Quick Overview

Spousal sponsorship in Quebec is different from spousal sponsorship in most other Canadian provinces because the file has both a federal stage and a Quebec undertaking stage. The federal government, through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), receives the sponsorship and permanent residence application. Quebec, through the Ministere de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Integration (MIFI), requires a separate undertaking before the sponsored spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner can be approved as a permanent resident destined to Quebec.

The process usually begins with the federal application. IRCC explains that there are two applications: the sponsorship application, where the sponsor applies to become a sponsor, and the permanent residence application, where the spouse or partner applies for permanent residence. The principal applicant submits both applications together online through the Permanent Residence Portal. If the sponsor lives in Quebec, IRCC says the sponsor must complete an undertaking with the Government of Quebec after the federal application is submitted, and must not submit the undertaking to Quebec until IRCC tells the sponsor to do so. IRCC – How to apply

For Quebec sponsors, the undertaking stage is especially important in 2026. Quebec announced a new reception period for family reunification undertaking applications. MIFI states that it will receive a maximum of 15,700 undertaking applications from July 2, 2026 to June 30, 2028. Within that total, a maximum of 13,300 undertaking applications are reserved for spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners, while 2,400 are reserved for parents, grandparents, and certain other relatives. Government of Quebec – New reception period for family reunification undertakings

The reopening does not mean every Quebec sponsor can mail an undertaking application on July 2, 2026. MIFI says applications will be received according to a calendar based on the date of the IRCC eligibility letter, or the IRCC acknowledgement of receipt for applications in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class. A file sent before the sponsor’s reception period may be returned as inadmissible. MIFI also says applications must be sent by postal mail only and must include one application per envelope. Government of Quebec – New reception period for family reunification undertakings

At a practical level, a Quebec spousal sponsorship case should be reviewed in five parts:

1. whether the sponsor is eligible federally and in Quebec;
2. whether the relationship fits the spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner category;
3. whether the federal PR application is complete and consistent;
4. whether the MIFI undertaking package is sent at the right time, with the right forms, fees, and documents;
5. whether any risk factor could cause delay, return, refusal, or later questioning of the relationship.

LMRT Immigration helps clients review this sequence before submission so the file is not treated as a simple form exercise. In Quebec cases, timing, proof of relationship, dependent children, prior sponsorship history, financial obligations, and MIFI reception rules can all affect the strategy.

Full Guide

1. What spousal sponsorship in Quebec means

Spousal sponsorship allows a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner so that the sponsored person can become a permanent resident of Canada. IRCC describes the federal program as a pathway to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child to become a permanent resident. IRCC – Sponsor your spouse, partner or child

For applicants intending to live in Quebec, the file does not stop at the federal sponsorship forms. IRCC states that Quebec residents must sign an undertaking with the Government of Quebec. IRCC – What it means to be a sponsor Quebec’s own page explains that MIFI handles the Quebec procedures for family reunification and has a dedicated pathway for sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner. Government of Quebec – Sponsor a family member

This creates a two-authority process:

1. IRCC receives and assesses the sponsorship and permanent residence application.
2. MIFI assesses the Quebec undertaking and, if accepted, issues the Quebec selection document for the sponsored person.
3. IRCC remains responsible for the permanent residence decision.

Quebec confirms this relationship clearly: after IRCC informs the sponsor that they are eligible to sponsor, the sponsor must submit an undertaking application to MIFI, together with a permanent selection application for the sponsored person. MIFI then communicates its decision to the sponsor and to IRCC, and IRCC makes the decision on permanent residence. Government of Quebec – Submit an undertaking application for a spouse or partner

2. The key difference between federal sponsorship and the Quebec undertaking

In a non-Quebec case, the sponsor normally deals only with IRCC’s federal sponsorship and permanent residence process. In Quebec, IRCC still receives the federal application, but the sponsor must also obtain MIFI’s acceptance of the undertaking.

IRCC tells Quebec sponsors not to submit the Quebec undertaking until IRCC tells them to do so. If the sponsor submits the undertaking before IRCC’s confirmation, Quebec will not process it. IRCC – How to apply

This matters because some sponsors try to prepare everything at once and mail the Quebec package too early. In 2026 and 2027, timing becomes even more sensitive because the new MIFI reception calendar may restrict when a file can be received. A sponsor may be eligible, the relationship may be genuine, and the forms may be complete, but if the undertaking is sent before the correct Quebec reception window, the file can still be returned.

3. Who can sponsor a spouse or partner from Quebec

At the federal level, IRCC says a sponsor must be at least 18 years old, be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or a person registered in Canada under the Canadian Indian Act, live in Canada unless a Canadian citizen living abroad can show they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident, commit to supporting the sponsored person through an undertaking and sponsorship agreement, and meet other requirements under immigration law. A permanent resident living outside Canada cannot sponsor. IRCC – Check if you’re eligible

At the Quebec level, MIFI requires the sponsor to have first submitted the sponsorship application to IRCC and received an IRCC letter addressed to the sponsor confirming that the sponsor is eligible and invited to continue with Quebec. MIFI also lists Quebec-specific eligibility conditions, including Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, residence in Quebec, being at least 18 years old, conditions related to previous undertakings, financial obligations, social assistance, support payments, certain criminal convictions, removal orders, and detention. Government of Quebec – Verify your eligibility to sponsor a spouse or partner

A Canadian citizen can be abroad when submitting the Quebec undertaking, but must undertake to live in Quebec once the sponsored spouse or partner obtains permanent residence. MIFI states this condition on its Quebec eligibility page. Government of Quebec – Verify your eligibility to sponsor a spouse or partner

4. Who can be sponsored as a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner

IRCC and Quebec use related but not identical wording, so the relationship category should be checked carefully.

A spouse is a person legally married to the sponsor, is at least 18 years old, can be any gender, is in a genuine relationship, and is not inadmissible to Canada. IRCC – Who you can sponsor

A common-law partner is not legally married to the sponsor, is at least 18, can be any gender, is in a genuine relationship, is not inadmissible, and has lived with the sponsor for at least 12 consecutive months in a conjugal relationship, subject to the way IRCC explains temporary absences. IRCC – Who you can sponsor

A conjugal partner is not legally married to the sponsor and is not in a common-law relationship with the sponsor. IRCC says the person must be at least 18, be in an exclusive and mutually interdependent relationship for at least one year, live outside Canada, be in a genuine relationship, and may be unable to live with or marry the sponsor for legal, immigration, social, cultural, religious, or other reasons. IRCC – Who you can sponsor

Quebec also states that a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner may be of the same sex or a different sex. Quebec describes specific situations where a person cannot be considered a spouse or common-law partner for undertaking purposes, including situations involving another ongoing undertaking for a previous spouse or partner. Government of Quebec – Conditions for the sponsored spouse or partner

5. The 2026-2028 Quebec undertaking intake: what changed

This is the most important current issue for Quebec spousal sponsorship planning.

On June 18, 2026, Quebec announced that a new ministerial order would be published in the Gazette officielle du Quebec on June 23, 2026, concerning new rules for receiving undertaking applications in family reunification. MIFI stated that it will receive a maximum of 15,700 undertaking applications from July 2, 2026 to June 30, 2028 inclusive. Government of Quebec – New reception period for family reunification undertakings

For spouses and partners, the key number is 13,300. That is the maximum number of undertaking applications MIFI says it will receive for sponsors seeking to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner during the July 2, 2026 to June 30, 2028 period. Government of Quebec – New reception period for family reunification undertakings

The same announcement says the reception of applications will be structured by different periods according to the date of the IRCC eligibility letter. For applications in the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class, MIFI also refers to the IRCC acknowledgement of receipt. Government of Quebec – New reception period for family reunification undertakings

The practical consequence is simple but important: being ready on July 2, 2026 is not enough. The sponsor must check which reception period applies to their IRCC document date. If a non-exempt application is received before the designated period in the calendar, MIFI says it will be considered inadmissible and returned to the sponsor. Government of Quebec – New reception period for family reunification undertakings

6. Mailing rules: one application, one envelope

MIFI’s June 18, 2026 announcement states that, to be receivable, undertaking applications must be submitted by postal mail only to the address indicated on Quebec.ca. It will not be possible to present an application in person at MIFI offices. It also says each envelope must include only one application. Government of Quebec – New reception period for family reunification undertakings

Quebec’s undertaking page also states that the sponsor must send the complete application by mail in one envelope. The package must include a copy of the IRCC invitation to continue with MIFI, all required forms including those completed by the sponsored person, the supporting documents for the undertaking, and payment of the required MIFI fees. Government of Quebec – Submit an undertaking application for a spouse or partner

This is a technical point, but it has real consequences. If the sponsor mails the wrong IRCC letter, misses a required signature, uses an incorrect payment amount, omits a required authorization form, or sends missing documents, MIFI warns that the application can be returned without processing. Government of Quebec – Submit an undertaking application for a spouse or partner

7. Fees and financial capacity in Quebec spousal sponsorship

For 2026, Quebec states that the fee for examining an undertaking application is $335 for one sponsored person and $135 for each additional sponsored person. Quebec also states that these fees are updated each January 1 and must be paid in full, in Canadian currency, when the application is deposited or mailed. If the amount is not correct, the file may be returned by regular mail. Government of Quebec – Submit an undertaking application for a spouse or partner

Income is often misunderstood in spousal sponsorship. Federally, IRCC says that in most cases there is no income requirement to sponsor a spouse, partner, or dependent child. IRCC identifies exceptions where the sponsor must show enough money, including where the sponsor is sponsoring a spouse or partner who has a dependent child, and that dependent child has one or more dependent children of their own. IRCC – Check if you’re eligible

Quebec has a similar practical issue. MIFI states that financial capacity must be demonstrated in certain family sponsorship situations, including when the sponsor wishes to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner who has a dependent child who also has a dependent child. Quebec’s financial-capacity page lists the calculation rules and 2026 income tables for cases where financial capacity must be demonstrated. Government of Quebec – Demonstrate your financial capacity

The page should not be reduced to the sentence “there is no income requirement.” The safer explanation is that many ordinary spouse-only cases do not require a minimum income calculation, but Quebec and federal rules can require financial evidence in specific family-composition situations.

8. The undertaking: what the sponsor is promising

A Quebec undertaking is not a symbolic form. MIFI describes it as a contract that binds the sponsor to the sponsored person and accompanying family members. The sponsor becomes the guarantor and has responsibilities for the duration of the undertaking. Government of Quebec – Responsibilities and obligations related to the undertaking

For a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, Quebec states that the undertaking period is three years. If the sponsored person is accompanied by a dependent child, the undertaking period for the child depends on the child’s age. MIFI also states that the undertaking cannot be ended once the sponsored person obtains a permanent resident visa or confirmation of permanent residence. The obligation continues even if the sponsor’s financial situation deteriorates, the couple separates or divorces, the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen, or either person moves to another province. Government of Quebec – Responsibilities and obligations related to the undertaking

The undertaking includes financial responsibility for essential needs if the sponsored person cannot pay for them. Quebec lists costs such as housing, furniture, transportation, food, clothing, health costs not covered or reimbursed by a public plan, and certain employment-integration costs not covered by a government program. Government of Quebec – Responsibilities and obligations related to the undertaking

9. The integration plan requirement

Quebec sponsorship is not only about money. MIFI states that sponsors must help the sponsored person and accompanying family members with settlement and integration in Quebec, including preparing their arrival, learning French, and accessing public services and resources. Government of Quebec – Reception and integration of the sponsored person

Since November 23, 2023, if the sponsored person and accompanying family members are between 18 and 55 years old, the sponsor must complete and sign an integration and reception plan in section 9 of the undertaking form. Government of Quebec – Reception and integration of the sponsored person

For many couples, this section is overlooked because it does not feel like a classic immigration eligibility test. But it is part of the Quebec undertaking package and should be treated seriously.

10. Federal forms, Quebec forms, and why sequencing matters

IRCC says the federal application is submitted online through the Permanent Residence Portal, and the application includes both the sponsorship application and the permanent residence application. IRCC – How to apply

After the federal step reaches the Quebec undertaking stage, MIFI requires the Quebec undertaking form, the sponsored person’s permanent selection application, and any other forms required for the situation. MIFI’s page identifies forms such as the undertaking form for family reunification, the permanent selection application for the family reunification category, the financial evaluation form where required, and other situation-specific forms. Government of Quebec – Submit an undertaking application for a spouse or partner

The problem is that the federal and Quebec packages do not ask the same questions in the same way. A mistake in one stage can create confusion in the other. For example, details about previous relationships, children, custody, separation, addresses, dates of cohabitation, and family composition must be consistent across both authorities.

11. Common mistakes in Quebec spousal sponsorship cases

Common mistakes include:

1. submitting the Quebec undertaking before IRCC tells the sponsor to do so;
2. sending the undertaking before the correct MIFI reception-calendar window;
3. confusing an IRCC acknowledgement of receipt with an IRCC eligibility letter;
4. using the wrong relationship category;
5. treating a conjugal partner case as if it were simply a long-distance dating relationship;
6. failing to declare non-accompanying dependent children;
7. assuming there is never any financial requirement;
8. missing the integration plan requirement;
9. sending an incomplete MIFI package or incorrect fee;
10. forgetting that IRCC can still refuse permanent residence even if Quebec accepts the undertaking.

MIFI expressly states that IRCC may refuse permanent residence even if Quebec accepted the undertaking and even if IRCC initially indicated the sponsor was eligible to sponsor. Government of Quebec – Submit an undertaking application for a spouse or partner

12. Inland and outland sponsorship in Quebec

This page should not become a full inland-versus-outland guide, but the distinction matters. IRCC’s spouse, partner, and child sponsorship program covers spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children. IRCC – Sponsor your spouse, partner or child

In Canada-class cases, the sponsored spouse or common-law partner may also look at the optional open work permit pathway if they meet the applicable requirements. IRCC – Optional open work permit in Canada

For Quebec content architecture, this article should briefly explain that inland and outland choices affect practical planning, status, work authorization, travel risk, and evidence strategy. A separate future supporting page could cover inland versus outland sponsorship in Canada if LMRT wants a national sponsorship subcluster.

13. How LMRT Immigration can help

Quebec spousal sponsorship cases require careful sequencing. A couple may have a genuine relationship and still face return or delay because the wrong authority was contacted at the wrong time, the wrong document was used for the MIFI reception calendar, or the federal and Quebec forms do not tell the same story.

LMRT Immigration can help review:

1. sponsor eligibility under federal and Quebec rules;
2. whether the relationship is best framed as spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner;
3. whether children, prior relationships, or previous undertakings create additional risk;
4. whether the federal PR application is complete before submission;
5. when the MIFI undertaking should be mailed under the 2026-2028 reception rules;
6. whether the MIFI forms, fees, signatures, and supporting documents are complete;
7. whether the file needs legal submissions or explanations for unusual facts.

Loujin Khalil is an immigration consultant RCIC-IRB and a CICC member, number R522176. LMRT Immigration assists clients in English, French, Arabic, and other languages depending on the team member assigned to the file.

For the broader Quebec immigration structure, see Quebec Immigration Programs. For broader family sponsorship topics beyond spouses and partners, use the future Quebec Family Sponsorship page.

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