Canada Ends 7-Year Family Sponsorship Exemption for Undeclared Relatives
IRCC ended the temporary public policy for certain previously undeclared family members on September 10, 2026. IRCC says it allowed the policy to expire because of potential concerns about the integrity of Canada's immigration system.
IRCC ended its undeclared family member exemption for family sponsorship on September 10, 2026, after seven years. The policy allowed eligible sponsors to bring previously undeclared or unexamined family members to Canada through family sponsorship. IRCC extended the measure in 2021 and again in 2023. The latest version expired on September 10, 2026.
Who Was Affected
The temporary policy applied to several groups of permanent residents. It included certain refugees and protected persons, as well as people who had originally become permanent residents after being sponsored as a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child. For people who qualified, the policy provided an important exception to a rule that can otherwise permanently prevent a permanent resident from later sponsoring a family member they did not declare before coming to Canada.
What Now?
IRCC will continue applying the exemption to eligible sponsorship applications received by September 10. People who no longer qualify for the exemption may need to request humanitarian and compassionate consideration.
For your situation: If you are a permanent resident hoping to sponsor a family member you did not initially declare—and you don't fall into the eligible categories that already received their applications in—you'll need to explore a humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) request. The department has provided no evidence of abuse, making advocates and legal experts question why this seven-year policy suddenly became a concern.
Sources
Independent app, not a government. General information, not advice. The official source:
