On March 20, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced new changes to calculating family income for super visa eligibility, which will come into effect at the end of the month.
Currently, the host, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident child or grandchild, is required to show that they meet or exceed the minimum necessary income (MNI) for their family size by providing any of the following documents:
- A verification letter from an employer or a letter from an accountant for self-employed individuals
- Bank statements
- Latest notice of assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
- T4 or T1 for the latest taxation year
- Pay stubs for the most recent 12-month period available
- Employment insurance benefit statements
- Proof of other sources of income (e.g. pension statements)
As of March 31, 2026, hosts will be able to show that they meet the MNI requirement through two alternative ways:
- Hosts can show they meet or exceed the MNI in one of two taxation years before the time of application.
For example, if applying in 2026, the host can provide their notices of assessment for 2024 and 2025 (once available). If the host met the MNI in 2024, but not in 2025, the MNI can be assessed based on their income in 2024. The current rules only assess the host’s income in the most recent tax year.
- The visiting parent or grandparent’s income can be added to the host’s income to cover any shortfall.
If the host meets the required minimum percentage of income – which has yet to be clarified by IRCC – the visiting parent or grandparent’s income can be added to the host’s income to offset the difference. Visiting parents and grandparents’ income is not currently part of the MNI, but IRCC does consider an applicant’s finances in determining their eligibility as a visitor.
The new changes will apply to all applications already in processing or submitted after March 31, 2026. Applicants wishing to prove their MNI through one of the two alternatives must provide appropriate documentation.
If your parent or grandparent is considering a visit to Canada, a super visa may be worth exploring. Contact Heron Law Offices for a consultation about how you can be reunited.
