Hosts sponsoring parents or grandparents for Canada’s Super Visa are facing new financial thresholds after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) quietly updated the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) table on April 12 2026. According to immigration law firm RightWay Canada, the minimum income required for a family of four jumped to CAD 56,724, while a single-person host must now show CAD 30,526—about three per cent higher than last year. The revision reflects Statistics Canada’s most recent Consumer Price Index data and will apply to all Super Visa files not yet submitted.
![IRCC updates Super Visa income tables for 2026 applications]()
For sponsors who could use extra help navigating the new income rules, VisaHQ provides streamlined Super Visa assistance—including tailored document checklists, application reviews and courier services—making it easier to stay compliant with IRCC requirements. You can learn more at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Because IRCC officers calculate eligibility using income from one of the two most recent tax years, candidates who filed strong 2025 returns but experienced reduced earnings in 2024 may benefit. Conversely, hosts whose 2025 income fell below the new threshold must rely on 2024 figures or add a co-signer. The change comes amid a broader family-reunification overhaul. Bill C-12, which received royal assent in March, mandated an annual review of Super Visa criteria and gave IRCC latitude to count the visitor’s own income for up to 25 % of the requirement. The April update formally embeds that flexibility, allowing well-off parents or grandparents to top up the host’s shortfall provided they can document foreign earnings, pensions or rental income. For employers, higher LICO figures may affect benefit packages negotiated with executives on overseas assignment who plan to bring aging relatives to Canada for extended stays. Global mobility teams should verify that projected 2025 T4 slips will still meet the threshold and build in contingencies such as co-signers or earlier filing dates. Because Super Visa visitors can stay up to five years per entry, failure to meet income rules can delay reunification and impact employee well-being. Practically, applicants should submit Notices of Assessment for both 2024 and 2025, even if one year already meets the requirement, and ensure bank statements, pay stubs and pension letters align with figures declared to the Canada Revenue Agency. As processing times hover around four months, planning ahead for the 2027 visit season is essential.
For sponsors who could use extra help navigating the new income rules, VisaHQ provides streamlined Super Visa assistance—including tailored document checklists, application reviews and courier services—making it easier to stay compliant with IRCC requirements. You can learn more at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Because IRCC officers calculate eligibility using income from one of the two most recent tax years, candidates who filed strong 2025 returns but experienced reduced earnings in 2024 may benefit. Conversely, hosts whose 2025 income fell below the new threshold must rely on 2024 figures or add a co-signer. The change comes amid a broader family-reunification overhaul. Bill C-12, which received royal assent in March, mandated an annual review of Super Visa criteria and gave IRCC latitude to count the visitor’s own income for up to 25 % of the requirement. The April update formally embeds that flexibility, allowing well-off parents or grandparents to top up the host’s shortfall provided they can document foreign earnings, pensions or rental income. For employers, higher LICO figures may affect benefit packages negotiated with executives on overseas assignment who plan to bring aging relatives to Canada for extended stays. Global mobility teams should verify that projected 2025 T4 slips will still meet the threshold and build in contingencies such as co-signers or earlier filing dates. Because Super Visa visitors can stay up to five years per entry, failure to meet income rules can delay reunification and impact employee well-being. Practically, applicants should submit Notices of Assessment for both 2024 and 2025, even if one year already meets the requirement, and ensure bank statements, pay stubs and pension letters align with figures declared to the Canada Revenue Agency. As processing times hover around four months, planning ahead for the 2027 visit season is essential.
