Quick answer
The host needs income at or above IRCC's minimum for their family size. A host inviting one parent, with no spouse or children, is a family of two and needs $38,002. Since March 31, 2026 there are two ways to qualify: meet the full amount in either of the last two tax years, or reach at least 75% yourself and let your parent's own continuing income, such as a pension, cover the gap.
What changed on March 31, 2026
For years, one weak tax year could sink a Super Visa application. Maybe you changed jobs, took parental leave or had a slow year in business. IRCC fixed that this spring. Its new rules apply to every application filed on or after March 31, 2026, and to applications that were already in processing on that date.
Option 1 — two-year lookback
Your income (plus your co-signing spouse's, if any) must meet the full minimum in either of the two tax years before you apply. Applying in 2026? Either your 2024 or 2025 income can qualify. Proof: your CRA Notice of Assessment.
Option 2 — the 75% rule
If your income in the year before you apply is at least 75% of the minimum, the visiting parent's own income can make up the rest. The combined total must reach the full amount, and your parent must show the income will continue while they are in Canada.
The 2026 minimum income table
| Family size | Minimum income (CAD) | 75% floor for Option 2* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $30,526 | $22,895 |
| 2 | $38,002 | $28,502 |
| 3 | $46,720 | $35,040 |
| 4 | $56,724 | $42,543 |
| 5 | $64,336 | $48,252 |
| 6 | $72,560 | $54,420 |
| 7 | $80,784 | $60,588 |
| Each extra person | add $8,224 |
IRCC table marked "updated July 29, 2025", still the current table on canada.ca in October 2026. *75% column is our own calculation, rounded up to the dollar.
Who counts in your family size
This is where most families get the number wrong. Count everyone below:
- You, the host (the child or grandchild in Canada)
- Your spouse or common-law partner, even if separated
- Your dependent children, whatever the custody arrangement
- Every parent or grandparent applying now
- Anyone already approved on a Super Visa under an invitation letter you or your spouse signed that still applies
- Anyone you sponsored whose undertaking is still in effect
Example: a couple with two kids inviting both of the host's parents is a family of six, so the minimum is $72,560. Under Option 2 the couple would need at least $54,420 themselves, with the parents' pension covering the rest.
What counts as your parent's income under Option 2
IRCC accepts regular income it can verify, such as a pension, rental income, investment income or employment income. Typical proof includes pension statements, 12 months of pay stubs, an employer letter, bank statements showing regular deposits, or ownership and lease documents for a rental property. The documents must show the currency it's paid in, and your parent must show the income will keep coming while they're in Canada.
Income is only half the file
Meeting the income test doesn't get the visa approved on its own. Your parent still needs a letter of invitation from you, an immigration medical exam, proof they intend to return home, and Super Visa insurance with at least $100,000 of coverage that's valid for a year from entry. The insurance is the one piece you can fix in a single day, so it's worth sorting out early. See the full 2026 application checklist.
Sources
- IRCC — Super visa: proof of financial support (income table and options)
- IRCC notice — Changes to how the super visa income requirement is calculated (March 20, 2026)
We check these pages regularly, but government rules change. Always confirm on canada.ca before you apply. Pankaj Bhatia is a licensed insurance advisor, not an immigration consultant or lawyer.
Common questions
What is the Super Visa income requirement in 2026?
It depends on family size: $30,526 for one person, $38,002 for two, $46,720 for three and $56,724 for four, up to $80,784 for seven, plus $8,224 for each extra person (IRCC table updated July 29, 2025).
Can I use my 2024 income if 2025 was lower?
Yes. Since March 31, 2026, the host can qualify with income from either of the two tax years before the application, so a 2026 application can rely on 2024 or 2025.
Can my parents' pension count toward the income requirement?
Yes, under Option 2. If you and any co-signer reach at least 75% of the minimum in the year before you apply, your parent's verifiable, continuing income can cover the gap.
Does my spouse's income count?
Yes. A spouse or common-law partner can co-sign the invitation letter, and their income counts under both options.
Do the new rules apply to applications already submitted?
Yes. IRCC assesses every application in processing on or after March 31, 2026 under the new, more flexible rules.
Compare quotes now
Enter the traveller's age, coverage amount and dates — prices from multiple insurers appear in seconds.
Quotes are estimates based on each insurer's current rates. The insurer's policy wording and final rate always apply.