Canada Increases Financial Requirements for Parents and Grandparents Super Visa in 2025

Bringing parents and grandparents to Canada is a dream for many immigrants. The Super Visa program has been one of the most popular options, allowing family members to visit for extended periods. However, starting July 29, 2025, the Canadian government has increased the minimum income requirement for hosts. This change directly impacts Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to invite their parents or grandparents.

What Changed in 2025?

To qualify as a host under the Super Visa program, applicants must now meet a higher minimum income threshold. The new financial benchmarks are based on the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO), adjusted annually to reflect cost-of-living increases. For 2025, the requirement increased by 3.9% compared to 2024.

Updated Super Visa Minimum Income Requirement (2025)

Tip: A spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to combine incomes and meet the requirement.

How Family Size Is Counted

One of the most common mistakes in Super Visa applications is miscounting family size. IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) requires sponsors to include:

• The sponsor and their spouse/common-law partner (even if separated)

• Dependent children of both partners

• The parent(s) or grandparent(s) being invited

• Any other relatives under existing sponsorship undertakings

• Applicants already holding a Super Visa linked to the sponsor or co-signer

Real-Life Example

• Maria’s Case: Maria, a divorced Canadian PR with two dependent children, wants to invite her parents.

  • Maria (sponsor) = 1

  • Parents = 2

  • Children = 2

  • Total Family Size = 5

  • Required Income = $64,336

Even though Maria shares custody, her children are still counted, proving how family calculations can significantly affect eligibility.

Documents Required to Prove Income

To demonstrate financial eligibility, hosts must provide one or more of the following:

• Notice of Assessment (CRA)

• T4/T1 tax forms

• Pay stubs for the past 12 months

• Employment confirmation letter (with job title, salary, and description)

• Proof of self-employment income (accountant letter, business income statements)

• Pension or EI benefit statements

• Bank statements

Super Visa vs. Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

While both programs allow family reunification, they differ significantly:

If you want your parents or grandparents to live permanently in Canada, the PGP is the right pathway. But since it’s lottery-based and limited, many families prefer the Super Visa as a reliable alternative.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in PGP Applications

If you’re applying through the Parents and Grandparents Program, keep in mind these common errors that lead to rejections:

• Submitting incomplete applications (missing documents or forms)

• Providing inconsistent details between the interest-to-sponsor form and the full application

• Failing to validate or sign forms correctly

• Responding to “do-not-reply” IRCC emails instead of official webforms

• Not listing unemployment periods in resumes or application forms

Pro Tip: Always double-check your forms against the IRCC checklist before submission.

Real-Time Impact of the 2025 Changes

• Case 1 – A New Immigrant Couple in Toronto: A recently landed couple planning to invite both sets of parents may now struggle to qualify due to the higher income threshold. They might need to delay their application until they secure higher-paying jobs.

• Case 2 – Self-Employed Sponsor in Vancouver: Business owners must now provide accountant-certified proof of income. With the higher threshold, freelancers and self-employed workers may need to show stronger financial stability.

• Case 3 – Family with Shared Custody: As seen in Maria’s example, shared custody children are always counted in family size. Parents who overlook this may face application rejections despite meeting the income requirement otherwise.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 changes to the Super Visa income requirements reflect Canada’s rising cost of living. While the bar is now higher, the program remains one of the fastest and most flexible family reunification pathways. For those unable to qualify under the PGP lottery system, the Super Visa is still a strong option to bring parents and grandparents closer.

If you’re considering applying, make sure you calculate family size correctly, gather the right income documents, and plan ahead financially to meet the new threshold.