To sponsor a family member, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18, and residing in Canada. In Quebec, every file needs dual approval — both federal AND provincial. Eligible categories include a spouse, dependent children (generally under 22), and parents/grandparents through a federal program that has not accepted new applications since July 15, 2026.
1. Who can sponsor?
Conditions to sponsor:
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- At least 18 years old
- Residing in Quebec (except citizens sponsoring a spouse, who may live abroad if they commit to settling in Quebec)
- In Quebec: dual federal + provincial approval
2. Who can be sponsored?
Categories of people who can be sponsored:
- Spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner
- Dependent children (generally under 22)
- Parents and grandparents (federal program paused for new applications since July 15, 2026)
- Orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild under 18 (specific cases)
3. Financial undertaking
The financial undertaking in Quebec (these durations are Quebec's own — distinct from the federal rules that apply outside Quebec):
- Spouse: 3 years
- Dependent child under 16: 10 years or until age 18, whichever is longer
- Dependent child 16 or older: 3 years or until age 25, whichever is longer
- Parents / grandparents: 10 years in Quebec — half of the 20 years that apply in the rest of Canada
If the person receives social assistance, you must reimburse the government.
4. Spouse sponsorship in Quebec
In Quebec, two approvals are required:
- Federal: IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- Provincial: CSQ from MIFI
Relationship proof: photos, emails, joint travel, testimonials.
5. The three main categories at a glance
The three main categories — spouse, children, parents/grandparents — differ sharply in length of undertaking, fees and processing times.
On top of these fees, add: medical exams, criminal checks from every country lived in, and certified translations.
For parents and grandparents, income is not assessed the same way in Quebec: IRCC's federal table (the MNI, Minimum Necessary Income) applies everywhere in Canada except Quebec. If you live in Quebec, MIFI assesses your financial capacity under its own rules — see MIFI's page on required income.
The fees in the table are IRCC's; Quebec also charges for reviewing your undertaking application: $335 for one sponsored person, plus $135 for each additional person (rate as of January 1, 2026 — MIFI). The timelines below reflect IRCC's October 2026 estimate for Quebec and shift often — always check IRCC's live processing-times tool before relying on a number. For a spouse as for a parent or grandparent, Quebec also receives undertaking applications on a calendar: the date from which you may file depends on the date of IRCC's eligibility letter or acknowledgment of receipt, and an application sent before that date is inadmissible and returned (see the rules governing the reception of applications). Applications for a dependent child are subject to neither the cap nor the calendar: they can be received at any time.
| Category | Undertaking (Quebec) | IRCC fees (CAD) | Quebec timeline (Oct. 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse (in Canada) | 3 years | $1,260 | ~32 months |
| Spouse abroad | 3 years | $1,260 | ~33 months |
| Dependent child | Depending on age: at least 10 years or at least 3 years (see section 3) | $180 per child | Varies by country (IRCC tool) |
| Parents / grandparents | 10 years (Quebec) | $1,260 | ~63 months — paused for new applications since July 15, 2026 |
6. Your action list
Sponsoring a loved one in Quebec takes 8 steps. Check each box below as you go: your progress is saved if you're signed in:
Your action list
0 of 8 done
7. Frequently asked questions
The most common questions on family sponsorship: non-married partners, what happens on separation, minimum income required, real timelines, and eligibility after bankruptcy.
Can I sponsor my partner if we're not married?
Yes — Canada recognizes three relationship types:
- Spouse (legally married)
- Common-law partner (continuous cohabitation of at least 12 months)
- Conjugal partner (exclusive relationship of at least 1 year with a person who lives outside Canada and cannot live with you or marry you for legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious or other reasons)
All three are eligible under the same rules of the family class. You'll need to prove the relationship is genuine and continuing — joint bills, photos, letters from family, etc.
What happens if the relationship ends during the sponsorship undertaking?
Your financial obligation continues. The undertaking — 3 years for a spouse, 10 years for parents/grandparents in Quebec — stays in force for its full term: separation or divorce does not cancel it.
If your former partner receives social assistance during the undertaking period, the government will recover those amounts from you. This is a major reason to be certain before sponsoring.
What's the minimum income required to sponsor?
For a spouse or dependent child: in most cases no minimum income is required — only when a sponsored dependent child has a dependent child of their own (MIFI).
For parents, grandparents or another family member: IRCC's federal table (the MNI, Minimum Necessary Income) applies everywhere in Canada except Quebec. If you live in Quebec, MIFI assesses your financial capacity under its own rules — see MIFI's page on required income.
How long does a sponsorship application take in 2026?
Timelines for Quebec applicants, from IRCC's processing-times tool, as of October 2026 (they shift often — check the current tool before relying on a figure):
- Spouse sponsorship, in Canada: about 32 months
- Spouse sponsorship, abroad: about 33 months
- Parents and grandparents (PGP): applies to files already in the system — about 63 months in Quebec, heavily backlogged (outside Quebec, about 28 months). No new PGP applications are being accepted since July 15, 2026 (see the update in section 5).
IRCC's timelines are longer for Quebec than for the rest of Canada, and Quebec's own intake of undertaking applications is capped for the 2026-2028 period (see section 5).
Can I sponsor if I've received social assistance or declared bankruptcy?
In Quebec, you must not be receiving last-resort financial assistance (social assistance), unless it is paid because of your age or a disability that creates severe, lasting barriers to employment (MIFI). For a spouse or dependent child, the federal rule on undischarged bankruptcy does not apply if you live in Quebec (IRCC): Quebec's conditions are what count.
Past sponsorship defaults (where the government had to support your sponsored relative) must be fully repaid before you can submit a new application. Two other conditions people often miss: you must live in Quebec (a citizen living abroad must commit to settling there once their spouse obtains permanent residence), and if you yourself became a permanent resident less than 5 years ago after being sponsored as a spouse, you may not be able to sponsor a new spouse yet.
Be transparent — this information is verifiable in government databases, and an undeclared item leads to refusal.
8. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Renew or replace your PR card — the status the sponsored person obtains on arrival.
- Canadian citizenship application in Quebec — the long-term pathway after several years of permanent residence.
- Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN) — the first admin step for the sponsored person on arrival.
9. Official sources
For official information:
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Quebec's Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI)
Phone: IRCC at 1-888-242-2100.
Author's note: Long, complex, emotionally difficult — but one of the most beautiful possibilities Canada offers. Patience, organization, and don't hesitate to consult a lawyer or accredited consultant if needed.
