Maple News reports that Quebec has officially reached its cap on applications to sponsor spouses and adult dependent children for permanent residence, placing a temporary freeze on these categories until June 25, 2026.
As of July 9, 2025, the provincial government will no longer accept applications for undertaking to sponsor spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, or dependent children aged 18 or older under the family reunification program.
This decision follows a previously announced cap established on June 26, 2024, allowing a maximum of 13,000 family sponsorship undertaking applications until mid-2026. Of that quota, 10,400 spots were designated for spouses and adult dependents, while 2,600 were reserved for parents, grandparents, and other relatives. The 10,400-limit has now been met.
Any new sponsorship applications submitted under the paused categories will be automatically returned without being processed, and application fees will be refunded. However, the moratorium does not affect applications for dependent children under the age of 18 or for adult dependents with disabilities. These remain eligible for sponsorship.
The Quebec government is still accepting applications under the remaining 2,600 quota spots for sponsoring parents, grandparents, and other relatives, as that cap has yet to be reached.
This suspension reflects Quebec’s ongoing efforts to manage immigration according to its jurisdictional priorities and capacity for integration. It also highlights the competitive nature of Quebec’s family reunification streams, especially for those seeking to be reunited with partners and adult children.
Applicants affected by this pause may need to consider federal sponsorship alternatives or explore temporary immigration pathways depending on their specific situation.
Stay tuned with Maple News for timely updates on family sponsorship and immigration policy changes across Canada.