Canada Super Visa Income Eligibility Calculator 2026
Check if your household income meets the Super Visa minimum necessary income (the low income cut-off, LICO) to host a parent or grandparent's extended visit to Canada — for a stay of up to 5 years per entry.
Since 31 March 2026 this can cover the gap if the host reaches at least 75% of the minimum in the most recent tax year.
Minimum income by family size (your size highlighted, orange line = your income)
⚠️ This checks the income requirement only. You'll also need valid Canadian medical insurance (minimum $100,000 coverage), a passed medical exam, and proof your parent/grandparent will return home. Always confirm current figures on the official IRCC page before applying.
How the Super Visa Income Requirement Works
To sponsor a parent or grandparent's Super Visa, your household's gross annual income must meet or exceed IRCC's minimum necessary income, which is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for your family size. This is lower than the LICO + 30% test used for permanent sponsorship under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). The exact dollar threshold depends on your total family size, which includes: you, your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children, anyone else you're currently sponsoring under an active undertaking, and the parent(s)/grandparent(s) you're inviting on this application.
| Family Size | Minimum Income Required (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $30,526 |
| 2 | $38,002 |
| 3 | $46,720 |
| 4 | $56,724 |
| 5 | $64,336 |
| 6 | $72,560 |
| 7 | $80,784 |
| Each extra person | +$8,224 |
The March 2026 Flexibility Changes
Starting March 31, 2026, IRCC introduced two new ways to meet this requirement, on top of the standard test this calculator checks: hosts can now qualify using either of the two most recent taxation years (rather than only the latest one), and if the host meets at least 75% of the threshold independently, the visiting parent or grandparent's own Canadian-earned, CRA-verifiable income can be added to cover the remainder. The calculator above checks all three: the full minimum in the latest year, the full minimum in the year before, or at least 75% in the latest year with the parent's income making up the rest.
Sources
Common Mistakes
- Miscounting family size. Forgetting to include an existing sponsorship undertaking, or a dependent child, is one of the most common reasons applications are refused on income grounds.
- Using net income instead of gross. IRCC assesses gross income (before tax), specifically Line 15000 on your Notice of Assessment — not take-home pay.
- Confusing the Super Visa test with the PGP test. The Super Visa needs plain LICO for one year. Permanent sponsorship under the Parents and Grandparents Program needs LICO + 30% for each of the three years before applying. Don't use a PGP guide's figures here.
- Not checking the current year's LICO table. Thresholds are republished periodically to reflect inflation — a guide from even a year ago may already be stale.
- Assuming a high bank balance substitutes for income proof. IRCC requires documented income (NOA, T4/T1, employer letter, pay stubs), not just savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What income do I need to sponsor a parent or grandparent's Super Visa?
Your gross household income must meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for your family size, using the table IRCC updated on 29 July 2025. That is $30,526 for 1 person, $56,724 for 4, $80,784 for 7, and $8,224 more for each extra person.
Who counts toward my family size for the Super Visa income test?
You, your spouse or common-law partner, all dependent children, anyone else you're currently sponsoring under an active undertaking, and the parent(s) or grandparent(s) you're inviting.
Can I use two years of income to qualify?
Yes, as of March 31, 2026 — hosts can now meet the income requirement using either of the two most recent taxation years, rather than only the most recent year as before.
Can my visiting parent's own income count toward the requirement?
As of March 31, 2026, yes in certain cases — if the host independently meets at least 75% of the threshold, the visiting parent's or grandparent's own Canadian-earned, CRA-verifiable income can be added to cover the remainder.
Worked example: using the 75% rule
| Item | CAD |
|---|---|
| Family size: host, spouse, one child and two visiting parents | 5 people |
| Minimum income for 5 people (IRCC table) | $64,336 |
| 75% of the minimum | $48,252 |
| Host's income in the latest tax year | $50,000 |
| Gap the parents' documented income must cover | $14,336 |