Some family sponsorship programs require the sponsor to reach a minimum income to cover their own needs as well as those of their family members, including the individuals they wish to sponsor. To assess this financial capacity, IRCC uses the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI).
Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)
Based on the sponsorship program and their place of residence in Canada, Canadian citizens or permanent residents must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) corresponding to the size of their family unit to be considered eligible to sponsor one or more family members. The size of the family unit includes individuals currently dependent on them in Canada, as well as those they wish to sponsor. Under the parent and grandparent sponsorship program, the sponsor must demonstrate that they have maintained an income above the low-income threshold for three consecutive years and sign a commitment to repay any social assistance received by the sponsored family members.
Minimum Federal Income Required for Sponsorship
Sponsors residing in Canada, except for the province of Quebec, must meet or exceed the minimum income requirement based on their family size.
Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)
The Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) is updated annually and applies to all sponsorship programs for sponsors living in Canada, except for the province of Quebec. To demonstrate that they meet the required minimum income, sponsors must provide their notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency for the following years:
| Family Unit Size | Minimum Income 2023 | Minimum Income 2022 | Minimum Income 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 persons | $44,530 | $43,082 | $32,898 |
| 3 persons | $54,743 | $52,965 | $40,444 |
| 4 persons | $66,466 | $64,306 | $49,106 |
| 5 persons | $75,384 | $72,935 | $55,694 |
| 6 persons | $85,020 | $82,259 | $62,814 |
| 7 persons | $94,658 | $91,582 | $69,934 |
| If more than 7 persons, for each additional person, add | $9,636 | $9,324 | $7,120 |
Minimum income required for sponsorship in Quebec
The minimum income standard in Quebec differs from the federal standard. Candidates must calculate the income necessary to cover the essential needs not only of their own family but also of the person or people they are sponsoring, as well as the family members of those individuals, even if they are not accompanying them.
| Total number of members in your family unit | Required annual base income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $28,242 |
| 2 | $38,124 |
| 3 | $47,068 |
| 4 | $54,135 |
| 5 | $60,250 |
| Each additional dependent | $6,115 |
| Number of persons 18 years or older | Number of persons under 18 years | Required gross annual income of the sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | $9,776 |
| 0 | 2 | $15,493 |
| Each additional person under 18 years of age | $5,166 |
| Number of persons 18 years or older | Number of persons under 18 years | Required gross annual income of the sponsor |
| 1 | 0 | $20,657 |
| 1 | 1 | $27,755 |
| 1 | 2 | $31,341 |
| Each additional person under 18 years of age | $3,582 |
| Number of persons 18 years or older | Number of persons under 18 years | Required gross annual income of the sponsor |
| 2 | 0 | $30,294 |
| 2 | 1 | $33,935 |
| 2 | 2 | $36,634 |
| Each additional person 18 years or older | $9,630 | |
| Each additional person under 18 years | $2,689 |
How to Calculate Family Size
The minimum income threshold is determined based on the size of your family unit in Canada and that of the individuals you wish to sponsor. To calculate the size of your family unit, you must include:
- Yourself
- Your spouse or common-law partner
- Your dependent children, if applicable
- The number of individuals you wish to sponsor
- The number of family members dependent on the person you are sponsoring, whether they accompany them or not
- The number of individuals currently covered by valid commitments you have signed or co-signed in the past
- The number of individuals currently covered by valid commitments your co-signer has signed or co-signed in the past
If you wish to sponsor your spouse or children, or if you are looking to be sponsored, we can help! Just fill out our free sponsorship assessment form, and a member of the Amriis team will contact you to explore the available options.
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