On September 10, 2026, a federal policy that had existed since 2019 came to an end. Under certain conditions, it allowed sponsoring a spouse, partner or dependent child who had not been declared at the time the sponsor became a permanent resident, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Applications received between May 31, 2019 and September 10, 2026 continue to be processed under the old rules; no new application can be filed under this policy.
The underlying rule doesn't go away, though — and it applies to everyone, not only those covered by the policy that just ended. When you become a permanent resident, you must declare absolutely every member of your family — spouse, partner, dependent children — even ones who aren't accompanying you and whom you have no intention of ever bringing to Canada. Leaving someone out has a permanent effect: that person becomes ineligible to be sponsored later under the family class, according to IRCC's public policy summary, which cites paragraphs 117(9)(d) and 125(1)(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations as the basis for that exclusion.
And it isn't only the omitted person who pays for it — you do too. According to IRCC's operational guidance for officers, if the principal applicant fails to declare all family members, they risk not only losing the ability to sponsor them later, but may also be reported under subsection 44(1) of the Act, and could see their own application refused for misrepresentation, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
For people already affected by a past omission, the policy that just ended was exactly the way out: it allowed fixing the situation without going through an exceptional exemption. That door is now closed for any new application. What remains is the option to request an exemption on humanitarian and compassionate grounds under section 25 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act — but that is a case-by-case review, left to an officer's discretion, with no guaranteed outcome and no fixed timeline.
Good to know for newcomers. If you are currently preparing a permanent residence application — through Quebec or through the federal government — remember this: declare every member of your immediate family, even a spouse you're separated from without a formal divorce, even a child you never intend to bring to Canada. The omission doesn't fade with time; it closes a door for good. If you're unsure about your family situation, it's better to check with an immigration lawyer or consultant before you submit your application than after.
