Canada Sets New Income Requirements for Family Visa Sponsorship

Canada's federal immigration authority has announced the minimum income requirements for individuals wishing to sponsor friends or family members for a visa, applicable for the 2026 intake. These requirements are based on family size and cover the three tax years preceding the application date.

For a family of two, the sponsor must demonstrate earnings of at least $47,549 in the third year, $44,530 in the second year, and $43,082 in the first year. The income thresholds increase with family size, reaching $101,075 for a family of seven in the third year.

Each additional family member beyond seven adds $10,291 for the third year, $9,636 for the second year, and $9,324 for the first year. Sponsors residing in Quebec must adhere to the province's distinct income requirements.

To verify income, sponsors must provide a Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the relevant years, either by allowing immigration authorities to access this information directly or by submitting paper copies.