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Super Visa Income Requirements 2026 (LICO)

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To meet the super visa income requirement, the host must show income at or above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus a margin for their family size. Since March 31, 2026, you can qualify using either of your two most recent tax years, and a parent's own income may help — but only after the host (with any co-signer) reaches at least 75% of the requirement on their own. Counting your family size correctly is where most applicants slip up.

Income is the requirement that decides most super visa applications, so it is worth getting exactly right. This page explains the threshold, the 2026 changes, how a parent's income can help, and the family-size mistakes that quietly sink applications. When you are ready, plug your numbers into the income calculator.

The income threshold (LICO)

The host must earn at least the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for their family size, plus a margin set by IRCC. The bigger the household, the higher the bar. The exact figures change each year, so always work from the current table rather than an old number you saw online.

Super visa minimum income (LICO) by family size, 2025 tax year
Family sizeMinimum income required (2025)
1 person$30,526
2 people$38,002
3 people$46,720
4 people$56,724
5 people$64,336
6 people$72,560
7 people$80,784
Each additional person+ $8,224

Read the row that matches your family size, not your income bracket. The number in that row is the minimum income the host must show for the relevant tax year.

The two-year rule (March 2026)

Before 2026, you generally had to meet the threshold in your single most recent tax year. Since March 31, 2026, a two-year rule applies: you can qualify using either of your two most recent tax years — 2025 or 2024 — whichever is stronger.

Using a parent's own income

The 2026 changes also let the visiting parent or grandparent's own income — such as pension or investment income — help meet the threshold. This is new and genuinely useful for families where the host is close to the bar.

How to count your family size

Family size is where applications go wrong most often. You count everyone the host is financially responsible for, plus everyone they are inviting. Missing a person here can push you below the threshold without you realising.

  • The host themselves.
  • The host's spouse or partner.
  • The host's dependent children.
  • Anyone the host has sponsored before and is still responsible for.
  • The parents or grandparents being invited on this super visa.
  • Any other dependants the host supports.

How to prove your income

The strongest proof is your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the CRA for the tax year you are relying on. Supporting documents like pay stubs, employment letters, pension statements, or business records can back it up. Use the better of your two recent years under the new rule.

Check your numbers

The safest move is to run your real figures through the income calculator. It applies the current threshold for your family size so you know where you stand before paying any fees. For the broader picture, see the full requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Which tax year do I use?

Since March 31, 2026, you can use whichever of your two most recent tax years is stronger — for example 2025 or 2024.

Can my parent's pension count toward the income?

It can help, but only after the host (with any co-signer) reaches at least 75% of the requirement on their own. The parent's income then covers the remaining amount.

Do I count the parents I'm inviting in my family size?

Yes. The parents or grandparents being invited are part of the family size, which raises the income you must show. Forgetting them is a common mistake.

What document best proves my income?

Your CRA Notice of Assessment is the strongest proof, supported by pay stubs, employment letters, or pension statements.

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