Quebec to Reopen Family Sponsorship Intake on July 2, 2026 with New Cap Rules

Quebec has announced that it will reopen intake for capped family sponsorship applications on July 2, 2026.

The announcement was made by Quebec’s immigration department, the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration, also known as MIFI.

Under the new intake period, Quebec will accept a maximum of 15,700 applications for undertakings to sponsor family members for permanent residence over a two-year period.

Quebec Family Sponsorship Cap for 2026

The total cap of 15,700 applications will be divided into two main categories:

This means Quebec will accept up to 13,300 spouse sponsorship applications and 2,400 parent and grandparent sponsorship applications during the two-year intake period.

Any applications received after the cap is reached will be returned without processing, and the application fees will be refunded.

Adult Dependent Children Exempt from the Cap

One of the key updates is that dependent children aged 18 or older will no longer be subject to the cap.

This is different from the previous intake period, where dependent children aged 18 or older were included under the capped category.

The cap also does not apply to undertakings to sponsor:

• Dependent children
• Orphaned minor children
• Children being adopted
• Dependents added to an application that already includes a family member covered by an existing undertaking
  
  

MIFI to Prioritize Older Applications

According to the announcement, MIFI will prioritize older applications once the intake opens.

This means applications that are already in the system may be reviewed before newer files move forward.

Who Is Considered a Dependent Child?

For family sponsorship purposes, a dependent child is generally a child who is:

• Under the age of 22
• Not married
• Not in a common-law relationship
  
  

Spousal sponsorship may apply to a legally married spouse, a common-law partner, or a conjugal partner.

Background on Quebec’s Family Sponsorship Cap

Quebec first introduced a cap for family sponsorship undertakings in June 2024.

The first intake period was scheduled to run from June 26, 2024, to June 25, 2026. However, the cap was reached before the intake period ended.

The cap for spouses and adult dependent children was reached by July 9, 2025. The cap for parents and grandparents was reached by July 22, 2025.

As a result, many new applications submitted after the cap was reached could not move forward under that intake period.

Quebec Family Sponsorship Process

Family sponsorship applications for people planning to settle in Quebec follow a different process than sponsorship applications for other parts of Canada.

Foreign nationals who wish to settle in Quebec must first apply for and obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate, also known as a CSQ, from MIFI.

The CSQ is an important step in Quebec’s immigration process and is required before the permanent residence application can continue.

What This Means for Families

The reopening of Quebec’s family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026, is an important update for families waiting to sponsor their loved ones.

The exemption for adult dependent children is also a positive change, as these applications will no longer be counted under the cap.

However, because the number of applications is limited, sponsors should prepare their documents carefully and submit complete applications when the intake opens.

Final Takeaway

Quebec will reopen its capped family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026, with a total cap of 15,700 applications over two years.

The cap includes 13,300 applications for spouses and 2,400 applications for parents and grandparents. Adult dependent children will be exempt from the cap, making this an important update for families applying under Quebec’s family sponsorship process.