The Canadian province of Quebec has announced a major pause on new sponsorship applications under its Family Reunification Program, affecting individuals seeking to sponsor spouses, common-law partners, and adult dependent children. The intake freeze will remain in effect until June 25, 2026.
This suspension follows the province reaching its 2025-2026 cap on applications in these categories, according to an official update from Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI).
Cap Reached and Suspension Details
On July 9, 2025, MIFI confirmed that it had received the full 13,000 applications permitted under its current quota. Of these:
- 10,400 spots were reserved for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and adult dependent children
- 2,600 spots were set aside for parents, grandparents, and other eligible relatives
All submissions were processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and any new applications received after the limit was reached will now be returned unprocessed.
Those planning to sponsor a spouse or adult child while living in or intending to move to Quebec will need to wait until June 25, 2026, for the next intake cycle to begin.
Who is Exempt from the Suspension?
Despite the general freeze, MIFI clarified that certain categories remain exempt from the suspension. These include:
- Unmarried dependent children under 18 years of age
- Children being adopted
- Orphaned minors (such as siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren of the sponsor)
- Dependent adult children with disabilities
- Dependents added to an already-submitted sponsorship application
These exemptions ensure continued support for the reunification of vulnerable family members, even as the broader intake is paused.
Why Quebec Introduced the Freeze
MIFI indicated that this measure is part of an effort to align immigration with Quebec’s integration capacity, particularly concerning housing availability and access to public services.
The province is currently facing an intense housing crisis, especially in urban centers like Montreal, where increasing rent costs and limited housing supply have prompted pressure on policymakers to better manage immigration flows.
According to Travel Biz, MIFI’s decision was not only to manage processing workloads but also to ease housing pressures while ensuring successful integration of newcomers into Quebec society.
What Next for Affected Sponsors?
Individuals who intended to sponsor spouses or adult children but missed the cutoff will now have to wait until mid-2026 for the next intake round.
In the meantime, affected sponsors are strongly advised to:
- Stay updated through official MIFI communications
- Consult licensed immigration consultants or legal professionals
- Begin gathering and preparing documents early to avoid delays when the intake reopens
Conclusion
Quebec’s suspension of new sponsorship applications under its Family Reunification Program highlights the growing challenges Canadian provinces face in balancing immigration demand with resource capacity. While exemptions offer some relief for vulnerable groups, thousands of hopeful applicants will now have to postpone their reunification plans until 2026.
For those impacted, early preparation and close monitoring of policy updates will be key to navigating the next intake cycle successfully.
