Family Sponsorship Financial Requirements Canada 2025

To sponsor a family member to Canada, you must demonstrate sufficient income. Here are the LICO thresholds, what counts as income, and your financial obligations as a sponsor.

Who Can Sponsor a Family Member?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor eligible family members to come to Canada as permanent residents. Eligible relationships include spouses and common-law partners, dependent children, parents and grandparents, and in some cases, other relatives. To be eligible as a sponsor, you must be at least 18 years old, live in Canada (or intend to return if currently abroad), and meet the income requirements.

Income Requirements: The LICO Threshold

Sponsors of parents, grandparents, and dependent children (other than spouses/partners) must demonstrate income above the Low Income Cutoff (LICO). Note that spousal and partner sponsorship does not have a LICO income requirement, though you must still prove you can provide basic support.

LICO thresholds for sponsorship (approximate 2025 figures, based on prior year's tax return):

Family Size After Sponsorship	Minimum Required Income (CAD)
2 people	$41,007
3 people	$50,414
4 people	$61,209
5 people	$69,462
6 people	$78,341
7 people	$87,220
Each additional person	+$8,879

Family size includes: the sponsor, their spouse/partner (if applicable), dependent children, the person(s) being sponsored, their spouse/partner and children. Always check current thresholds at canada.ca as these are updated annually.

What Income Counts for Sponsorship?

IRCC counts the following as income for sponsorship purposes:

• Employment income (salary, wages, commissions)
• Self-employment income (net business income)
• Employment Insurance (EI) benefits
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP)
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Provincial disability or workers' compensation benefits
• Rental income
• Investment income (interest, dividends)

Income that does NOT count: social assistance (welfare), most provincial income supplements, and income from a spouse if that spouse is not co-signing the sponsorship.

Proof of Income Documents

IRCC requires documentation of your income for the past 3 years. This typically includes:

• Notice of Assessment (NOA) from CRA for the past 3 tax years — the most reliable document
• T4 slips and/or T1 General tax returns
• If self-employed: T2125 business income statement and financial statements
• Employment letter confirming current position and salary
• Recent pay stubs

Sponsorship Undertaking: Your Financial Obligation

When you sponsor a family member, you sign a sponsorship undertaking — a legally binding commitment to financially support the sponsored person. The duration varies:

• Spouse/partner: 3 years from the date they become a permanent resident
• Dependent children under 22: 10 years or until they turn 25 (whichever comes first)
• Parents and grandparents: 20 years
• Other relatives: 10 years

During the undertaking period, if the sponsored person receives social assistance, the government can seek repayment from you. This is a serious financial commitment — ensure you can sustain the required income level throughout the undertaking period.

Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

The Parents and Grandparents Program has extremely limited spots — typically 15,000–30,000 per year — and operates through a lottery or interest-to-sponsor system. Income requirements for PGP sponsorship are based on the past 3 years of income (all 3 must meet the threshold), making it critical for sponsors to maintain stable income over multiple years.

As an alternative, the Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to 5 years at a time (extendable to 10 years total) without needing to permanently immigrate. Super Visa holders need valid health insurance coverage of at least $100,000 from a Canadian insurer — typically costing $1,500–$3,000 per year.