Quebec Temporarily Stops Accepting Spousal and Adult Dependent Sponsorship Applications

The Quebec government has announced that it has reached the maximum number of applications allowed for sponsoring certain family members, and will no longer accept new applications for spousal and adult dependent sponsorships until June 25, 2026.

Who Is Affected by the Suspension?

Effective immediately, residents of Quebec will not be able to submit applications for undertakings to sponsor the following family members for permanent residency:

• Spouses
• Common-law partners
• Conjugal partners
• Dependent children aged 18 or older
  
  

Any applications received for these categories will be returned without being processed, and the fees will be refunded.

Who Is Not Affected?

You can still sponsor:

• Dependent children under the age of 18
• Adult children with disabilities who are financially dependent

Applications to sponsor these family members will continue to be accepted.

Why Has This Happened?

On June 26, 2024, the Quebec government introduced a two-year cap on family sponsorship applications. The total limit was 13,000 applications for the period from June 26, 2024, to June 25, 2026. Out of this:

• 10,400 were reserved for spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children aged 18 or older
• 2,600 were reserved for parents, grandparents, and other relatives
  
  

As of July 9, 2025, the limit for the first category has been reached. However, Quebec is still accepting applications to sponsor parents, grandparents, and other relatives, as that cap has not yet been met.

What This Means for Quebec Residents

If you live in Quebec and want to sponsor a family member, you must follow a special process that is different from other provinces. This includes signing a Quebec-specific undertaking and getting a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the province’s immigration ministry.

Please note that this cap does not affect the ability to add dependents to existing sponsorship applications.

Next Steps

If you were planning to sponsor a spouse or adult dependent child, you may need to explore alternative pathways for family reunification. You can book a free consultation to discuss available legal options and the best course of action for your family.