Sponsoring your dependent child from Quebec: IRCC first, then the MII (formerly MIFI)

Sponsoring your dependent child from Quebec: IRCC first, then the MII (formerly MIFI). Many parents come to Quebec first, settle, get permanent residence, and only then bring a child who stayed behind with family. The process involves two governments, and the order matters: complete the federal sponsorship and permanent residence application, wait for IRCC’s letter directing you to Quebec, then send the undertaking to Quebec’s immigration ministry (MII). In 2026 it also has one clear advantage over sponsoring a spouse or parent: no cap and no waiting calendar on the Quebec side. Based on IRCC and Québec.ca pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

• Start with IRCC. The sponsorship application and the child’s permanent residence application come first. Quebec’s undertaking comes after IRCC confirms you can continue.
• Confirm the child’s eligibility early. Under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship, or older and dependent because of a physical or mental condition.
• Organize each child’s documents separately. If you sponsor several children, each needs their own Quebec form and payment.
• Plan consent and custody evidence for a minor. IRCC asks for proof that the other parent or legal guardian agrees.
• The 2026–2028 Quebec cap doesn’t apply to dependent children.
• Keep the two decisions separate. The MII’s undertaking decision does not grant permanent residence; IRCC makes the final decision.

Does your child count as a dependent?

• Under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship; or
• 22 or older, financially dependent on a parent without interruption since before age 22, and unable to support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.

The age is “locked in” on the date IRCC receives the complete permanent residence application. If your child is close to 22, a complete package filed now matters more than a perfect package filed in three months. The child must still meet the dependency conditions, and marriage or a common-law relationship changes eligibility, so report any change in the child’s situation.

Check one thing before anything else: a child born abroad to a Canadian citizen may already be a citizen. IRCC is clear that you can’t sponsor a child for permanent residence if they’re already a citizen.

Can you sponsor?

You must be 18 or older, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, and live in Canada. Permanent residents living abroad can’t sponsor; citizens living abroad must show they’ll live in Canada when the child becomes a permanent resident. In Quebec, you must also live in Quebec (or, as a citizen abroad, commit to living there).

Common barriers include being in prison, owing an immigration loan, receiving social assistance for a reason other than disability, certain convictions, a removal order, or already having a pending application for the same child. IRCC notes that some other barriers (unpaid support, undischarged bankruptcy, a broken sponsorship agreement) don’t apply when you sponsor a child in Quebec.

There’s no income requirement, unless your child has a dependent child of their own: Quebec asks for the financial capacity evaluation form only in that case.

How the IRCC and MII stages fit together

To sponsor a child, IRCC explains that there are two applications: the sponsor applies to sponsor, and the child applies for permanent residence as the principal applicant. Review the IRCC application steps before assembling the federal file.

Step	Where	What to know
1. Sponsorship and PR application	IRCC	Proof of parentage, custody and consent documents, following your personalized checklist
2. Letter to the sponsor	IRCC	Addressed to you, confirming you’re eligible and inviting you to continue with Quebec
3. Undertaking application	MII	Québec.ca forms, a copy of IRCC’s letter or email, all documents; mailed complete in a single envelope
4. Final review and decision	IRCC	Identity, relationship, medical and security checks on the child

Don’t send the undertaking to Quebec early: IRCC warns that Quebec won’t process it if you didn’t wait for IRCC’s confirmation. IRCC and the MII have different roles: IRCC assesses the sponsorship, the permanent residence application and admissibility; the MII assesses the Quebec undertaking. An undertaking approval is not permanent residence.

Who’s the applicant, and the other parent

When you sponsor only your child, the child is the principal applicant. You must prove that the other parent or legal guardian agrees to the child immigrating to Canada. If your child has children, they must be declared, whether they come or not.

Do not leave a consent question blank without explanation. If the other parent cannot be reached, refuses consent or has no legal decision-making authority, provide the relevant court order or other evidence and a clear explanation. Where a court order or local law controls parental authority, make sure the documents show who can authorize the child’s immigration and travel; a family lawyer in the child’s country may be needed for custody itself.

Adopted children qualify through a full adoption (adoption plénière); Quebec asks for proof that a foreign adoption was finalized before you were domiciled in Quebec. Keep names, parent information and custody details consistent across the federal and Quebec forms, and explain any spelling difference with official evidence.

What to prepare for the MII undertaking

Send the undertaking only after receiving IRCC’s letter to continue with Quebec. The official Quebec undertaking instructions for a dependent child set out the current form, supporting documents, payment and mailing address. Follow that checklist rather than an old form set.

For each child, check that the package has:

• the correct, current undertaking form with every required section completed;
• every required signature, by the sponsor and any other person the form specifies;
• readable copies of the requested civil-status and identity records;
• translations where documents are not in an accepted language;
• a copy of IRCC’s letter or email inviting you to continue with the MII;
• the payment and, if the child has a dependent child, the financial capacity evaluation;
• consistent names, dates and family details across the federal and Quebec forms.

Fees effective January 1, 2026, according to Quebec: $335 for the main sponsored person and $135 for each dependent child of the main sponsored person. If you sponsor several dependent children, each one needs their own form and their own $335 payment.

The 2026–2028 Quebec cap doesn’t apply to children

From July 2, 2026 to June 30, 2028, the MII accepts at most 13,300 undertakings for spouses and partners and 2,400 for parents, grandparents and other relatives, on a calendar based on the date of IRCC’s letter. Dependent children are exempt from both the cap and the calendar: their undertaking can be received at any time. Adding a dependent child to an undertaking that’s already pending is exempt too.

How long you’re responsible

Under Quebec’s undertaking: for a child under 16, at least 10 years or until age 18; for a child 16 or older, at least 3 years or until age 25. The longer period applies. An adult child signs a statement confirming they understand the undertaking.

A worked example

Fatima, a permanent resident in Montreal since 2024, sponsors her son Yanis, 9, and her daughter Lina, 20, who live with their grandmother in Oran. Lina is not married and is under 22 on the day IRCC receives the complete application, so her age is locked in even if she turns 22 during processing. For Yanis, the children’s father signs the consent form and Fatima includes the custody judgment.

Suppose both become permanent residents on June 1, 2028. Fatima’s undertaking then runs:

Child	Age at permanent residence	Rule	Undertaking ends
Yanis	11	At least 10 years, or until 18: the longer	June 1, 2038
Lina	22	At least 3 years, or until 25: the longer	Her 25th birthday

Because children are exempt from the Quebec cap and calendar, Fatima can send each child’s undertaking as soon as IRCC’s letter tells her to, without waiting for a slot. The real time pressure is earlier: getting the complete federal application in before Lina turns 22.

Processing times, decisions and changes to the file

The whole process has no single processing time. IRCC’s federal processing and the MII’s undertaking review are separate stages; the MII’s estimate of 3 months covers only its own stage. Use IRCC’s processing-time tool for the federal part, as a planning aid rather than a decision date; see how to read IRCC processing times.

If the MII needs more information or sends a notice before a possible refusal, answer by the deadline in that notice. Once the MII completes its part, IRCC continues processing and sends further instructions, such as medical or biometrics, directly to the applicant.

Tell both authorities about material changes while the file is in process: address, custody, marital status, the child’s dependency, or your own circumstances. Use IRCC’s web form for federal updates and follow the MII’s instructions for the undertaking.

Common errors that can delay a child sponsorship

• Sending MII documents too early: wait for IRCC’s letter.
• Assuming Quebec approval ends the case: IRCC still makes the permanent residence decision.
• One package for several children: each child needs their own form and payment.
• Leaving out consent or custody evidence for a minor.
• Mixing document versions: use the current forms from both governments.

See our family sponsorship page for how we prepare both parts, or describe your situation and book a consultation. Sponsoring your spouse at the same time? Read about the spousal undertaking process and cap.

Frequently asked questions

My child wasn’t declared when I immigrated. Can I still sponsor them?

That’s a situation to have analyzed before filing anything. It can seriously affect eligibility; see our complex cases page.

The other parent won’t sign. What now?

IRCC asks for proof of consent or legal authority, such as a custody order. Talk to a family lawyer in the child’s country about custody; immigration follows from it.

Can I send the Quebec undertaking at the same time as the federal file?

No. Wait for IRCC’s letter inviting you to continue with Quebec.

Will my child need a medical exam and biometrics?

IRCC sends instructions for both during federal processing. Biometrics are not required under age 14. Follow the letters rather than another family’s experience.

Can my child visit Canada while the application is in process?

A visit is a separate application with its own requirements; it does not replace or decide the permanent residence case.

Conclusion

Sponsoring your dependent child from Quebec requires careful coordination: confirm eligibility, file with IRCC, wait for IRCC’s letter before sending the undertaking to the MII, prepare a separate Quebec package for each child, and keep consent and custody evidence current. The Quebec cap doesn’t apply to children, but the order of steps does.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

• IRCC — Sponsor your spouse, partner or child: eligibility
• IRCC — Who you can sponsor
• Québec — Parrainer un enfant à charge
• Québec — Règles de réception des demandes d’engagement