Quick Answer
Quebec will reopen capped family sponsorship applications on July 2, 2026, after the previous quota filled in July 2025 and froze new spousal and parent/grandparent applications. The new intake runs July 2, 2026 to June 30, 2028 with a cap of 15,700 undertaking applications — 13,300 for spouses/partners and 2,400 for parents/grandparents. A major change: dependent children aged 18+ are now exempt from the cap. Older applications get priority. Prepare your package now to file the moment intake opens.
Why This Matters
Quebec runs its own immigration system. To sponsor a family member who will settle in Quebec, you must complete a two-step process — a federal sponsorship application with IRCC and a provincial undertaking with Quebec’s MIFI. When the provincial cap is full, IRCC can accept the federal side but cannot issue final PR approval without Quebec’s undertaking. The cap filling in July 2025 left many couples in limbo for nearly a year.
This guide explains the reopening in general terms. It is not legal advice. Quebec sponsorship is among the most time-sensitive and procedurally complex immigration processes, and the queue is prioritized by waiting time. Getting the two-step federal-provincial sequence wrong wastes the window. For a Quebec-destined sponsorship, a consultation with a licensed RCIC or Quebec immigration lawyer is genuinely worth it.
The New Caps (July 2, 2026 to June 30, 2028)
| Category | Cap over two years |
|---|---|
| Spouses, common-law & conjugal partners | 13,300 applications |
| Parents & grandparents | 2,400 applications |
| Total | 15,700 applications |
This replaces the previous 13,000 cap (10,400 spouses/adult children + 2,600 parents/grandparents) that ran June 26, 2024 to June 25, 2026.
The Big Change: Adult Dependent Children Now Exempt
Previously, dependent children aged 18 or older counted toward the spousal cap. Under the new rules, dependent children aged 18+ are exempt from the intake caps entirely. Also exempt (and submittable any time):
- Dependent children under 18
- Orphaned minor children
- Children being adopted
- Requests to add family members to an existing application
If your sponsorship falls in an exempt category, you are not racing the cap.
How the Priority System Works
MIFI will prioritize applicants who have been waiting the longest. You may only submit your undertaking during the intake period that corresponds to the date on your IRCC proof of eligibility or acknowledgement of receipt. In practice: applicants who completed the federal step earlier get priority access when intake opens. Applications received in excess of the cap are returned without processing, with fees refunded.
What to Do Before July 2, 2026
- Complete the federal step early. Submit your sponsorship application to IRCC so you have proof of eligibility / AOR dated as early as possible — this drives your priority.
- Prepare a complete provincial package now: relationship evidence, sponsor documents, police certificates, and the MIFI undertaking forms.
- Be ready to file the moment intake opens. Being among the first after reopening maximizes your queue position.
- Remember MIFI fees are separate from IRCC fees and paid directly to Quebec — don’t bundle them.
The Relocation Alternative
Quebec’s rules apply based on where the sponsor genuinely intends to reside. A sponsor who authentically relocates to another province and establishes residence there is no longer Quebec-destined, and the federal sponsorship process applies without the MIFI undertaking requirement. This is a real option for some — but it must be a genuine relocation, not a paper move. Misrepresenting your province of residence is misrepresentation.
FAQ
Can I submit my federal application before July 2?
Yes. IRCC continues to accept federal sponsorship applications from Quebec sponsors. But final PR approval requires Quebec’s undertaking, which you can only file once provincial intake opens.
My adult child was stuck under the old cap. Are they exempt now?
Under the new rules, dependent children aged 18+ are exempt from the intake cap. Confirm your specific situation against MIFI’s current rules.
What if the cap fills again quickly?
It may. The previous cap filled within about a year. Preparing your complete package now and filing immediately when intake opens is the best protection against being shut out again.
Canadianow is an independent publisher, not a law firm. Verify current Quebec rules on quebec.ca and IRCC rules on canada.ca. Last reviewed: June 2026.
Sources
- MIFI (Ministere de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Integration) — family reunification intake announcement
- IRCC — sponsor your family
- Gazette officielle du Quebec — reception of applications decision (June 2026)
Written by Canadianow Editorial Team. Last reviewed: June 2026.
