Minimum Necessary Income for Family Sponsorship in Canada

If you want to sponsor your parents, grandparents, or certain other family members to come to Canada as permanent residents, you may need to meet a Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) requirement. This financial threshold ensures that sponsors can support their family members without relying on government social assistance. Understanding how MNI works is essential before starting a family sponsorship application.

What Is the Minimum Necessary Income?

The Minimum Necessary Income is a financial requirement set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) published by Statistics Canada, plus 30 percent. The MNI represents the minimum before-tax annual income that a sponsor must demonstrate to prove they can financially support the family members they wish to bring to Canada.

The MNI requirement is updated annually to reflect changes in the cost of living. You can find the most current MNI table on the IRCC Guide 5772.

Who Needs to Meet the MNI?

The MNI requirement applies when you are sponsoring:

• Parents and grandparents (the most common scenario)
• Other eligible relatives in certain circumstances

The MNI does not apply when you are sponsoring:

• Your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
• Your dependent children
• Orphaned relatives under 18 who are related to you by blood or adoption

For spousal and partner sponsorship, there is no minimum income requirement. However, you must still demonstrate that you can provide for your sponsored family member's basic needs.

How Is MNI Calculated?

The MNI depends on the total size of your family unit, which includes:

1. Yourself (the sponsor)
2. Your spouse or common-law partner
3. Your dependent children
4. Any persons you have previously sponsored who are still under an active sponsorship undertaking
5. The persons you are currently applying to sponsor and their dependants

For example, if you are married with two children and want to sponsor both of your parents, your family size would be six (you, your spouse, two children, plus two parents).

MNI Table (2025 figures for reference)

Below are approximate MNI figures. Always confirm the current amounts with IRCC, as these change annually:

• 2 persons: approximately $43,000
• 3 persons: approximately $52,900
• 4 persons: approximately $64,200
• 5 persons: approximately $72,800
• 6 persons: approximately $82,100
• 7 or more persons: add approximately $9,300 per additional person

These amounts represent before-tax income and are based on LICO plus 30 percent.

How Many Years of Income Must You Show?

For the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), you must demonstrate that you have met the MNI for three consecutive tax years immediately before the date of your application. This means you need to have filed your taxes for those years and your income must meet or exceed the MNI for each of those three years.

For example, if you apply in 2026, you would need to show that your income met the MNI in tax years 2023, 2024, and 2025.

What Counts as Income?

IRCC uses your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to verify your income. The key figure is line 15000 (total income) of your income tax return, minus certain deductions. Income can include:

• Employment income (salary, wages, tips, commissions)
• Self-employment income
• Employment Insurance benefits
• Pension income
• Rental income
• Investment income (dividends, interest, capital gains)

The following are not counted toward MNI:

See also: Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits Guide

• Provincial social assistance payments
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
• Allowances and supplements under the Old Age Security Act
• Resettlement assistance Program payments

Co-Signer Income

Your spouse or common-law partner can act as a co-signer on the sponsorship application. If they agree to co-sign, their income can be combined with yours to meet the MNI. The co-signer must also be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and must meet the eligibility requirements for a sponsor.

The Parents and Grandparents Super Visa Alternative

If you do not meet the MNI for the PGP or if the program intake is closed, you may consider the Super Visa as an alternative. The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years at a time.

The Super Visa has its own income requirements (meeting LICO, not LICO plus 30 percent) and additional requirements including:

• Private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company valid for at least one year
• A letter of invitation from your child or grandchild in Canada
• Proof that the child or grandchild meets the income threshold

Learn more about the Super Visa on the IRCC Super Visa page.

Common Mistakes with MNI Requirements

Newcomers frequently make these errors when dealing with MNI:

• Not filing taxes on time: If you have not filed your tax returns, you cannot obtain the NOAs needed to prove your income. File your taxes every year, even if your income is low.
• Forgetting to count all family members: Your family size includes everyone under your care, including previously sponsored individuals still under active undertakings.
• Using the wrong year's MNI table: Always use the table that corresponds to the year you are applying, not older versions.
• Not considering the co-signer option: If your individual income falls short, your spouse's income can be combined through co-signing.
• Confusing gross and net income: The MNI is based on before-tax (gross) income, not take-home (net) pay.

Steps to Prepare for Family Sponsorship

1. Calculate your family size including everyone who will be part of the sponsorship.
2. Check the current MNI table on the IRCC website for the required income amount.
3. Review your NOAs for the past three tax years to ensure you meet the threshold each year.
4. Consider a co-signer if your income alone does not meet the requirement.
5. Gather supporting documents including tax returns, NOAs, employment letters, and pay stubs.
6. Watch for PGP intake announcements on the IRCC website, as the program opens in limited rounds.

For more information about maintaining your own permanent residence status, check out our guide on PR residency obligation explained.

See also: How to Apply for Canadian Permanent Residence

See also: Understanding Your Canadian Pay Stub

Understanding the Sponsorship Undertaking Period

When you sponsor your parents or grandparents, you sign a sponsorship undertaking that obligates you to provide financial support for 20 years from the date they become permanent residents. This is significantly longer than the 3-year undertaking for spousal sponsorship. During this period:

• You are responsible for your sponsored family members' basic needs, including food, clothing, shelter, dental care, eye care, and other health needs not covered by public health insurance.
• If your sponsored family member receives social assistance (welfare) from any province or territory during the undertaking period, the government can take legal action to recover the amount from you.
• The undertaking cannot be cancelled, even if your personal circumstances change (such as job loss, divorce, or your own financial difficulties).
• In Quebec, sponsors must also sign an undertaking with the provincial government, which has its own terms and conditions.

Understanding the full weight of this 20-year commitment is essential before starting the sponsorship process. Make sure you are confident in your long-term financial stability before proceeding.

What Happens If You Are Selected in the PGP Lottery

The Parents and Grandparents Program uses an interest-to-sponsor process. Here is what to expect after being selected:

1. You receive an invitation to submit a complete sponsorship application.
2. You typically have 60 days to gather and submit all required documents.
3. IRCC reviews your application, including verifying your income through CRA records.
4. If everything is in order, IRCC processes the permanent residence application for your parents or grandparents.
5. Your family members may need to complete medical examinations and provide police certificates.

Stay informed about PGP intake announcements by regularly checking the IRCC PGP page.

Final Tips

Meeting the Minimum Necessary Income requirement is a critical step in sponsoring your parents or grandparents to Canada. Start planning early by filing your taxes consistently, tracking your income against the MNI table, and considering the co-signer option if needed. The process can be lengthy, but thorough preparation will improve your chances of a successful application. If you are unsure about your eligibility, consult a licensed immigration professional who can assess your specific situation and guide you through each step of the process.

See also: First-Year Tax Filing Guide