Quebec Shuts Door on New Spousal Sponsorship Applications Until 2026 — Cap Fully Reached
In a major development impacting thousands of Quebec residents, the province has closed the door on new family sponsorship applications for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children aged 18 or older. This policy change comes into immediate effect as of July 9, 2025.
This move is part of Quebec’s larger strategy to manage immigration levels under its unique provincial authority. The decision is already raising concerns among families who were planning to reunite in Canada.
What Has Happened?
Quebec has officially hit its limit for the number of sponsorship applications it will process in these specific family categories for the 2024–2026 period.
Anyone planning to submit a sponsorship application for:
- A spouse
- A common-law partner
- A conjugal partner
- A dependent child aged 18 or older
…will now be blocked from doing so. Any new applications received after July 9, 2025, will be returned without processing, and the application fees will be refunded.
What Triggered the Pause?
This situation stems from a cap imposed on June 26, 2024, by the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI). The cap covers a two-year window (June 26, 2024 to June 25, 2026), during which only a limited number of family sponsorship applications can be processed.
The total application limits were:
- 10,400 spots for spouses and adult dependent children
- 2,600 spots for parents, grandparents, and other relatives
Now that the 10,400 quota has been reached—just over a year into the two-year period—the program has closed 18 months early for that category.
Who Can Still Apply?
The good news is that some sponsorship categories remain open, including:
- Dependent children under 18
- Dependent adult children with disabilities
- Parents, grandparents, and other relatives — as long as the remaining 2,600 cap has not yet been reached
Also, if you’ve already submitted a sponsorship application prior to July 9, or if you’re adding dependents to an existing case, your application will not be affected by this freeze.
Why Is Quebec’s Process Unique?
Unlike the rest of Canada, Quebec has its own selection process for immigration. This means that:
- Applicants must first meet federal IRCC eligibility criteria for family sponsorship.
- Then, sponsors must apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) through a Quebec-specific “undertaking.”
That second step is where the restriction now applies — Quebec will not issue new CSQs for the closed categories until the moratorium ends in June 2026.
Why It Matters
This moratorium is expected to delay family reunification for thousands of Quebec residents, many of whom may not have been aware of the quota or how quickly it would fill up.
It may also force families to:
- Wait until mid-2026 to reapply
- Explore alternative immigration options, including economic or humanitarian streams
- Relocate to other provinces in order to sponsor under federal rules (though this comes with legal and logistical complications)
What Happens Next?
- The Quebec government will continue accepting sponsorships for parents and grandparents until that quota is reached.
- No changes have been announced for other immigration programs, but further updates may follow as we move toward the 2026 deadline.
- More clarity is expected from MIFI and IRCC regarding how pending or overlapping cases will be handled.
Final Word
This sudden policy change highlights the importance of acting quickly and staying informed about immigration caps and deadlines—especially in provinces like Quebec, where immigration processes are provincially managed and subject to separate rules from the federal system.
If you are affected or unsure of your options, it’s highly recommended to consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer as soon as possible.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
