Dear future neighbour,
Families with loved ones hoping to settle in Quebec finally have a date to look forward to. Starting July 2, 2026, Quebec will begin accepting new applications for family sponsorship undertakings and this time, there’s an important change that many families will welcome.
Adult dependent children (those 18 and older) will no longer count toward the application cap. That’s a significant shift from the previous intake period, which grouped them in with spouses and made it harder for families to reunite.
So what are the new limits?
Over the next two years, Quebec’s immigration department – the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) – will accept a combined total of 15,700 sponsorship undertaking applications, broken down as follows:
| Category | Application Cap |
|---|---|
| Spouses | 13,300 |
| Parents or Grandparents | 2,400 |
| Total | 15,700 |
Dependent children, orphaned minors, and children being adopted are not subject to any cap at all. The same applies to dependents being added to an existing application where the primary family member is already covered by an undertaking.
It’s worth noting that once the cap is reached, any applications submitted beyond that limit will be returned unprocessed and fees will be refunded. So timing matters here.
For context, Quebec introduced this cap system back in June 2024. That first intake period was set to run until June 25, 2026, but it filled up far sooner than expected; spouses and adult dependent children hit the ceiling by July 9, 2025, and the parents and grandparents cap followed shortly after on July 22, 2025. This new intake is essentially the next chapter.
One thing that’s unique about Quebec is that family sponsorship there works a little differently than in the rest of Canada. A family member who plans to settle in Quebec must first receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) from the MIFI before they can move forward with a permanent residence application federally. That extra step means timing and preparation matter even more.
For sponsorship purposes, a dependent child is defined as someone under 22 who is not married or in a common-law relationship. Spouses can be legally married, common-law partners, or conjugal partners.
The MIFI has also confirmed that when the new intake opens, older pending applications will be given priority.
Take the First Step Toward Your New Life Together in Canada
Whether you’re looking to sponsor a spouse, bring your parents or grandparents to Canada, or finally get your adult children on a path to permanent residence, the window opening on July 2nd is one you don’t want to miss; and you don’t want to go in unprepared. Our team is here to guide you through every step, from spousal sponsorship and family reunification to express entry, work permits, visitor visas, super visas, provincial nominations, citizenship applications, and more. Book a consultation today and let’s put together a plan that works for your family.