Immigration Minister Extends Pause on New Private Refugee Sponsorships to 2027

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab responds to a question in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Nov. 7, 2025. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Immigration Minister Lena Diab is extending until 2027 the pause on new applications through the Private Sponsorship for Refugees Program as the department works to clear its backlog.

New ministerial instructions were published in the Canada Gazette today along with a notice on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.