Guide to IMM 5481 Sponsorship Evaluation

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and want to bring your spouse, children, parents, or grandparents to Canada, the sponsorship process requires you to prove that you are eligible and financially capable of supporting them. IMM 5481, the Sponsorship Evaluation form, is part of this process. It asks detailed questions about your income, financial situation, and eligibility to sponsor.

Who Is This Form For?

IMM 5481 is completed by the sponsor, not the person being sponsored. You fill this out if you are:

• Sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
• Sponsoring a dependent child
• Sponsoring parents or grandparents
• Sponsoring other eligible relatives in certain situations

Sponsor Eligibility Requirements

Before filling out IMM 5481, make sure you meet the basic requirements:

General Requirements (All Sponsorships)

• You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must live in Canada (citizens living abroad can sponsor only a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child, and must show they plan to live in Canada when the sponsored person arrives)
• You must not be in prison, bankrupt, subject to a removal order, or charged with a serious criminal offense
• You must not have been convicted of a sexual offense or violent offense against a family member
• You must not have previously defaulted on a sponsorship undertaking
• You must not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability

Income Requirements for Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship

To sponsor parents or grandparents, you must demonstrate that your household income meets or exceeds the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for three consecutive tax years. The MNI is based on your total family size (including the people you are sponsoring). For 2026, typical thresholds are:

• 2 persons: approximately $35,000
• 3 persons: approximately $43,000
• 4 persons: approximately $52,000
• 5 persons: approximately $59,000
• Each additional person: approximately $7,000

These figures are updated annually. Check the IRCC website for the current amounts. You prove your income by providing Notices of Assessment from the CRA for the required years.

No Income Requirement for Spousal Sponsorship

If you are sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child with no children of their own, there is no minimum income threshold. However, you still sign an undertaking to financially support them, so you should realistically assess your ability to do so.

Completing IMM 5481

Section 1: Sponsor Information

Enter your personal details, citizenship status, and address. Confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria by answering the yes/no questions.

Section 2: Financial Information

Provide details about your income sources:

• Employment income (salary, wages)
• Self-employment income
• Investment income
• Other income (rental income, pensions, etc.)

For parent/grandparent sponsorship, attach your CRA Notices of Assessment for the required three tax years. You can get these from your CRA My Account.

Section 3: Household Size

Calculate your total household size, which includes:

• Yourself
• Your spouse or common-law partner
• Your dependent children
• Anyone you have previously sponsored who is still within their undertaking period
• The persons you are currently sponsoring (plus their dependents)

Section 4: Undertaking

By signing the undertaking, you promise to financially support the sponsored person for a specific period:

• Spouse or common-law partner: 3 years from the date they become a permanent resident
• Dependent child under 22: 10 years or until they turn 25, whichever comes first
• Parents and grandparents: 20 years

The undertaking is legally binding. Even if your relationship breaks down (for example, divorce), you are still responsible for supporting the sponsored person for the full undertaking period. The sponsored person can apply for social assistance during this time, and if they do, the government can require you to repay those costs.

Common Mistakes

1. Underestimating household size: Forgetting to include people from previous sponsorships who are still within their undertaking period inflates your apparent income-to-household ratio and can result in refusal.
2. Not meeting income for all three years: For parent/grandparent sponsorship, you must meet the MNI in each of the three tax years, not just the average. One low year disqualifies you.
3. Not understanding the undertaking: Many sponsors are surprised to learn the undertaking survives divorce. Make sure you understand the commitment before signing.

For the full sponsorship application package, you will also need IMM 5532, IMM 5409 (if common-law), IMM 5645, and IMM 0008. Visit the IRCC family sponsorship page for complete details.

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