Family Sponsorship Policy for Undeclared Family Members Expires September 10—Final Deadline
Canada's temporary public policy allowing sponsorship of undeclared family members expires September 10, 2026. After that date, permanent residents who did not declare spouses, partners, or children at landing will face a lifetime sponsorship bar unless the government issues a new exemption.
The federal government's special public policy—which has exempted permanent residents from a lifetime bar on sponsoring undeclared family members—is set to expire on September 10, 2026. This is the final deadline for applications to be received by IRCC under the exemption. The policy originally launched in 2019 and has been extended twice since; there is no official indication a fourth consecutive exemption will follow.
Who Qualifies
The policy applies if you:
- Obtained permanent residence as a resettled refugee, protected person, or through family class/spousal sponsorship
- Did not declare a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child when you first landed
- Wish to sponsor that family member now
The policy does not cover Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program principal applicants, and does not include parents, siblings, or other relatives.
Critical Deadlines and Details
- Application receipt deadline: September 10, 2026 (the date IRCC receives your complete application counts, not when you mail or submit it)
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee: $600 per dependent applicant (dependent children are exempt)
- Quebec sponsors: Must obtain a sponsorship undertaking from MIFI (Quebec's immigration ministry) before federal processing can finalize
- Application method: Online only through the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal (paper filings allowed only by special accommodation request)
After September 10, your only remaining option would be to apply on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, which has a much lower success rate and involves a separate, more rigorous process. If you are a permanent resident with an undeclared family member you wish to reunite with, submit your application immediately—do not wait until the final days.
Sources
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