Quebec Halts New Spouse Sponsorship Applications Until 2026

Quebec residents can no longer apply to sponsor their spouses or certain family members for permanent residency. This decision takes effect immediately and will stay in place until June 25, 2026.

The province has officially stopped accepting applications for Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQ) for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children who are 18 years or older.

Applications Closed for Now

Any new applications received under these categories will not be processed. The government will return them and issue full refunds for application fees.

This pause only affects certain sponsorship types. Quebec will still accept applications to sponsor:

• Dependent children under 18
  
• Adult children with disabilities
  
• Parents, grandparents, and other relatives (until that cap is reached)

Why Did Quebec Pause Applications?

Quebec set a strict limit on the number of sponsorship applications it would accept between June 26, 2024, and June 25, 2026. The cap included:

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

On July 9, 2025, Quebec announced it had already reached the 10,400 limit for spouses and adult dependent children. Because of this, it has closed the program for these categories.

However, the province is still accepting applications for parents, grandparents, and other eligible relatives until that separate cap is also met.

What if Someone Already Applied?

Those who applied before the cap was reached will not be affected. People can also still add dependents to existing applications. The halt only applies to new applications in the closed categories.

Quebec Has a Different Sponsorship Process

Quebec handles immigration differently than other provinces. To sponsor family members, Quebec residents must first sign a special undertaking form with the province. Then they must get approval from Quebec’s immigration ministry before receiving a CSQ.

Only after completing these steps can the federal immigration process move forward.

Important Notes for Quebec Residents

This change might delay plans for many people hoping to reunite with loved ones. While other parts of Canada continue to accept sponsorships through the federal system, Quebec controls its own family sponsorship numbers.

Anyone unsure about what options are available should look into other legal pathways or speak to a professional for help.