Super visa income calculator: LICO and insurance 2026

How do I use this super visa income calculator?

The calculator runs in your browser, needs no email address and updates the result as you type. Work through the four steps below, then use the checklist under the result.

1. 01

   Count your family size

   Answer the five household questions. The helper counts the host, spouse or partner, dependent children, invited parents or grandparents, and anyone IRCC still counts from an earlier letter or sponsorship.

2. 02

   Enter your income

   Type total income from your CRA notice of assessment for the two tax years before you apply, and add a co-signing spouse or partner if there is one.

3. 03

   Read the result

   The calculator shows the minimum for your family size and whether you meet it under the first or second option, with the shortfall if you do not.

4. 04

   Work through the checklist

   Tick off the income evidence, letter of invitation, other documents and insurance rules, or ask for them by email.

What is the super visa minimum income in 2026?

The host's minimum necessary income depends on family size, from $30,526 for one person to $80,784 for seven, plus $8,224 for each person beyond seven (IRCC table updated 29 July 2025, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026).

IRCC's super visa pages call this figure the minimum necessary income. IRCC's glossary lists the low-income cut-off (LICO) as the related term and describes it as the income level a family must be above to host parents or grandparents for an extended stay, which is why the table is often called the super visa LICO.

Because the count always includes the host and at least one invited parent or grandparent, it starts at 2. A host with no spouse and no children who invites one parent counts as a family of two, so the minimum is $38,002(IRCC's own example).

This table is not the income needed to sponsor a parent or grandparent for permanent residence. That test is LICO plus 30 percent across three tax years, explained on our minimum necessary income for sponsorship page, and the Parents and Grandparents Program it belongs to is paused (see below).

How do you count family size for the super visa income test?

IRCC counts the host, the host's spouse or common-law partner, their dependent children, every applicant on the letter of invitation, and anyone still covered by an earlier super visa letter or sponsorship undertaking (IRCC, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026). The calculator's helper asks about each in turn.

• The host: the child or grandchild in Canada who writes the letter of invitation counts as one.
• Invited applicants: every parent or grandparent on this application counts, including a couple applying together.
• The host's spouse or common-law partner: counted, and IRCC says this might include a separated spouse. In IRCC's example of a divorced host, the former spouse is not counted.
• Dependent children: the dependent children of the host and of the host's spouse or partner all count, whatever the custody and child support arrangements.
• Earlier super visa applicants: parents or grandparents approved on another letter of invitation, signed by the host or the host's spouse or partner, count while that letter is still applicable, even if they are not currently in Canada.
• People previously sponsored: anyone the host or a co-signer sponsored or co-signed for counts while the undertaking is still in effect. Outside Quebec, an undertaking runs 3 years for a spouse or partner and 20 years for a parent or grandparent whose application was received on or after 1 January 2014 (IRCC operational manual).

IRCC's glossary says a dependent child is generally under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship, with an exception for an older child who has depended on a parent for financial support since before 22 and cannot support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.

How can a host prove the super visa income? The two options

Since 31 March 2026 a host can meet the income requirement in either of the two tax years before applying (the first option), or show at least 75 percent of the minimum in the year before applying and add the visiting parents' income to cover the rest (the second option), according to IRCC's notice of 20 March 2026.

IRCC says applications already in processing on 31 March 2026, or submitted after it, are assessed against the new requirements, and that families who were eligible before still qualify. A host who wants to use either alternative must submit the documents that prove it for their family size.

The three examples below show how the options work for a family of four, where the minimum is $56,724 and 75 percent of it is $42,543.

Which documents prove the host's and the visitor's income?

The host, or the co-signer, provides the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) notice of assessment, which IRCC prefers for the tax year relied on (IRCC, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026). If the notice of assessment is unavailable, IRCC accepts any of these for the host or the co-signer:

• The T4 or T1 for the last tax year.
• Pay stubs for the most recent 12-month period available.
• An original letter from the employer stating job title, job description and salary.
• Bank statements from the last calendar year showing investment income amounts or regular deposits for employment or pension.
• Proof of other income, such as pension statements, or ownership and leasing contracts showing rent amount and frequency for rental properties.

Under the second option the visiting parents add their own income, and IRCC accepts the same kinds of proof for them except the tax forms: pay stubs, an employer letter, bank statements, pension statements or rental contracts. They must also show that the income will continue while they are in Canada, and the document must include the currency they are paid in.

What goes in the super visa letter of invitation?

The host writes and signs the letter of invitation, and IRCC says it must include proof that the host meets the minimum necessary income and the list and number of people counted in the family size, with the name and date of birth of each (IRCC, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026).

• Signed by the host: Written and signed by the host, the child or grandchild in Canada. The host's spouse or common-law partner may co-sign if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. Other family members, such as siblings, cannot co-sign.
• Proof of income: Proof that the host meets or exceeds the minimum necessary income.
• Family-size list: The list and number of people included when the host calculated family size, with the name and date of birth of each person.
• Promise of support: A promise of financial support for the duration of the visit.
• Details IRCC suggests: IRCC's general guidance for letters of invitation suggests, for each person: full name, date of birth, address and telephone number. For the visit: the relationship, the purpose of the trip, how long the visitor plans to stay, where they will stay and how they will pay, and when they plan to leave. For the host: job title, whether they are a citizen or permanent resident, and a copy of the document proving it.

What medical insurance does a super visa need?

A super visa needs private health insurance valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry, with minimum emergency coverage of $100,000 for the applicant's health care, hospitalization and repatriation, issued by a Canadian insurer or an eligible foreign insurer (IRCC, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026).

• Length: Valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry.
• Amount: Minimum emergency coverage of $100,000.
• What it covers: The applicant's health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
• Who issues it: A Canadian insurance company, or a company outside Canada that is authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to provide accident and sickness insurance, appears on OSFI's list of federally regulated financial institutions, and issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada.
• Foreign policies: A policy from a foreign insurer must include a statement that it was issued or made while the company was doing insurance business in Canada.
• Insurer named: The policy shows the name of the insurance company that issued it. Brokers and claims administrators are not insurance companies and are not on the OSFI list.
• Payment: Paid in full or in instalments with a deposit. A quote is not accepted.
• Every entry: Valid for each entry to Canada, and available for a border services officer to review on request.
• Renewal: If the policy will expire before the visitor leaves Canada, renew it to keep cover for the whole stay. Proof of valid insurance is needed on re-entry.

IRCC began accepting policies from companies outside Canada on 28 January 2025. The foreign insurer must be authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to provide accident and sickness insurance and must appear on OSFI's list of federally regulated financial institutions. OSFI does not keep a list of insurers outside Canada unless they are registered with OSFI as branches or subsidiaries in Canada.

Which other documents does a super visa application need?

The application is made online through the IRCC Portal, from outside Canada, and the applicant chooses the visitor visa or super visa option and then the reason “To visit my children or grandchildren for more than 6 months (super visa)” (IRCC, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026). Along with the income evidence and the letter of invitation, IRCC lists these documents and requirements:

• Host's status: A copy of the host's proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent resident document, or Secure Certificate of Indian Status or Certificate of Indian Status, and the same for a co-signing spouse or partner.
• Relationship: The host's birth certificate or baptismal certificate, or another official document naming the applicant as the host's parent or grandparent.
• Medical exam: Proof of an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician. The applicant's own doctor cannot do it.
• Passport: A valid passport. IRCC asks approved applicants to submit it to a visa application centre to receive the visa.
• Fees: The $100 super visa fee per person, plus $85 for biometrics when they are required. Applicants from visa-exempt countries pay neither.
• Translations: Any document not in English or French needs a translation, with an affidavit from the translator if the translator is not certified.
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476): Needed only when a representative fills in the application.
• Local visa office instructions: The visa office for the applicant's country may ask for more documents.

Processing times vary by country, so check the live figure for the applicant's country in IRCC's processing times tool or on our processing times page. IRCC says to get the immigration medical exam before you apply, with an approved panel physician, and the exam is required for a super visa.

How long can a parent stay on a super visa, and how long is it valid?

A super visa lets a parent or grandparent stay in Canada for 5 years at a time and gives multiple entries for up to 10 years (IRCC, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026).

• Stay per entry: 5 years at a time for applications made on or after 22 June 2023.
• Validity: multiple entries for up to 10 years. If the applicant has given biometrics before, IRCC cannot issue a super visa valid for longer than those biometrics.
• Extending a stay: before the status expires the visitor must leave Canada or apply to extend their stay, and keeping valid visitor status is the visitor's responsibility.
• Work and study: a super visa does not authorize the holder to work or study.
• Dependants: no dependants can be included on a super visa application.
• Shorter visits: for a stay of 6 months or less, IRCC says to apply for a visitor visa instead.

How much does a super visa cost?

The IRCC super visa fee is $100 per person, plus $85 for biometrics where they are required, and applicants from visa-exempt countries pay neither (IRCC fee list, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026).

Who can host a parent or grandparent on a super visa?

The host must be the applicant's biological or adopted child or grandchild, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, at least 18 years old and living in Canada (IRCC, checked on canada.ca 4 October 2026).

• Relationship: the applicant must be able to prove they are the host's parent or grandparent.
• Status: a temporary resident, such as someone on a work or study permit, cannot be the host.
• Income: the host must meet or exceed the minimum necessary income.
• Letter: the host must write and sign a letter of invitation.
• Applicant: the applicant must be outside Canada when applying, be allowed to enter Canada, have the insurance and take an immigration medical exam.

What this calculator can and cannot tell you

The calculator checks the income test against IRCC's published table and lists IRCC's document and insurance rules. It does not assess whether the visitor is admissible, whether a visa officer will accept that they will leave Canada at the end of the visit, whether the documents are complete, or whether a particular policy meets IRCC's insurance rules. IRCC decides every application, and Wild Mountain Immigration is not affiliated with the Government of Canada.

IRCC changed the insurance rule on 28 January 2025 and the income rule on 31 March 2026, and it revises the table from time to time. The table used here is the one headed Updated July 29, 2025, which was still current on canada.ca on 4 October 2026.

Super visa or the Parents and Grandparents Program?

The Parents and Grandparents Program is not taking new applications: IRCC paused intake on 15 July 2026 and will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors until further notice. The super visa remains open, but it is a visitor visa, not permanent residence. Our Parents and Grandparents Program page explains the difference, and our super visa guide covers fees, the application and how a super visa compares with a visitor visa.

Get a licensed RCIC to check your super visa plan

Wild Mountain Immigration is led by a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC #R706497). We can review your family-size count, your income evidence, your letter of invitation and your insurance paperwork before you apply. We do not sell, price or recommend insurance products. Not sure a super visa is the right route? Try our free Canada immigration eligibility check, see our fees, or book a call.

Sources and when they were checked

Every figure and rule above was read directly on canada.ca on 4 October 2026. The date in the last column is the one each IRCC page showed in its footer.