Quebec pausing new family sponsorship application until June 2026

[YVR123]

The Quebec government says it won’t accept new applications from residents who want to sponsor their spouses, common-law partners or adult children for immigration until next year.
The Immigration department says in a news release that it has reached its cap for sponsorship in those categories.
As a result, the families of those immigrants would have to wait until June 25, 2026 to apply.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11281802/quebec-immigrants-sponsorship-2026/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mont...s-sponsorship-immigrants-until-2026-1.7580992

Quebec says it is still accepting applications for other classes of family members, such as children under 18.

 

[Naturgrl]

So is everyone going to seek residency in another province now? IRCC may get stricter on proving you are actually a tax resident and working/living in another province and not just being a remote worker or commuting from Ontario.

 

[scylla]

The Quebec government says it won’t accept new applications from residents who want to sponsor their spouses, common-law partners or adult children for immigration until next year.
The Immigration department says in a news release that it has reached its cap for sponsorship in those categories.
As a result, the families of those immigrants would have to wait until June 25, 2026 to apply.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11281802/quebec-immigrants-sponsorship-2026/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mont...s-sponsorship-immigrants-until-2026-1.7580992

Quebec says it is still accepting applications for other classes of family members, such as children under 18.

Saw this earlier today on twitter. Very on brand for Quebec.

 

[YVR123]

Saw this earlier today on twitter. Very on brand for Quebec.

it's a bold move.

 

[armoured]

Saw this earlier today on twitter. Very on brand for Quebec.

On brand for Legault, moreso.

 

[canuck78]

If there were still a few people still applying for family sponsorship in Quebec this will push many to move although with an SOWP maybe not. Given the job market and higher cost of living in places like Ontario it is a risky time to move especially without secured employment.

 

[keyboat1]

Wow, this is wild.

Quebecers WHO WERE PLANNING TO APPLY, what’s your game plan now? Are people seriously considering moving provinces over this, or just waiting it out?

I’ve never seen something this extreme in Canada immigration before. Feels like the province just rolled a critical fail on family sponsorship. Crazy they're playing like this with family reunification!!!

For context, I’m in BC doing inland common-law sponsorship:

App sent: Feb 4, 2025

AOR: Feb 27, 2025

BIL + pre-arrival letter: June 9, 2025

BIL done: June 10, 2025

Eligibility approval (AIP) + sponsor eligibility: June 13, 2025


Super curious how folks in Quebec are coping

 

[lyluk]

I am resident in Quebec and I'm lost on what to do due to this freeze, so I searched the forum and stumbled on this post.
I am unclear at which stage IRCC asks to apply for CSQ? The starting point or ending part?
If it's at the start, we provide biometrics, medical test results, police clearance and they're valid for 1 year, things drag and when finally allowed to apply for CSQ, all docs would have expired, so then we need to re-submit them?

 

[armoured]

If it's at the start, we provide biometrics, medical test results, police clearance and they're valid for 1 year, things drag and when finally allowed to apply for CSQ, all docs would have expired, so then we need to re-submit them?

I don't know the answer to your main question, but truth is they won't ask for new biometrics or police clearance once submitted (they can but don't that I'm aware of), and for medicals - they routinely extend for those in Canada and often for those abroad.* So at this stage, all we can say is don't worry about that for now.

*This Quebec freeze is new and it's possible IRCC will delay requesting medicals due to this, but it's only speculation.

 

[lyluk]

I don't know the answer to your main question, but truth is they won't ask for new biometrics or police clearance once submitted (they can but don't that I'm aware of), and for medicals - they routinely extend for those in Canada and often for those abroad.* So at this stage, all we can say is don't worry about that for now.

*This Quebec freeze is new and it's possible IRCC will delay requesting medicals due to this, but it's only speculation.

Thank you for your response. Would you know if it would be possible for the parent to be in Canada under the super visa and if ever it is requested that they submit biometrics or medical check, would they be able to do these checks from within Canada or have to go back to their country? I assume police checks cannot be applied for remotely though.

 

[armoured]

Thank you for your response. Would you know if it would be possible for the parent to be in Canada under the super visa and if ever it is requested that they submit biometrics or medical check, would they be able to do these checks from within Canada or have to go back to their country? I assume police checks cannot be applied for remotely though.

Yes, biometrics and medical checks can be done anywhere in the world, including from within Canada. (There may be a policy about not requesting medicals for those within Canada, idk).

Police checks: whether these can be ordered remotely is not dependent on Canada, but the country from which the police checks need to be ordered. Many - I'd even say most - do allow / provide for police checks being ordered from abroad, either directly or through consulates abroad. But ... depends on country.