Quebec has hit cap for spousal sponsorship undertakings
As of July 9, 2025, Quebec has suspended the acceptance of new applications for Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQ) under the family sponsorship category for certain relatives. Specifically, individuals in Quebec can no longer sponsor spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, or dependent children aged 18 or older for permanent residency. This moratorium is effective immediately and will remain in place until June 25, 2026. Any applications received for these categories will be returned unprocessed, and application fees will be refunded.
This decision comes after the Quebec government reached the cap it had set on June 26, 2024, for the two-year period ending June 25, 2026. The cap allowed a maximum of 13,000 sponsorship applications, including 10,400 for spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children aged 18 or older, and 2,600 for parents, grandparents, and other relatives. The cap for spouses and adult dependent children has now been fully reached.
However, Quebec is still accepting sponsorship applications for dependent children under the age of 18, as well as adult children who are dependent due to a disability. Additionally, the cap for parents, grandparents, and other relatives has not yet been met, so applications in those categories can still be submitted.
The newly announced cap on Quebec family sponsorship applications does not prevent applicants from adding dependents to existing applications. Residents of Quebec must follow a distinct process to sponsor family members compared to those in other provinces. This includes signing a Quebec-specific undertaking and obtaining approval from the province's immigration ministry to receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), which is essential for family reunification cases in Quebec. As this is a developing story, CIC News has indicated that more updates will be provided as further details become available.
