Canada Eases Income Requirement for Hosting Parents and Grandparents on Super Visa

By Vikrant Singh, June 10, 2026

Canada is making it easier for families to qualify for the parents and grandparents super visa by changing how it calculates the minimum income requirement.

Starting March 31, 2026, hosts will have more flexibility in how they can meet the financial requirement for the super visa, according to a government announcement. The update introduces two new ways to satisfy the income test, opening the door for families who may have narrowly missed the threshold under the old, single-year rule.

For Canadian citizens and permanent residents hoping to reunite with parents or grandparents, the change could be the difference between an approval and a refusal.

What Is the Super Visa?

The super visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents visit family in Canada for extended periods. It grants visitor status for up to 10 years, with a maximum stay of up to five years at a time, making it one of the most generous family-reunification options Canada offers.

It also serves as a practical alternative to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), a permanent residence pathway that has not opened a new interest-to-sponsor intake period since 2020. With the PGP effectively on pause, the super visa has become the go-to route for many families.

The Old Rule: One Year, One Standard

To host a parent or grandparent on a super visa, the sponsoring family member must prove they earn enough to support their visiting relative. This is measured against the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for the host's family size.

Until now, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) assessed only the single taxation year immediately before the application was submitted. A dip in income during that one year — a job change, parental leave, a slow business quarter — could sink an otherwise strong application.

Two New Ways to Meet the Income Requirement

The updated rules add two flexible options on top of the existing standard.

1. Extended Income Assessment Period

Under the first new option, the host (and their co-signer, if applicable) can qualify by meeting the income requirement in either of the two taxation years preceding the application date — not just the most recent one.

This gives families breathing room. If your income was strong two years ago but dipped last year, you can now rely on the stronger year to qualify.

2. Counting the Visiting Parent's or Grandparent's Income

The second new option allows part of the visiting parent's or grandparent's income to be added to the calculation.

Here's how it works: the host (and co-signer, if applicable) must first meet a required minimum percentage of the total income threshold. The visiting parent's or grandparent's income can then be applied to cover the remaining gap.

One important caveat — at the time of publication, the government had not yet clarified what that required minimum percentage will be. Families planning to use this method should watch for updated IRCC guidance before applying.

Who Is Affected and When

As of March 31, 2026, the new income rules apply to all applications already in process, as well as any submitted on or after that date.

Good news for those who already qualified: families eligible under the previous criteria remain eligible under the updated system. Nobody loses ground. But families who want to take advantage of one of the new calculation methods will need to submit documents proving they meet the income requirement for their family size.

How to Calculate Your Family Size

To calculate family size for a super visa application, the host (a Canadian citizen or permanent resident) must count:

• themselves;

• their spouse (including a separated spouse) or common-law partner;

• any dependent children of the host or of their spouse or common-law partner;

• the super visa applicant (parent or grandparent), plus their spouse or common-law partner, if applying at the same time;

• any previously approved super visa applicants; and

• any previously sponsored individuals.

Minimum Income Requirement by Family Size

The income thresholds below were last updated July 29, 2025.

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 after 7	$8,224

Documents You Can Use to Prove Income

Hosts can demonstrate their income with any of the following:

• Their most recent Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (the preferred document);

• Their T4 or T1 for the last tax year;

• Pay stubs covering the most recent 12-month period available;

• Employment Insurance benefit statements;

• Proof of other income sources, such as pension statements;

• A letter from their employer stating job title, job description, and salary, along with bank statements; or

• A letter from an accountant confirming annual income (for self-employed applicants only).

Eligibility Rules for the Visiting Parent or Grandparent

The applicant — the parent or grandparent being hosted — must also meet several conditions. They must:

• be outside Canada when submitting the application;

• be admissible to Canada;

• hold private health insurance valid for at least one year (from a Canadian insurer, or from a foreign company approved by the minister);

• complete an immigration medical exam; and

• meet any other conditions as required.

The Bottom Line

By moving away from a rigid one-year income test, Canada is giving families a more realistic and forgiving path to reunite with the people who matter most. The two new options — a two-year lookback and the ability to count a visiting relative's income — recognize that earnings fluctuate and that a single off year shouldn't keep grandparents from watching their grandchildren grow up.

If you're planning a super visa application in 2026, review which income method works best for your situation, gather your supporting documents early, and keep an eye out for the government's clarification on the minimum-percentage rule for the income-supplementing option.

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