March 2026 Income Changes: What You Need to Know

If you are sponsoring a parent or grandparent for a super visa, the rules you may have read last year have changed. The March 31, 2026 Ministerial Instructions made the income test more forgiving. Here is what actually changed, in plain language.

1. The two-year income rule

Previously, you had to meet the minimum income (LICO) in your most recent tax year. Now you can qualify using either of your two most recent tax years. If 2025 was a weaker year but 2024 was strong, you can use 2024 — and vice versa.

Even better, this applies retroactively to applications already in processing. A family refused or worried about a single low year may now qualify. Check your numbers in the income calculator.

2. Parent income can now count

For the first time, the visiting parent or grandparent's own income — such as a pension or investment income — can supplement the host's income. A pension from India or the Philippines can now help close a gap.

What you should do now

• Gather Notices of Assessment for both 2025 and 2024.
• If using a parent's pension, gather proof of that income too.
• Run your situation through the income calculator.
• Read the full income requirements guide.