On this page you will find
- What Canada’s undeclared family member policy allowed
- Why IRCC ended the policy
- Who previously qualified for the exemption
- Who was not covered by the policy
- What happens to applications submitted before September 10
- The rules for applications submitted after September 10
- How humanitarian and compassionate considerations may apply
- Why applicants must declare all family members when applying for permanent residence
Canada has ended a special immigration policy that allowed some permanent residents to sponsor family members they did not declare or have examined when they originally immigrated to Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allowed the temporary public policy to expire on September 10, 2026, after operating through successive versions since 2019.
IRCC says it decided not to renew the policy because of “potential integrity concerns,” according to reporting by The Canadian Press.
However, that explanation appears to contrast with the department’s previous assessment of the policy. A 2023 briefing memo prepared for the immigration minister reportedly described the risk to program integrity as “minimal.”
The end of the policy could have significant consequences for refugees and other permanent residents who discover they have family members abroad whom they did not declare during their original immigration process.
What Was Canada’s Undeclared Family Member Policy?
Canada generally requires permanent residence applicants to declare all their family members, even when those family members are not accompanying them to Canada.
Family members must normally also undergo the required medical, background and security checks.
Under paragraphs 117(9)(d) and 125(1)(d) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, failing to declare and have a family member examined can prevent that person from later being sponsored.
The rule can apply to spouses, common-law partners and dependent children.
Canada introduced a temporary public policy in 2019 that provided an exemption for certain permanent residents.
The policy allowed eligible sponsors to bring previously undeclared or unexamined family members to Canada through family sponsorship.
IRCC extended the measure in 2021 and again in 2023. The latest version expired on September 10, 2026.
IRCC has now updated its website to mark the policy as expired.
Why Did Canada End The Family Sponsorship Exemption?
IRCC says it allowed the policy to expire because of potential concerns about the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
The Canadian Press reported on September 14 that the department cited unspecified “potential integrity concerns” when explaining why it did not renew the measure.
However, IRCC had not provided details about the nature of those concerns or publicly identified evidence of widespread abuse of the exemption at the time of the report.
The decision is particularly notable because of an earlier IRCC assessment.
A briefing memo prepared for the immigration minister when the policy was extended in 2023 reportedly said approximately 2,000 applications had been received.
About 90 per cent had been approved, according to subsequent reporting on the memo.
Crucially, the memo reportedly described the policy as presenting “minimal risk” to program integrity.
That raises questions about what changed between the department’s 2023 assessment and its decision in 2026 not to renew the exemption.
Who Qualified Under The Special Policy?
The exemption did not apply to every permanent resident who had failed to declare a family member.
A previously undeclared family member could potentially qualify if they were being sponsored as a:
- spouse;
- common-law partner;
- conjugal partner; or
- dependent child.
The sponsor also needed to have originally become a permanent resident through one of several specific routes.
These included people who became permanent residents as:
- resettled refugees;
- protected persons;
- sponsored spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners or dependent children under the Family Class; or
- sponsored spouses or common-law partners under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.
Other eligibility restrictions also applied.
Did The Policy Cover Express Entry And PNP Immigrants?
The exemption did not generally provide the same protection to someone who originally became a permanent resident through an economic immigration program.
That means an immigrant who received permanent residence through Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or another economic pathway could not normally rely on this particular public policy to sponsor an undeclared family member.
The distinction is important because the underlying rule requiring permanent residence applicants to declare their family members applies across Canada’s immigration system.
Applicants should therefore declare all spouses, partners, dependent children and other family members required by IRCC, even if they do not intend to bring those relatives to Canada at that time.
What Happens To Applications Submitted Before September 10?
The end of the public policy does not cancel eligible applications that IRCC received while the measure was in force.
IRCC says it will continue applying the public policy to eligible applications received between May 31, 2019 and September 10, 2026.
Applicants who submitted qualifying applications during that period can therefore still benefit from the exemption even though the policy has now expired.
They must still meet the other requirements that apply to their application.
What Happens To Applications Submitted After September 10?
The position is substantially different for applications submitted after September 10, 2026.
IRCC says the public policy does not apply to those applications.
Its updated family sponsorship guidance states that previously undeclared family members are not eligible for family sponsorship.
This could leave some families facing a much more difficult route to reunification.
Can Humanitarian And Compassionate Grounds Still Be Used?
IRCC says humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) considerations remain a possible option in cases involving previously undeclared family members.
H&C applications allow immigration officers to consider exceptional circumstances that may justify granting an exemption from certain immigration requirements.
However, H&C is a discretionary process rather than a replacement family sponsorship program. Applicants must present the circumstances supporting their request, and approval is not guaranteed.
Processing times are also a major concern.
IRCC told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in March 2026 that most new applicants in the H&C and Other category could expect to wait more than 10 years for a decision on permanent residence.
The department said high demand, combined with reduced admissions space, had created a substantial inventory and that significant wait times were expected to continue.
For families affected by the end of the undeclared family member exemption, that makes H&C a potentially important but far from straightforward alternative.
Why Was The Undeclared Family Member Policy Introduced?
The situations that lead to family members being undeclared can be complex.
The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) argues that the normal rules can have a particularly serious impact on refugees and vulnerable migrants.
For example, a refugee may have believed a spouse or child was dead or may not have known where a family member was when completing an immigration application.
Other applicants may face circumstances in which disclosing a relationship could place them or their partner at risk.
This can be particularly relevant to LGBTQ+ refugees coming from countries where same-sex relationships are criminalized or heavily stigmatized.
There can also be cases involving children born or family circumstances that change while a lengthy immigration application is being processed.
The temporary policy was designed to provide an exemption in some of these situations rather than permanently prevent the affected family member from being sponsored.
Refugee Advocates Want Canada To Restore The Policy
The Canadian Council for Refugees has called on Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab to reverse the decision.
In a September 11 letter, the organization said ending the policy could have serious consequences for vulnerable families, particularly children separated from their parents.
The organization argues that the underlying regulation can impose severe consequences on people who failed to declare relatives because of difficult circumstances rather than an attempt to mislead Canadian immigration authorities.
The government, however, has indicated that H&C consideration is now the appropriate mechanism for dealing with exceptional cases while protecting the integrity of the immigration system.
Declaring Family Members Is Critical When Applying For PR
The end of the public policy makes it even more important for prospective immigrants to declare every family member required by Canadian immigration rules.
IRCC says applicants must declare family members even if they do not intend to accompany the principal applicant to Canada.
Those relatives generally need to undergo medical examinations and applicable background and security checks.
Failure to do so can have consequences years later if the permanent resident decides to sponsor the family member.
IRCC also warns that failing to declare all family members on a permanent residence application could put the applicant’s own permanent resident status at risk in some circumstances.
Applicants should therefore make sure IRCC has accurate and updated information about their family composition throughout the permanent residence process, including when circumstances change before they become permanent residents.
What The Policy Change Means
The September 10 expiry restores the stricter position for people seeking to sponsor previously undeclared family members.
Eligible applications received by IRCC on or before September 10, 2026 can continue to benefit from the temporary policy.
Applications submitted after that date cannot.
The unanswered question is why IRCC concluded that the exemption now creates potential integrity concerns when its own 2023 briefing material reportedly characterized the integrity risk as minimal.
Until the department provides further details, families affected by the change may have to consider H&C requests or seek professional immigration advice about any other options available in their individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor a family member I did not declare on my Canadian permanent residence application?
Generally, no. IRCC ended the temporary public policy for certain previously undeclared family members on September 10, 2026. Its current guidance says previously undeclared family members are not eligible for family sponsorship, although humanitarian and compassionate considerations may be possible in some cases.
What happens if I applied under the undeclared family member policy before September 10, 2026?
IRCC says it will continue applying the policy to eligible applications it received between May 31, 2019 and September 10, 2026. The expiry therefore does not automatically remove the exemption from qualifying applications already submitted by the deadline.
Why did IRCC end the undeclared family member policy?
IRCC told The Canadian Press that it did not renew the policy because of “potential integrity concerns.” However, the department had not publicly explained those concerns in detail as of September 14. A 2023 ministerial briefing memo reportedly described the policy as presenting “minimal risk” to program integrity.
Can I use humanitarian and compassionate grounds to sponsor an undeclared family member?
Humanitarian and compassionate considerations may provide a possible route in exceptional circumstances, but they are discretionary and approval is not guaranteed. IRCC has also said most new applicants in its H&C and Other category can expect to wait more than 10 years for a permanent residence decision.
Why must I declare family members who are not coming to Canada?
IRCC requires permanent residence applicants to declare their family members even if they are not accompanying them. Family members generally must also undergo medical, background and security checks. Failing to declare them can prevent future sponsorship and, in some circumstances, could also put the applicant’s permanent resident status at risk.