Quebec Halts New Spousal Sponsorship Applications After Reaching Quota, Moratorium in Place Until 2026
Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI) issued an important update regarding its family sponsorship program, announcing an immediate halt to the acceptance of new undertaking applications for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children aged 18 and over.
Quota Management Activated as High Demand Fills Spots Ahead of Schedule
This adjustment stems from Quebec's immigration levels plan. On June 26, 2024, the Quebec government established a total cap of 13,000 family sponsorship applications for the period ending June 25, 2026.
Of these, 10,400 spots were allocated for the spousal and adult dependent category. Due to exceptionally strong demand, this cap was reached as of July 9, 2025. To ensure orderly processing, the ministry has implemented this moratorium until the end of the current quota cycle.
Officials have confirmed that any applications in the affected categories submitted during this moratorium will not be processed. The application packages will be returned to the sender along with a refund of any fees paid.
Some Family Sponsorship Streams Remain Open
It is important to note that the pause is not comprehensive. The following application types are not affected and will continue to be accepted and processed:
- Sponsorship of dependent children under the age of 18;
- Sponsorship of adult children who are financially dependent on their parents due to a physical or mental condition;
- Sponsorship of parents, grandparents, and other relatives. The quota of 2,600 applications for this category has not yet been reached, and its intake remains open.
- Adding new dependents to an application that has already been successfully submitted.
Quebec's Unique Two-Step Sponsorship Process
This development also highlights Quebec's distinct two-step immigration process. Unlike in other Canadian provinces, Quebec residents wishing to sponsor relatives must follow these steps:
- Provincial Approval: The sponsor must first submit an undertaking application to MIFI. If approved, the sponsored person is issued a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).
- Federal Approval: After obtaining a CSQ, the application is forwarded to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for final admissibility checks, including health and security screenings, before permanent residence is granted.
The current pause affects the first step of this process: submitting an application to the province of Quebec to obtain a CSQ.
For Quebec residents planning to sponsor a spouse or adult child, this change necessitates an adjustment to their family reunification plans and timelines. They will need to closely monitor MIFI's announcements for the next intake period, expected after June 2026.
Friendly reminder: There are many pathways to immigrate to Canada. We recommend first using UNA AI to generate an objective and neutral immigration plan, so you can gain an initial understanding of the possible immigration pathways and their requirements, and then choose to proceed with one-on-one consultations with a licensed Canadian immigration consultant partnered with UNA.
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