Key takeaways
- Spouse, partner or dependent child: no income test in most cases
- Exception: a dependent child who has children of their own
- Parents and grandparents: income at or above the minimum for each of the 3 tax years before you apply
- Latest published minimums: $47,549 for 2 people and $58,456 for 3 (tax year 2024)
- IRCC paused new parent and grandparent sponsorship forms on July 15, 2026
Do you need a minimum income to sponsor?
| Who you sponsor | Income test | Undertaking |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse or common-law partner | None in most cases | 3 years |
| Dependent child | None, unless the child has children of their own | 10 years, or until the child turns 25, whichever comes first |
| Parents and grandparents | Minimum income + 30% for each of the 3 tax years before you apply | 20 years |
The undertaking is your promise to support the person. You must repay any social assistance they receive during that time.
Parents and grandparents: minimum income table
These are the latest amounts IRCC has published (used for the 2025 intake). Outside Quebec.
| Family size | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $47,549 | $44,530 | $43,082 |
| 3 | $58,456 | $54,743 | $52,965 |
| 4 | $70,972 | $66,466 | $64,306 |
| 5 | $80,496 | $75,384 | $72,935 |
| 6 | $90,784 | $85,020 | $82,259 |
| 7 | $101,075 | $94,658 | $91,582 |
| Each extra person | $10,291 | $9,636 | $9,324 |
On July 15, 2026, IRCC paused new interest to sponsor forms for the Parents and Grandparents Program until further notice. You can still check your income now so you are ready. The super visa is still open: try the super visa calculator.
How to count your family size
- You.
- Your spouse or partner.
- Your dependent children and your spouse’s dependent children.
- People you sponsored before whose undertaking is still active.
- The parents or grandparents you are sponsoring, and their spouse and dependent children.
Example: you, your spouse, two children and one parent make a family of 5.
What income counts
IRCC uses the income on your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) notice of assessment (line 15000) for each year. Your spouse or common-law partner can co-sign so their income is added. You cannot sponsor while you receive social assistance for a reason other than disability.
Sponsoring a dependent child who has children
This is the one spouse-and-child case with an income test. You must meet IRCC’s minimum necessary income for your family size. In IRCC’s current table that is $46,720 for 3 people and $56,724 for 4. The calculator uses that table when you choose this option.
Worked example
Ravi and his co-signing wife want to sponsor his mother. They have two children, so the family size is 5. Their combined income was $82,000 in 2024, $78,000 in 2023 and $74,000 in 2022. The minimums are $80,496, $75,384 and $72,935. They meet all 3 years, so they pass the income test. Read the full rules in our family sponsorship guide, and see how the PR fees add up.