Updated on September 9, 2026 by canadian immigration experts
Few immigration questions cause more confusion than the minimum necessary income to sponsor a spouse in Canada. Many people assume they must earn a set salary before they can bring their partner — and some delay their application for years because of it. In most cases, that worry is misplaced. This guide clears it up and then walks through the financial obligations that do apply.
Do you need to meet a minimum income to sponsor your spouse?
For the overwhelming majority of applicants, the answer is no. IRCC does not set a minimum necessary income for sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner, and the same applies to sponsoring a dependent child. You are not asked to hit a LICO number or submit three years of income proof the way parent-and-grandparent sponsors are.
Why the difference? The policy view is that partners and children should be reunited with family regardless of how much the sponsor earns, whereas sponsoring parents and grandparents adds people who are generally not expected to enter the workforce, so income matters there.
The one exception for spousal cases
There is a narrow exception. If the spouse or partner you are sponsoring has a dependent child who in turn has their own dependent child (i.e., a dependent grandchild is part of the application), then an MNI/LICO assessment does apply. This situation is uncommon, but it is the single case where income enters a spousal sponsorship.
Why people confuse this with the PGP income rule
The confusion is understandable: the two programs sit side by side under “family sponsorship,” but their rules are opposite on income.
| Who you are sponsoring | Minimum income (MNI/LICO) required? |
|---|---|
| Spouse | No |
| Common-law partner | No |
| Conjugal partner | No |
| Dependent child | No (unless that child has a dependent child of their own) |
| Parents or grandparents (PGP) | Yes — LICO + 30% for 3 consecutive tax years |
So if your search brought you here worried about a salary threshold for your spouse, you can most likely set that worry aside. The income table below is the one that applies to parents and grandparents — included here precisely because so many people mix the two up.
The income table that DOES apply — parents & grandparents (for context)
If you were actually researching how much income is needed to sponsor parents or grandparents, this is the figure that matters. The Minimum Necessary Income is the Statistics Canada Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30%, and PGP sponsors must meet it for three consecutive tax years. The amounts below reflect recent MNI figures by family size, as of 2026 (always confirm the current year’s numbers with IRCC before filing).
| Family size | MNI (LICO+30%) — 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people | $43,082 | $44,530 | $47,549 |
| 3 people | $52,965 | $54,743 | $58,456 |
| 4 people | $64,306 | $66,466 | $70,972 |
| 5 people | $72,935 | $75,384 | $80,496 |
| 6 people | $82,259 | $85,020 | $90,784 |
| 7 people | $91,582 | $94,658 | $101,075 |
| Each additional person | +$9,324 | +$9,636 | +$10,291 |
Note: from March 31, 2026, IRCC introduced more flexibility for PGP-type sponsors (for example, using alternative ways to demonstrate the LICO threshold). If you are sponsoring parents or grandparents, see our parents and grandparents sponsorship page for the current rules.
The financial obligations that DO apply to spousal sponsors
No income minimum does not mean no financial responsibility. When you sponsor a spouse or partner, you take on real, binding commitments.
The undertaking (3 years for a spouse or partner)
Every sponsor signs an undertaking — a legally binding promise to the government to provide for your partner’s basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, and health needs not covered by public healthcare). For a spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner, the undertaking lasts three years from the day they become a permanent resident. If your partner receives social assistance during that period, you can be required to repay it. (For a dependent child the undertaking is longer — typically 10 years or until the child turns 25.)
You cannot be receiving social assistance
You must not be receiving social assistance, except for reasons of disability. Being on employment insurance or a pension is not the same thing as social assistance and does not disqualify you.
Other eligibility rules for sponsors
Beyond income, you generally must:
- Be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered under the Canadian Indian Act;
- Live in Canada (or intend to live in Canada when your partner becomes a PR, if you are a citizen abroad);
- Not be in default of a previous undertaking, an immigration loan, or a court-ordered support payment;
- Not be an undischarged bankrupt;
- Not be in prison, and not have certain criminal convictions;
- Not have been sponsored as a spouse yourself within the last five years.
Can you use a co-signer for spousal sponsorship?
No. Unlike parent-and-grandparent sponsorship, a co-signer is not permitted for spousal sponsorship. Because there is no income test, financial responsibility rests solely with the sponsor, and there is no mechanism to add someone’s income to the application.
Does income matter at all, then?
Not as a pass/fail threshold — but a stable financial picture never hurts. While IRCC will not refuse a genuine spousal application for low income, showing that you can realistically meet your three-year undertaking (through employment, savings, or other resources) reinforces that the sponsorship is sound. What actually decides most spousal cases is the quality of the relationship evidence: proof that the relationship is genuine and continuing, such as joint finances, communication history, photos, and shared responsibilities. Put your energy there rather than on hitting an income number that does not exist.
If you live in Quebec
Quebec administers its own sponsorship undertaking. If you live in Quebec, after IRCC approves you as a sponsor, you also sign an undertaking with the province (the duration of the Quebec undertaking for a spouse is set by provincial rules). Quebec may assess your ability to meet the undertaking, so the practical experience can differ from the rest of Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum income to sponsor my spouse in Canada?
No. In almost all cases there is no minimum necessary income or LICO requirement to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, or dependent child. The only exception is if the person you sponsor has a dependent child who also has a dependent child of their own.
Then why do I keep seeing an income requirement?
Because the LICO plus 30% income requirement applies to sponsoring parents and grandparents (PGP), not spouses. The two programs sit under family sponsorship and are frequently confused, but their income rules are opposite.
What financial commitment do I make as a spousal sponsor?
You sign an undertaking to provide for your partner’s basic needs for three years after they become a permanent resident. If your partner collects social assistance during that time, you may have to repay it. You also must not be receiving social assistance yourself, except for reasons of disability.
Can I have a co-signer help me sponsor my spouse?
No. Co-signers are not allowed in spousal sponsorship. Because there is no income test, the financial responsibility rests entirely with the sponsor and no additional income can be added.
What income do I actually need to sponsor my parents?
For parents and grandparents you must meet the Minimum Necessary Income, which is the Low-Income Cut-Off plus 30%, for three consecutive tax years. The exact amount depends on your family size and the tax years assessed, so confirm the current figures with IRCC before filing.
Does being on EI or a pension disqualify me?
No. Employment insurance and pension income are not social assistance and do not disqualify you from sponsoring a spouse. Only receiving social assistance for reasons other than disability is a bar.
How Jane Katkova & Associates Can Help
Spousal sponsorship succeeds or fails on the strength of the relationship evidence and a correctly assembled application — not on your salary. Jane Katkova & Associates has reunited families since 1995 and can prepare your case properly the first time. Book a consultation or call +1 416-661-4487. You can also learn more on our spousal sponsorship and family sponsorship pages.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently; confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or a licensed professional.
