Quebec Reopens Family Sponsorship Applications From July 2 With New Intake Rules

Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) will reopen its family sponsorship programme on July 2, 2026, allowing families to apply again after reaching last year’s application cap.

Quebec will accept up to 15,700 sponsorship applications between July 2, 2026, and July 2, 2028, giving Canadian citizens and permanent residents another opportunity to sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence.

New Application Caps

The intake limit is divided into two categories:

• Up to 13,300 applications for spouses and common-law partners.
• Up to 2,400 applications for parents and grandparents.

Some family sponsorship categories remain outside the cap. These include:

• Dependent children, including those aged 18 or older.
• Orphaned children.
• Children being adopted.
• Requests to add family members to an existing sponsorship application.

One welcome change is that dependent children aged 18 or older are now exempt from the intake limit. Previously, these applications counted toward the cap. That suggests Quebec is putting greater emphasis on keeping immediate families together while continuing to manage overall demand.

Priority Based on Waiting Time

Instead of opening applications on a first-come, first-served basis, MIFI has introduced a phased intake system.

Applicants will be invited based on the date Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued their sponsor eligibility letter or acknowledgement of receipt. The process will begin with documents issued in 2024 and move forward in chronological order.

This approach is becoming more common across immigration programmes, replacing online application rushes with queues designed to reward those who have already been waiting.

What Families Should Know

For all foreign nationals, including Indians who are now Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Quebec, the reopening creates another opportunity to sponsor eligible family members from India for permanent residence.

Applicants should also remember:

• Applications must be submitted by mail.
• In-person submissions will not be accepted.
• Sponsors should check the phased intake schedule before sending an application.

Travelobiz Take

We believe the new system is fairer than a first-come rush. If your eligibility documents are already in place, preparing your paperwork early will give you the best chance when your intake window opens.