Family Sponsorship
Spousal (Abroad, Quebec) Processing Time
About 19,200 people waiting · IRCC data as of September 3, 2026
This page covers outland spousal sponsorship where the couple will settle in Quebec. The sponsor must sign an undertaking with Quebec's immigration ministry (MIFI) in addition to the federal sponsorship, and Quebec's family-class admission plan caps how many files IRCC can finalize each year.
The number tracked here is IRCC's published processing time for outside-Canada spousal applications destined for Quebec.
Processing Time History
| Date | Processing Time (months) |
|---|---|
| October 9, 2025 | 39 |
| November 6, 2025 | 37 |
| December 9, 2025 | 36 |
| January 14, 2026 | 35 |
| February 12, 2026 | 35 |
| March 9, 2026 | 35 |
| April 7, 2026 | 32 |
| May 12, 2026 | 32 |
| June 8, 2026 | 33 |
| July 7, 2026 | 33 |
| August 10, 2026 | 33 |
| September 3, 2026 | 33 |
People Ahead by Application Month
IRCC also publishes how many applications submitted in each month are still ahead of you in the Spousal (Abroad, Quebec) queue.
| Month | People Ahead |
|---|---|
| 2024/09 | 5700 |
| 2024/10 | 6300 |
| 2024/11 | 6900 |
| 2024/12 | 7500 |
| 2025/01 | 8100 |
| 2025/02 | 8700 |
| 2025/03 | 9300 |
| 2025/04 | 9900 |
| 2025/05 | 10500 |
| 2025/06 | 11000 |
| 2025/07 | 11500 |
| 2025/08 | 11900 |
| 2025/09 | 12200 |
| 2025/10 | 12700 |
| 2025/11 | 13100 |
| 2025/12 | 13500 |
| 2026/01 | 13900 |
| 2026/02 | 14400 |
| 2026/03 | 14900 |
| 2026/04 | 15500 |
| 2026/05 | 16000 |
| 2026/06 | 16700 |
| 2026/07 | 17900 |
| 2026/08 | 19200 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Spousal (Abroad, Quebec) take right now?
As of September 3, 2026, IRCC reports a processing time of about 33 months for Spousal (Abroad, Quebec) applications, with about 19,200 people waiting.
What is the Quebec undertaking for spousal sponsorship?
It is a contract with the Quebec government in which the sponsor commits to meeting the sponsored person's basic needs for a set period. MIFI processes the undertaking after IRCC approves the sponsor, adding a provincial step that rest-of-Canada applications do not have.
Why is the Quebec outland spousal queue longer?
Quebec's annual immigration plan limits family-class admissions to the province. When more applications are in the inventory than the plan admits per year, published processing times stretch — regardless of how fast individual files are reviewed.