While the federal government suspends parent and grandparent sponsorship, Quebec has reopened its own door — but with a counter running. A ministerial order published on June 23, 2026 sets a new intake period for family reunification undertaking applications, from July 2, 2026 to June 30, 2028, with a maximum of 15,700 applications for the whole period, according to Québec.ca.
Two caps, very unequal. The 15,700 spots aren't interchangeable. They break down into 13,300 applications to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, and only 2,400 applications for parents, grandparents and other eligible relatives. The gap says a lot about priorities: spousal sponsorship gets more than five times as many spots.
A cap that really closes. This isn't an indicative target. Once a category hits its maximum, the Ministry can no longer receive applications in that category, and excess applications are returned unprocessed, with no fees charged, Québec.ca states. Filing "just in case" does not reserve you a spot.
Who isn't subject to the cap. Good news for families with children: applications for dependent children, minors for adoption, orphaned minor relatives (siblings, nephews, nieces, grandchildren) and adding family members to an existing undertaking are received outside the cap, so at any time. The exemption was also broadened to include dependent children aged 18 and over.
The schedule is staggered — and that's the key point. You don't file whenever you like. Intake is structured into periods based on the date of the eligibility letter (or acknowledgment of receipt) issued by IRCC, so that those who have been waiting longest go first. The oldest documents go first: July 2, 2026 opened to documents dated no later than July 31, 2024. Filing before your turn doesn't buy you time.
By mail, one application per envelope. A mundane but blocking detail: the application must be sent by postal mail to the address listed on Québec.ca, one application per envelope, with all required IRCC documents included. No in-person filing at Ministry offices is accepted.
Good to know for newcomers. Three habits. First, find the exact date on your IRCC letter — that date, not your eagerness to file, determines your window. Second, have the complete file ready before your period opens: an incomplete envelope arriving while the counter runs is still an envelope that can be returned. Third, if you're aiming for the parents-and-grandparents category, keep in mind the federal side is currently suspended — both levels have to line up. Always check the current rules and schedule on Québec.ca before mailing anything.