Effective June 26, 2024, Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration has implemented a cap on the number of family sponsorship applications, which will remain in effect until June 25, 2026.
The newly imposed limit allows for a total of 13,000 sponsorship applications, divided as follows:
- 10,400 applications for spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children aged 18 and over.
- 2,600 applications for parents, grandparents, or other eligible relatives.
Once these limits are reached, the Ministère will no longer accept applications during the remaining period. However, the cap does not apply to:
- A sponsor’s dependent minor child.
- Minor children the sponsor intends to adopt.
- Orphaned minor relatives such as a brother, sister, nephew, niece, grandson, or granddaughter.
- A sponsor’s adult child who is dependent due to a disability.
Additionally, the cap does not restrict applications to add a dependent to an already-approved sponsorship or to a person awaiting permanent residency after an application has been approved. The Ministère will announce when the cap has been reached, and any non-exempt applications submitted afterward will be returned without processing or fees.
This move comes amidst concerns expressed by Quebec Premier François Legault, who has linked the province’s housing challenges to the growing number of temporary residents.