Family Sponsorship Update — July 9, 2026
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Quebec will reopen family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026, accepting up to 15,700 applications over two years (13,300 for spouses, 2,400 for parents/grandparents); adult dependent children aged 18+ are now exempt from the cap.
As of February 17, 2026, family sponsorship processing times have dropped compared to January, with notable improvements under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Applications received in excess of Quebec's cap will be returned unprocessed with fees refunded; MIFI will prioritize older applications once intake opens.
What You Should Do
- If you plan to sponsor a family member for permanent residence in Quebec, prepare your undertaking application now and be ready to submit on July 2, 2026 at mifi.gouv.qc.ca — the cap fills quickly (the previous intake hit its limit within weeks).
- If you are sponsoring an adult dependent child (aged 18-21, unmarried) to Quebec, confirm your child qualifies as a dependent under Quebec's definition (under 22, not married or in a common-law relationship) — they are now exempt from the cap and can be sponsored without competing for the 15,700 spots.
- Check current family sponsorship processing times for your specific application type (spouse in Canada, spouse abroad, parents/grandparents) at canada.ca/immigration-processing-times to plan your timeline, as times have recently improved.
- If your sponsored family member receives a biometrics request letter from IRCC, ensure they visit a biometric collection site within 30 days of the letter date and bring the letter and their passport.
Sources
Topics Covered
Spousal Sponsorship Processing Improvements: IRCC's February 17, 2026 processing time update shows family sponsorship wait times have dropped compared to January 15, 2026, including improvements under the Parents and Grandparents Program.
Parents and Grandparents Program Regional Disparities: Quebec is reopening its family sponsorship intake on July 2, 2026 with a two-year cap of 15,700 applications, and has changed its policy to exempt adult dependent children (18+) from the cap — a reversal from its June 2024 rules.
More Family Sponsorship Updates
Family Sponsorship Update — July 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — July 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026
Family Sponsorship Update — July 6, 2026
Jul 6, 2026
Get immigration updates in your inbox
Weekly analysis. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.