This Week in Canadian Immigration: PGP 2025 Details Unveiled, Alberta Launches Multiple Draws, and a Look at Express Entry Trends
- Gagandeep Singh
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Welcome to your essential weekly roundup of Canadian immigration news. As your trusted immigration consultants, we believe that detailed and timely information is the cornerstone of a successful immigration strategy. This week was packed with major announcements for families, a flurry of activity from provincial programs, and important data-driven insights into the Express Entry system. Let's dive into the expanded details.
The Main Event: Deeper Dive into the 2025 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
The most significant news is the detailed plan for the 2025 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed that starting July 28, 2025, it will begin issuing 17,860 invitations to apply. The department's goal is to accept 10,000 complete applications for processing.
Crucial Details for Potential Sponsors:
The 2020 Pool is Still Key: Invitations will only be sent to potential sponsors who submitted an "interest to sponsor" form back in 2020. IRCC is not opening a new interest form at this time. If you submitted a form in 2020, it is critical to check the email address you provided (including junk and spam folders) over the two-week invitation period.
The Application Process: Upon receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you must submit two applications together: your application to be a sponsor, and your parents' or grandparents' application for permanent residence. These must be submitted electronically through IRCC's Permanent Residence Portal.
Financial Requirements: As a sponsor, you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for the three consecutive taxation years preceding your application. You will need to provide your Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as proof.
The Alternative - The Super Visa: If you do not receive an invitation, the Super Visa remains an excellent alternative. It allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years at a time on a visa that can be valid for up to ten years. To be eligible as a host, you must meet a lower income threshold (the Low-Income Cut-Off, or LICO) for just one year. The applicant must also purchase at least one year of medical insurance from a Canadian provider with a minimum coverage of $100,000.
Express Entry: A Pause for Breath and a Look at the Numbers
Following two draws in the first week of July—a PNP-specific draw and a CEC-specific draw—this past week was quiet, with no new Express Entry invitations issued. This pause gives us a chance to analyze the trends from the first half of 2025.
First-Half 2025 Express Entry Insights:
Fewer Invitations, Higher Scores: In the first six months of 2025, IRCC issued 38,845 ITAs. This is a decrease from the same period in 2024. This reduction in draws has contributed to a significant increase in the average CRS score required, which climbed to 617 in the first half of this year, a steep rise from 481 in early 2024.
Focus on Categories: The distribution of invitations shows a clear policy direction. Category-based draws, particularly for French-language proficiency, have dominated, while draws for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) have seen fewer invitations compared to last year.
This data underscores the importance of maximizing every possible point in your Express Entry profile, especially in language skills and work experience, to remain competitive.
PNP Spotlight: Alberta Takes Center Stage with Multiple Draws
While the federal system was quiet, the provinces were not. The big news this week comes from the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), which has been exceptionally active. Between July 3rd and July 16th, AAIP conducted six separate draws, targeting a wide range of candidates.
Alberta's Recent Invitation Rounds:
July 16: A highly targeted draw for the Law Enforcement Pathway invited candidates with CRS scores as low as 49.
July 11: The Alberta Opportunity Stream issued 269 invitations to candidates with a minimum score of 72.
July 9: The Dedicated Health Care Pathway (non-Express Entry) invited 32 candidates with scores of 53 and up.
July 8: The Aviation sector was targeted via the Express Entry stream, with 20 invitations issued to candidates with a minimum CRS of 53.
July 4: The Agriculture sector saw 15 invitations with a minimum CRS of 64.
July 3: An Express Entry-linked Healthcare Pathway draw invited 36 candidates with a minimum CRS of 62.
This flurry of activity demonstrates Alberta's strategic use of its nomination program to address specific, critical labour shortages. In contrast, provinces like Saskatchewan have announced no scheduled draws for their popular Expression of Interest system, citing a 50% reduction in their federal nomination allocation for 2025.
Business Immigration: Unpacking the Start-up Visa Program Changes
For innovative entrepreneurs, it's vital to understand the recent shifts in the Start-up Visa (SUV) program. The changes introduced this year are designed to attract high-potential businesses and streamline the process.
New 3-Year Open Work Permit: A significant upgrade from the previous one-year, closed work permit. This gives entrepreneurs the flexibility to earn an income and gain Canadian experience while their permanent residence application is being processed, without being tied exclusively to their start-up.
Application Caps: Each designated venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator can now only support a total of 10 applications per year. This encourages these organizations to be more selective, focusing their resources and support on the most promising ventures.
Priority Processing: IRCC will prioritize applications that have secured funding from a designated venture capital or angel investor group, or that are affiliated with a tech network. This signals a focus on start-ups that are already demonstrating significant potential for economic contribution.
What to Expect in the Coming Week (July 21-27)
Express Entry Draw?: The pause in draws has increased anticipation. Based on recent patterns and the need to issue invitations, a draw next week is highly possible. Will it be another category-based draw for a sector like STEM or Trades, or will we see a larger draw for CEC or PNP candidates? We will be watching closely.
More PNP Activity: Expect continued, targeted draws from provinces like British Columbia and Alberta as they manage their reduced allocations for the year.
PGP Preparations: With the invitation round starting on July 28th, the focus will shift to sponsors preparing their documentation for a swift and complete application submission.
Immigration Fact of the Week
Did you know that Canadian citizenship is a relatively modern concept? Before the Canadian Citizenship Act came into effect on January 1, 1947, people born in Canada and naturalized immigrants were not officially "Canadian citizens" but were considered British subjects. The creation of Canadian citizenship was a major step in forging Canada's independent national identity after World War II.