Quebec sets limit on Family sponsorship applications
- Starting June 26, 2024, Quebec’s Immigration Department will accept up to 13,000 applications to sponsor family members over a two-year period, ending on June 25, 2026.
- This change aims to reduce the backlog and offer clear guidelines for those wishing to reunite with their loved ones in Quebec. However, there are likely to be (potentially unintended) consequences from this policy change – including some Quebecers who may move out of the province to sponsor their family member(s).
- Key Details of the Sponsorship Program
Application Caps and Categories:
- Total Applications: The program will accept 13,000 applications with limited exceptions.
- Spouse, Partner, or Adult Child Sponsorships: 10,400 applications.
- Parent, Grandparent, or Other Relative Sponsorships: 2,600 applications.
Application Process:
- First-Come, First-Served: Applications will be processed in the order they are received.
- Deadline: If the cap is reached before June 26, 2026, the Immigration Department will stop accepting applications.
- After the Limit: Applications received after the limit will be returned without processing, and no fees will be collected. Applicants can reapply in the next period.
- Exemptions to the Application Limits
Certain sponsorship cases are exempt from the application caps, ensuring that vulnerable family members and special cases are always considered. These exemptions include:
Children Under 18: You can always apply to sponsor a child under 18 years old.
Adoption Cases: Applications to sponsor a minor child you wish to adopt are always accepted.
Orphaned Minors: Siblings, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren who are orphaned minors can be sponsored.
Dependent Adult Children: Adults with a physical or mental condition who are dependent on you can be sponsored.
These exemptions ensure that those in the most need of support and care can always find a path to reunification, regardless of the overall application limits. Individuals being sponsored under the exemptions must not be married or in a common-law relationship.
