Super Visa Income Requirements: The IRCC LICO Table Explained Simply

Confused about the super visa income requirement? Here’s the official IRCC LICO table, explained simply, so you know exactly what income you need to sponsor your parents.

What Is the Super Visa Income Requirement?

So you’re ready to invite your parents to Canada on a super visa. You’ve thought about the visit, you’re looking into super visa insurance, and everything feels close. Then you hit one requirement that trips up a lot of families: the minimum income requirement.

Don’t worry, it sounds more complicated than it actually is. Let’s break it down in plain language.

This minimum amount is called the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI), and it’s based on a number set by Statistics Canada known as the Low Income Cut-Off, or LICO.

To sponsor a parent or grandparent on a super visa, you (the host) need to prove you earn enough money to support them financially while they’re in Canada. This isn’t about being wealthy. It’s about showing you can comfortably cover another person (or two) joining your household.

The Official IRCC LICO Table

According to IRCC’s official proof of financial support page, here is the minimum income your household needs, based on family size:

Number of Family Members	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 additional member	+ $8,224

These figures were last updated by IRCC on July 29, 2025, and they’re reviewed and adjusted periodically, so it’s always worth double-checking the current numbers directly on IRCC’s website before you apply.

How Do You Count “Family Size”?

This is where a lot of people get confused, because family size isn’t just you and your spouse. IRCC wants you to count:

• Yourself (the host)
• Your spouse or common-law partner
• Your dependent children
• The parent(s) or grandparent(s) you’re inviting
• Anyone you’ve previously sponsored whose undertaking is still active
• Any previously approved super visa applicants still covered under a letter of invitation you signed

Example: You’re married with two kids, and you want to invite both of your parents. That’s 1 (you) + 1 (spouse) + 2 (kids) + 2 (parents) = 6 people. Based on the table above, your household would need to show a minimum income of $72,560.

Two Ways to Prove Your Income

IRCC recently made this part more flexible, which is genuinely good news for a lot of families.

Option 1: Meet the Threshold in Either of the Last Two Tax Years

You can qualify by showing your income met or exceeded the required amount in either of the two tax years before you apply, not just the most recent one. If last year was a rough one financially, but the year before was solid, you can still qualify using that earlier year.

Option 2: Reach 75% Yourself, Top Up the Rest

If your income in the most recent year was at least 75% of the required amount, you can add other income to cover the gap. This can include:

• A co-signer’s income (like your spouse or common-law partner)
• Your own additional income sources

The combined total simply needs to meet or exceed the minimum required for your family size.

What Documents Do You Need?

To prove your income, IRCC prefers your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the CRA. If that’s not available, you can also use:

• T4 or T1 from the last tax year
• Recent pay stubs (last 12 months)
• A letter from your employer confirming job title and salary
• Bank statements showing regular income deposits
• Proof of other income, like pensions or rental income

A Quick Reality Check

The income requirement exists for a good reason: it protects your parents from financial hardship while they’re visiting, and it protects Canada’s public systems from being unexpectedly strained. It’s not designed to be a barrier, it’s designed to make sure the visit actually works for everyone involved.

If your income is close to the threshold but not quite there, don’t panic. Between the two-year lookback and the co-signer option, most families find a path that works.

Where to Check the Official Numbers

Because these figures are updated from time to time, always confirm the latest LICO table directly on IRCC’s official website before submitting your application. This article is a simple starting point, not a replacement for checking the current official figures.

Once your income requirement is sorted, the next step is making sure your parents have the right super visa insurance for parents in place. See what Super Visa insurance covers and get a quote once your income requirement is sorted.

Get a free Super Visa insurance quote or call us at +1 (403) 651-0012 once your income requirement is confirmed.