Quebec Spousal Sponsorship Paused 2026: MIFI Cap Reached

Quebec residents who want to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child aged 18 or older for permanent residence are facing a hard stop at the provincial stage of their application. On July 9, 2025, Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) confirmed that it had reached the maximum number of undertaking applications it would accept for the period from June 26, 2024 to June 25, 2026. No new applications in these categories are being accepted until at least June 25, 2026.

Why This Happened

Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec has the constitutional authority to select its own family class immigrants. For spousal and family sponsorship, this means the federal IRCC process alone is not sufficient — applicants destined for Quebec also require a Certificat de selection du Quebec (CSQ) from MIFI, which flows from MIFI’s approval of the sponsor’s undertaking application.

MIFI imposed a cap of 13,000 family sponsorship applications for the two-year period from June 2024 to June 2026: 10,400 for spouses, partners, and adult dependent children, and 2,600 for parents, grandparents, and other eligible relatives. The 10,400 quota for spouses and adult children filled on July 9, 2025, triggering the suspension. Any applications submitted after that date in the affected categories have been returned unprocessed, with fees refunded.

Who Is Not Affected

The pause does not apply to all Quebec family sponsorship categories. Undertaking applications for dependent children under 18 are still being accepted. Applications for parents, grandparents, and other eligible relatives continue to be accepted until that separate quota of 2,600 is reached. Applicants in these exempt categories should verify current MIFI intake status before submitting.

What Quebec Sponsors Should Do Right Now

If you have not yet submitted your MIFI undertaking application: You cannot do so in the paused categories until MIFI reopens. Continue the federal stage of your application if it has not been submitted — IRCC will accept the federal sponsorship application — but understand that IRCC cannot issue a final approval without the MIFI undertaking. Your file will wait in IRCC’s inventory.

If your federal application is already in IRCC’s system: Your file remains in IRCC’s inventory. IRCC cannot approve it without the MIFI undertaking, but you do not need to withdraw or resubmit. When MIFI reopens, follow the instructions IRCC provides to submit your undertaking application.

If you submitted a MIFI undertaking application after July 9, 2025: Your application was returned unprocessed and fees were refunded. You will need to resubmit when intake reopens.

Prepare your MIFI undertaking package now: The undertaking application to MIFI is a paper-based process submitted by mail. Gather all required documents and prepare the full package so you can submit as quickly as possible when intake reopens. Being among the first filers after reopening places your application at the front of the queue.

The Financial and Timeline Reality

Quebec spousal sponsorship was already the slowest path to family class PR in Canada — processing times were running approximately 35 to 38 months from federal submission to final approval even before the MIFI pause. For sponsors whose undertaking applications cannot be submitted until after June 2026, the total timeline extends by however long the pause runs plus the MIFI processing time for the undertaking itself.

One option some Quebec sponsors are exploring is genuine relocation to another province. Quebec’s sponsorship requirements apply to sponsors who intend to reside in Quebec. A sponsor who genuinely establishes residence in another province exits the MIFI process and becomes eligible for standard federal processing at 15 months outland or 24 months inland. Genuine relocation requires documented evidence — lease or property, employment, utilities, address changes — and is scrutinized by IRCC. It is a viable option for some sponsors and not viable for others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit my federal IRCC application to get my place in the queue while waiting for MIFI?

Yes, IRCC continues to accept federal sponsorship applications from Quebec sponsors during the pause. Your file will be received and processed by IRCC up to the point where MIFI’s undertaking is required. IRCC cannot issue a final approval without the MIFI undertaking, so your file will wait in inventory. Whether submitting the federal application now — and paying the federal fees — makes sense for your situation depends on your specific circumstances.

Will all the spots I needed be available when MIFI reopens?

A new quota period will begin when MIFI reopens. MIFI has not publicly announced the quota size for the next period. The quota will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis after intake reopens. Preparing your MIFI undertaking package now so you can submit within the first days of the new intake period is the most effective strategy available.

Does the pause affect my right to sponsor as a Quebec resident?

No. The pause is a temporary intake cap, not a change to your eligibility to sponsor. Quebec residents who meet all sponsorship eligibility requirements can submit their undertaking applications when intake reopens. The pause affects timing, not entitlement.