IRCC’s Undeclared Family Sponsorship Policy Ends September 10, 2026

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) still has a public policy that can let some people sponsor a spouse, partner, or dependent child they did not declare when they became a permanent resident. The exemption applies only to applications IRCC receives between May 31, 2019, and September 10, 2026.

That receipt date is about three weeks away. IRCC has not published a further consecutive policy on the official pages reviewed for this post. Treat September 10, 2026 as the last day this exemption applies unless IRCC announces otherwise.

What the usual rule is

When someone applies for permanent residence, they must declare all family members — even relatives who are not coming to Canada. IRCC lists those family members as a spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, and grandchildren who are dependent children of a dependent child. In most cases those people must also be examined.

If a family member was not declared or examined, paragraphs 117(9)(d) and 125(1)(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations can bar that person from later being sponsored in the family class or the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class. IRCC’s consecutive public policy, signed September 1, 2023, can exempt some applicants from those two paragraphs only. Other eligibility and admissibility rules still apply.

The policy took effect on September 10, 2023 and ends on September 10, 2026. Like other public policies, it can be cancelled earlier.

Who may still use the exemption

The person being sponsored must be applying as a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child. They must also have been undeclared or unexamined when the sponsor became a permanent resident.

The sponsor’s own path to permanent residence is just as important. The official policy applies only if the sponsor was granted permanent residence:

• as a Convention refugee or a person in similar circumstances (a resettled refugee)
• after being determined to be a protected person
• as a sponsored spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child in the family class, or
• as a sponsored spouse or common-law partner in the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class

A sponsor who became a permanent resident through an economic program, such as Express Entry or a provincial nominee stream, is outside this exemption.

Who is still barred

IRCC says previously undeclared family members are not eligible if declaring them would have made the sponsor ineligible at the time. Official examples include a sponsor who immigrated as a spouse but was already married or in a common-law relationship with the undeclared person; came as a dependent child on a parent’s application while already married or in a common-law relationship; or came under a program that required them to be single, with no dependants.

Ordinary sponsor eligibility still applies, including age, status, the undertaking, and the usual bars. If you live in Quebec, you must still meet Quebec’s rules and sign an undertaking with the Government of Quebec when IRCC tells you to.

How to apply before the deadline

There is no special form. Use the normal process to sponsor a spouse, partner, or child. IRCC decides during processing whether the exemption applies.

• Already in process: IRCC says you do not need to do anything.
• Refused before May 31, 2019: you may submit a new application if the person is still eligible under the policy.
• Not yet filed: IRCC must receive the application by September 10, 2026. A late or returned file can miss the window.

Pay the standard fees listed on IRCC’s current fee page. Check processing times for the stream you will use; they are estimates, not guarantees.

What to do this week

1. Read IRCC’s undeclared-family page and the signed public-policy text.
2. Confirm how the sponsor became a permanent resident. If it was not one of the four listed paths, this exemption is not the route.
3. Confirm the person still meets IRCC’s definition of a spouse, partner, or dependent child.
4. File a complete application early enough that IRCC receives it by September 10.
5. Keep the submission confirmation. If a file is already in process, watch your IRCC account instead of filing a second application.

If you want a structured review of whether this public policy appears to apply, or help assembling a complete sponsorship file before the receipt deadline, contact JSR Immigration & Legals through the form on jsrlegals.ca or by phone.

This article provides general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. Rules and public policies change. Always confirm current requirements on the official IRCC website and consult a licensed professional for advice specific to your circumstances.