mismatch between your stated duties and the lead statement of the chosen NOC is a common reason for refusal. Always focus on matching the duties listed in the NOC description, not just the title.
For expert guidance on spousal sponsorship, PGP applications, or any aspect of your Canadian immigration journey, our team is here to help.
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