Canada’s special public policy allowing certain permanent residents to sponsor undeclared family members is scheduled to end on September 10, 2026. For eligible families, this deadline could be extremely important because the policy provides an exemption from the usual lifetime bar that can prevent sponsorship of a family member who was not declared and examined when the sponsor originally became a permanent resident.

There is currently no official confirmation that the policy will be extended, so eligible applicants should not assume another extension will be available.

What Is the Undeclared Family Members Public Policy?

When someone applies for Canadian permanent residence, they generally must declare all family members, even if those family members are not accompanying them to Canada. This can include a spouse, common-law partner and dependent children. In most cases, these family members must also complete the required medical, background and security examinations.

If a family member was not declared and examined, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regulations can prevent that person from being sponsored later.

Under paragraphs 117(9)(d) and 125(1)(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, this can result in a lifetime sponsorship bar.

To address the impact of this rule on certain vulnerable families, IRCC introduced a temporary public policy in 2019. The policy has subsequently been extended, with the current version applying to eligible applications received up to September 10, 2026.

Who Can Benefit From This Policy?

The policy does not apply to every permanent resident with an undeclared family member.

Generally, the undeclared person must be seeking sponsorship as a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child.

The sponsor must also have originally obtained Canadian permanent residence through one of the qualifying categories, including:

• As a resettled refugee or Convention refugee;
• As a protected person;
• As a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child sponsored under the Family Class; or
• As a sponsored spouse or common-law partner under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.

The policy is intended for situations where declaring the family member would not have changed the sponsor’s eligibility for permanent residence.

Who Is Not Eligible?

There are important exclusions.

For example, the policy generally cannot be used if the undeclared family member would have caused the sponsor to become ineligible for the immigration program through which they obtained permanent residence.

This can include situations where a sponsor:

• Immigrated as a spouse but was already married to or in a common-law relationship with the undeclared person;
• Came to Canada as a dependent child while already married or in a common-law relationship; or
• Obtained permanent residence through a program requiring the applicant to be single with no dependants.

Other Canadian immigration requirements, including applicable admissibility and eligibility requirements, continue to apply.

How to Apply Before the September 10 Deadline

There is no separate application form specifically for this public policy. Eligible applicants use the regular family sponsorship application process for a spouse, partner or dependent child. IRCC determines whether the public policy exemption applies during processing.

The key issue is the deadline: IRCC must receive the application by September 10, 2026 for it to be considered under the current policy.

Applicants should therefore avoid waiting until the final days. Preparing a complete family sponsorship application, collecting relationship evidence and confirming eligibility in advance can help reduce the risk of missing the deadline.

For sponsors living in Quebec, the provincial sponsorship undertaking requirements continue to apply.

What If Your Application Is Already in Process?

If an eligible application has already been submitted and remains in process when the public policy expires, applicants do not need to submit a new application simply because the deadline has passed. IRCC states that applications already submitted will continue to be assessed under the applicable public policy provisions.

Applicants whose previous sponsorship application was refused before May 31, 2019 may also be able to submit a new application if they otherwise qualify under the current policy.

Why September 10, 2026 Matters

The September 10 deadline is significant because the current public policy is temporary. Although IRCC is considering possible regulatory changes involving the lifetime sponsorship bar, those changes are still at the regulatory-planning stage and are not a replacement for the current policy.

Therefore, anyone who believes they may qualify for sponsorship of an undeclared family member in Canada should review their situation before the deadline rather than assuming the policy will be renewed.

How ICC Immigration Can Help

Navigating Canadian immigration, particularly a complicated family sponsorship application, can be challenging. ICC Immigration can assess your circumstances and help you identify an appropriate immigration pathway based on your goals and eligibility.

Our services include:

• Permanent Residency Applications: Assistance with Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and other Canadian PR pathways.
• Work Permits and Study Permits: Guidance for individuals looking to study or work in Canada and potentially pursue permanent residence in Canada through an appropriate pathway.
• Family Sponsorship: Assistance with eligible spouse, partner and family sponsorship applications, including situations involving complex immigration histories.
• Professional Immigration Guidance: Help understanding current immigration rules, documentation requirements and application procedures.

Rather than relying on uncertain immigration options, it is important to explore a pathway that fits your circumstances and provides a realistic route toward Canadian permanent residency.

Whether you are already in Canada or planning your immigration journey, ICC Immigration can help you understand your options and prepare your application with greater confidence.

Final Takeaway

For eligible sponsors, September 10, 2026 is an important deadline for undeclared family member sponsorship in Canada. The current public policy creates a temporary opportunity for certain refugees, protected persons and people who themselves immigrated through qualifying family sponsorship categories.

Because eligibility depends heavily on how the sponsor originally obtained permanent residence and why the family member was not declared, every case should be assessed individually.

Do not wait until the deadline to determine whether you qualify for the Canada undeclared family members public policy.