Sponsoring a spouse while living in Quebec requires a unique two-step process. First, you apply federally to IRCC. Once they approve your sponsorship eligibility, you must apply to the provincial MIFI for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) before IRCC will finalize the permanent residency.
Canada is a diverse country with shared jurisdictions over immigration. If you live in Ontario, Alberta, or Nova Scotia, family sponsorship is handled entirely by the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). However, under the Canada-Quebec Accord, the province of Quebec maintains exclusive authority to select the immigrants who settle within its borders.
If you live in Montreal, Quebec City, or Gatineau, you must satisfy the requirements of both IRCC and the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intéгration (MIFI). 📝 This dual-layer process can be confusing, but understanding the timeline and exact order of operations is vital to reuniting with your spouse or common-law partner.
Step-by-Step Process for Quebec Spousal Sponsorship
You cannot simply apply to the Quebec government first. The process is strictly sequenced. Here is how a standard Quebec family class sponsorship works.
Step 1: Submit the Federal Application to IRCC
You must begin by submitting a complete Spousal Sponsorship application to IRCC online. When filling out the forms, you will explicitly indicate that your intended province of destination is Quebec. You must pay the federal processing fees and upload all necessary relationship evidence at this stage.
Step 2: Wait for Federal Approval in Principle (AIP)
IRCC will review your file to ensure it is complete and that you meet the basic federal requirements to be a sponsor (such as not being bankrupt or imprisoned). 📧 Once cleared, IRCC will send you a formal letter instructing you to contact the Quebec government to proceed with the provincial assessment.
Step 3: Apply for the CSQ and Submit the Undertaking to MIFI
With your IRCC letter in hand, you must now apply to MIFI. You will submit an application for an undertaking (engagement) and an application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) for your spouse. In Quebec, the financial undertaking for a spouse lasts for exactly 3 years from the day they become a permanent resident, unlike the 3-year common law federal standard which is practically identical in duration but governed by the Civil Code of Quebec.
Step 4: MIFI Issues the CSQ
If the Quebec government approves your financial undertaking, they will issue the CSQ. 📍 This document officially proves to the federal government that Quebec has accepted your spouse as an immigrant. MIFI will send a copy to you and directly forward an electronic copy to IRCC.
Step 5: Final Processing by IRCC
Once IRCC receives the CSQ from Quebec, they resume processing your file. Federal officers will complete the final medical, security, and criminal background checks on your spouse. Upon passing, IRCC issues the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), allowing your spouse to land in Canada.
Quebec Family Sponsorship Caps and Intake Rules (2026-2028)
To align with provincial immigration levels, Quebec’s MIFI has implemented strict limits on the number of spousal and family reunification applications it will accept. Between July 2, 2026, and June 30, 2028, MIFI will accept a maximum of 15,700 undertaking applications in total, with up to 13,300 spots allocated for spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners, and 2,400 spots for parents and grandparents.
To manage this intake fairly, MIFI utilizes a phased, priority intake schedule based on the date your IRCC eligibility letter or acknowledgment of receipt was issued. This ensures that applicants who have been waiting the longest are prioritized. Dependent children, including those aged 18 and older, are fully exempt from these caps and may be sponsored at any time.
Federal Process vs. Quebec Process
| IRCC (Federal Government) | Checks basic sponsor eligibility, conducts criminal background checks, mandates medical exams, and issues the final Permanent Resident visa. |
| MIFI (Quebec Government) | Assesses the sponsor’s financial ability to support the applicant under provincial law, and issues the mandatory CSQ selection certificate. |
How Much Does it Cost in Quebec?
Because you are dealing with two levels of government, you must pay two sets of processing fees. As of 2026, the costs are as follows in Canadian dollars (CAD):
- Federal IRCC Fees: The standard federal fee is $1,260 CAD (sponsorship, principal applicant processing, and right of permanent residence fee), plus $85 CAD for biometrics.
- Provincial MIFI Fees: The fee to process the provincial undertaking application for a spouse is $335 CAD.
- Total Government Fees: Expect to pay $1,680 CAD in total (including biometrics), not including medical exams, document translations, or law firm legal fees.
How Long Does the Process Take?
Because the file must be transferred back and forth between federal and provincial offices, and due to strict annual intake caps set by the Quebec government, family sponsorship in Quebec takes significantly longer than in the rest of Canada. As of 2026, the official average processing time is approximately 34 to 36 months (averaging around 35 months for outland and 36 months for inland applications) due to the accumulated backlog under provincial limits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does my spouse need to pass a French test for sponsorship?
No. While Quebec has strict French language requirements for economic immigration programs (like the Regular Skilled Worker Program), spouses sponsored under the Family Class are entirely exempt from language testing.
What happens if I move out of Quebec during processing?
If you move to another Canadian province (like Ontario) while your application is still processing, you must immediately notify IRCC. Your file will be transferred to the standard federal stream, and the CSQ requirement will be dropped.
Does Quebec recognize common-law partners?
Yes. For immigration purposes, both IRCC and MIFI recognize common-law partners, provided you can prove you have lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least 12 continuous months.
Do I need a minimum income to sponsor a spouse in Quebec?
Generally, there is no strict Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) to sponsor a spouse without children. However, MIFI requires that you not be receiving provincial social assistance (welfare) for reasons other than a disability.
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