To qualify for a Super Visa in 2026, your household income must meet IRCC’s minimum necessary income for your family size. For a family of 4, that is $56,724 a year. (IRCC, July 2026)
Run your own numbers with our Super Visa income calculator.
Since March 31, 2026, you can meet it in either of your last two tax years. Or you can reach 75% of it and let your parent’s income cover the rest. That is a real change.
One slow year used to sink an application. Now it may not. Below you will find the current income table, the two ways to prove income, three worked examples, and the rules the new income test does not touch.
Key takeaways
- The March 2026 update did not change the minimum amounts. IRCC’s table was last updated July 29, 2025. It shows $38,002 for a family of 2 and $56,724 for a family of 4.
- Option 1: you meet the full amount in either of the last 2 tax years.
- Option 2: you and any co-signer earned at least 75% of the amount in the last tax year. Your parent’s own income can then cover the gap.
- Your parent must also prove they will keep earning income while in Canada.
- Insurance, the medical exam, and the genuine visitor test still apply. The new rules only change how income is counted.
What changed with the Super Visa income rules in March 2026?
IRCC added two new ways to prove the income requirement, effective March 31, 2026. Hosts can now use either of the last two tax years. A visiting parent’s income can also cover a shortfall once the host reaches 75% of the minimum. The minimum amounts themselves did not change with this update.
| Rule | Before March 31, 2026 | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Tax year used | Most recent year only | Either of the last 2 tax years (Option 1) |
| Parent’s income | Not counted | Can cover the gap if the host reached 75% (Option 2) |
| Minimum amounts | IRCC table | Same table |
Sources: IRCC, Proof of financial support (July 2026); Moving2Canada, March 2026.
How much income does the host need for a Super Visa?
The host’s minimum income depends on family size. IRCC’s table starts at $30,526 for 1 person and $38,002 for 2, and it adds $8,224 for each person over 7. IRCC last updated it on July 29, 2025. (IRCC, reviewed September 2026)
| Family size | Minimum income (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $30,526 |
| 2 | $38,002 |
| 3 | $46,720 |
| 4 | $56,724 |
| 5 | $64,336 |
| 6 | $72,560 |
| 7 | $80,784 |
| Each person over 7 | add $8,224 |
IRCC can update this table. Check the current version on Canada.ca before you file.
Who counts toward your family size?
Your family size includes you, the parents you invite, your spouse or partner, and your dependent children. It also includes people you already support through another Super Visa letter or a sponsorship undertaking that is still in effect. (IRCC, July 2026)
IRCC’s count includes:
- the host child or grandchild
- the parents or grandparents being invited, and any other Super Visa applicants the host will support
- the host’s spouse or common-law partner, which can include a separated spouse
- dependent children of the host and of the spouse or partner, whatever the custody and support arrangements
- earlier Super Visa holders named in another letter of invitation that still applies, even if they are not in Canada right now
- people the host or co-signer sponsored, or co-signed for, while the undertaking is still in effect
IRCC’s own example: a host child, 2 invited parents, a spouse, and 2 dependent children make a family of 6. The minimum is then $72,560. Your letter of invitation must list every person in the count, with their name and date of birth.
How do you prove the income?
You can prove income in one of two ways. Option 1 needs the full minimum in either of the last two tax years. Option 2 needs at least 75% of the minimum in the last tax year, plus your parent’s income to close the gap. (IRCC, July 2026)
Option 1: can you use either of the last two tax years?
Yes. Your total income, including a co-signer’s, must meet or exceed the minimum in either of the 2 tax years before you submit. IRCC prefers a CRA notice of assessment as proof. (IRCC, July 2026)
For an application filed today, those years are 2024 and 2025. A layoff, a leave, or a slow year in 2025 no longer sinks you if 2024 was strong.
If you don’t have the notice of assessment, IRCC accepts any of these for you or your co-signer:
- your T4 or T1 for the last tax year
- pay stubs for the most recent 12-month period available
- an original employer letter with job title, job description and salary
- bank statements from the last calendar year showing investment income or regular deposits for employment or pension
- other proof of income, such as pension statements or rental ownership and lease documents
Option 2: how does the 75% rule work?
Option 2 lets your parent’s income help you qualify. Your income, plus your co-signer’s if you have one, must reach at least 75% of the minimum in the year before you apply. Your parent’s income covers the rest, and the combined total must meet the minimum. (IRCC, July 2026)
For a family of 4, 75% of $56,724 is $42,543.
IRCC’s wording for this test points to the year before you apply. It does not say you can choose between two years for the 75% check.
Your parent can prove their income with any of these:
- pay stubs for the most recent 12-month period available
- an original employer letter with job title, job description and salary
- bank statements from the last calendar year showing investment income or regular deposits for employment or pension
- pension statements
- ownership and lease documents for rental properties, showing rent amount and frequency
IRCC also requires proof that your parent will keep earning income while in Canada. The document must show the currency they are paid in. A bank balance alone is not on IRCC’s list of accepted proof.
Not sure which option fits your numbers? Book Your Strategy Assessment and bring your last two notices of assessment.
What do the new rules look like in real numbers?
Here are three examples for a family of 4. The minimum is $56,724, and 75% of it is $42,543. They are illustrations, not real IRCC cases. Each applies to a filing made today, so the tax years are 2024 and 2025.
Example 1: can a strong 2024 make up for a weak 2025?
Yes, under Option 1. If your 2025 income was $53,000 and your 2024 income was $62,000, your 2024 income clears the $56,724 minimum by $5,276. You only need one year to pass.
Example 2: can your parent’s pension close a small gap?
Yes, under Option 2, if it is documented. Your 2025 income of $50,000 is about 88% of $56,724, above the 75% line. A documented parent pension of $8,500 brings the total to $58,500, which clears the minimum by $1,776.
Option 1 would not work here. Your 2024 income of $51,500 also falls short of $56,724.
Example 3: what happens if you fall below 75%?
Your parent’s income cannot be added. If your 2025 income was $40,000, that is about 70.5% of $56,724. It is $2,543 short of the $42,543 line, and a large pension does not change that.
A spouse or common-law partner may be able to co-sign and add income. Check that before you give up on the application.
Want someone to run your numbers before you file? Book Your Strategy Assessment and we will check your family size, your documents, and which option fits.
Who can co-sign the letter of invitation?
Only the host’s spouse or common-law partner can co-sign. They must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a registered Indian. Siblings and other relatives cannot co-sign. (IRCC, July 2026)
The co-signer’s income counts toward the host’s total. If income proof is needed, the co-signer provides it with the letter of invitation.
What else must your parent or grandparent meet?
The income change does not touch the other requirements. Your parent must apply from outside Canada, pass an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician, and hold private health insurance with at least $100,000 in emergency coverage. (IRCC, July 2026)
IRCC also requires:
- a visa printed by a visa office outside Canada
- proof your parent is allowed to enter Canada
- proof of relationship to the host, such as the host’s birth or baptismal certificate
- proof the host is a citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian
- a signed letter of invitation from the host
Officers also decide whether your parent is a genuine visitor who will leave at the end of the stay. They look at ties to the home country, the purpose of the visit, family, and finances. You cannot include dependants in a Super Visa application.
What does the health insurance have to cover?
The policy must be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry and include at least $100,000 in emergency coverage. It can come from a Canadian insurer or from a foreign insurer that meets IRCC’s OSFI conditions. (IRCC, July 2026)
The policy must:
- cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation
- be paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit (quotes are not accepted)
- be valid for each entry to Canada
- be available for a border officer to review on request
A foreign insurer must be authorized by OSFI and appear on OSFI’s public list. Its policy must state that it was issued while the company was doing insurance business in Canada. Brokers and claims administrators are not insurers and will not appear on that list.
How much does a Super Visa cost?
The Super Visa fee is $100 per person, plus $85 for biometrics if your parent needs to give them. Parents from visa-exempt countries do not pay the visa fee or the biometrics fee. (IRCC, August 2026)
Visa-exempt parents who travel by air may still need an eTA. IRCC issues a letter to show the border officer on arrival.
How long can your parent stay, and how long is the visa valid?
A Super Visa allows multiple entries for up to 10 years. Your parent can stay 5 years at a time if they applied on or after June 22, 2023. (IRCC, July 2026)
The visa’s expiry date is the last day your parent can arrive in Canada. The border officer decides the length of stay each time they enter. (IRCC Help Centre)
IRCC also cannot issue a Super Visa valid for longer than the person’s biometrics. Our advice, not an IRCC rule: check that your parent’s passport and biometrics stay valid for the whole planned visit.
Before the authorized stay ends, your parent must leave Canada or apply to extend their stay. Keeping valid visitor status is their responsibility.
What do the new rules not fix?
They only change how income is counted. If a past refusal was about insurance, the medical exam, admissibility, or doubt that your parent would leave, the new income rules alone will not fix it.
Read the refusal letter first. Then fix the reason it names.
Should you apply now or wait?
If your income already meets the full minimum in either of the last two years, apply now. The new rules took effect on March 31, 2026, so there is nothing to wait for. If you fall between 75% and 100% of the minimum, gather your parent’s income proof first.
If you fall below 75% in your last tax year, Option 2 is closed to you for now. A co-signer’s income may change that.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum income to sponsor a parent on a Super Visa in 2026?
The minimum depends on family size. IRCC’s table shows $38,002 for a family of 2, $56,724 for a family of 4, and $80,784 for a family of 7, plus $8,224 for each person after that. IRCC last updated the table on July 29, 2025.
Which tax year should I use now that IRCC accepts two?
Use the year that meets the minimum for your family size. Under Option 1, either of the 2 tax years before you apply works, so you only need one to pass. Under Option 2, IRCC’s wording points to the year before you apply.
What counts as my parent’s income under Option 2?
IRCC accepts pay stubs, employer letters, pension statements, rental proof, and bank statements showing investment income or regular deposits. Your parent must also show they will keep earning income while in Canada, and the document must show the currency. A bank balance by itself is not on IRCC’s list.
Can my spouse combine income with mine?
Yes. Your spouse or common-law partner can co-sign, and their income counts toward your total. They must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian. Siblings and other relatives cannot co-sign.
Was my application reassessed if it was already in processing on March 31, 2026?
Several immigration law firms reported that IRCC’s March 2026 notice covered files already in processing. IRCC’s current program pages do not say this, so we cannot confirm it. Check your file’s status before you rely on it.
Does a pending Parents and Grandparents Program application change my family size?
IRCC’s family size list names earlier Super Visa holders and people you sponsored while the undertaking is still in effect. It does not mention pending applications. We cannot confirm the effect from IRCC’s published pages, so confirm your count before you file. See our Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship page for that program.
Will the minimum income table change?
IRCC last updated the table on July 29, 2025. IRCC can update it, so check the current version on Canada.ca before you calculate your family’s minimum.
Ready to check your numbers?
Every family’s income, family size, and documents are different. A small miscount can turn an approval into a refusal. Book a session with Amir Ismail, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC #R412319). We will confirm your family size, review your documents, and tell you where you stand before you file.
About the author
Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319, is the founder of Amir Ismail & Associates. Since 1991, his firm has guided more than 25,000 clients through Canadian, US, and global immigration from offices in Toronto, Dubai, and Karachi.
Sources
- IRCC: Super visa for parents and grandparents
- IRCC: Who can apply
- IRCC: Forms and documents
- IRCC: Proof of financial support
- IRCC: How long you can stay in Canada
- IRCC: How to apply
- IRCC Help Centre: Can I stay in Canada until the expiry date on my visitor visa?
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules change. Consult a regulated immigration consultant or licensed lawyer for advice specific to your situation.
