IRCC Public Policy for Sponsoring Previously Undeclared Family Members Ends in September

Under Canada’s immigration rules, permanent residents generally cannot sponsor a spouse, partner, or dependent child who was not declared and examined when the sponsor applied for permanent residence. This temporary public policy created a limited exception for some sponsors.

Here’s what the public policy does, who qualifies, and what the upcoming expiry could mean for family sponsorship.

Key Takeaways

• IRCC’s public policy for sponsoring previously undeclared family members is scheduled to expire on September 10, 2026.
• The policy creates a limited exception to Canada’s family sponsorship rules for certain permanent residents.
• The public policy only applies to certain protected persons, refugees, and people who originally became permanent residents through family sponsorship.
• If the policy is not extended, permanent residents will no longer be able to sponsor previously undeclared spouses, partners, or dependent children.

IRCC’s Public Policy for Sponsoring Previously Undeclared Family Members

When applying for permanent residence in Canada, applicants must declare all their family members. This applies even if those family members are not accompanying them to Canada. In most cases, those family members must also complete medical, criminal, and security screening.

Family members who must generally be declared include your spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, and dependent grandchildren.

So, what happens if you don’t declare a family member when you apply for permanent residence? Usually, in such cases, you are permanently barred from sponsoring that undeclared family member for PR in Canada.

This rule exists because an applicant’s family members can affect their permanent residence application. For example, if a family member is inadmissible to Canada for medical, criminal, or certain other reasons, it can also make the principal applicant inadmissible. Examining family members helps immigration officers determine whether the applicant and their dependents or sponsorable family members meet Canada’s immigration requirements.

In some cases, applicants may have been unable to have a family member examined through no fault of their own. For example, a former spouse may have refused to allow a child living with them to complete the immigration medical examination, or an applicant may have been unable to locate a family member before their permanent residence application was finalized.

To support family reunification in certain circumstances, IRCC introduced a temporary public policy in 2019. The policy allows some permanent residents to sponsor previously undeclared family members, even though they would normally be prevented from doing so. It has since been extended and is currently scheduled to remain in effect until September 10, 2026.

Who Can Sponsor Previously Undeclared Family Members Under This Public Policy

The public policy applies only to permanent residents who became permanent residents in one of the following ways:

• as a resettled refugee (Convention refugee or person in similar circumstances)
• after being recognized as a protected person
• after being sponsored as a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child under the Family Class
• after being sponsored as a spouse or common-law partner under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada (SCLPC) class

Previously Undeclared Family Members Who Can Be Sponsored Under This Public Policy

The public policy only applies to previously undeclared family members who are being sponsored as a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child. The family member must not have been declared or examined when the sponsor became a permanent resident.

However, the public policy does not apply in every situation. It does not cover cases where declaring the family member would have made the sponsor ineligible for permanent residence in the first place.

According to IRCC, this means sponsors in the following situations are not eligible under the public policy:

• were sponsored as a spouse while already married to or in a common-law relationship with the undeclared family member
• immigrated as a dependent child but were already married or in a common-law relationship
• became a permanent resident through an immigration program that required them to be single and have no dependants.

Like other family sponsorship applications, the sponsored family member must still meet Canada’s immigration requirements. The public policy only removes the bar on sponsoring a previously undeclared family member. It does not exempt them from medical, criminal, security, or other admissibility requirements.

When Does the Public Policy for Previously Undeclared Family Members Expire?

The current public policy applies to sponsorship applications received between May 31, 2019, and September 10, 2026. Eligible applications must be received by IRCC while the public policy remains in effect.

At the time of writing, IRCC has not announced whether it will extend or replace the public policy. Unless a further extension is announced, the policy is scheduled to end on September 10, 2026.

What Happens When the Family Sponsorship Public Policy Expires?

If the public policy expires without being extended, the exemptions will end and the usual immigration rules will apply.

That means permanent residents who failed to declare a family member or have them examined during their own permanent residence application would be unable to sponsor that family member later.

Applications received while the public policy is still in effect will continue to be assessed under the policy’s requirements.

What Should You Do if You Want to Sponsor a Previously Undeclared Family Member?

If you are eligible to sponsor someone under this public policy, you should submit your application before September 10, 2026, so IRCC receives it while the policy is still in effect. Simply apply through the regular process for sponsoring a spouse, partner, or dependent child, and IRCC will determine whether the public policy applies.

If you are unsure whether the public policy applies to you or the family member you wish to sponsor, speak to a regulated Canadian immigration consultant for guidance.

You should also keep an eye on IRCC announcements. The department could choose to extend or replace the public policy before its current expiry date of September 10, 2026, but no decision has been announced so far.