Family Class Minimum Necessary Income

The sponsor’s income must meet the minimum necessary income requirement, as identified annually by Statistics Canada in LICO levels, to support all members of a sponsor’s own family and all sponsored persons and their family members, including family members listed as non- accompanying.

The applicable LICO level is based on urban areas of 500,000 inhabitants or more, regardless of where the sponsor lives.

Sponsors should provide their latest Notice of Assessment from their Income Tax Return provided by Canada Revenue Agency or equivalent document (The “Option C printout” plus the DD.3 Printout which will provide copies of the T4’s, T5s, etc.). “Total income” is referred to as the total income shown on line 150 of the Notice of Assessment.

The “Option C printout” is provided free of charge by calling 1-800-959-8281. If sponsors cannot provide a Notice of Assessment/”Option C printout” or their income on the Notice of Assessment is insufficient, they must provide evidence that they meet the applicable minimum necessary income for the 12-month period immediately preceding the sponsorship application.

The ability to meet the minimum income requirement is mandatory, unless the sponsor is sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or a dependent child where the child has no dependent children of their own. This exception also applies to persons under the age of 18 whom the sponsor intends to adopt in Canada.

The calculation is based on the 12-month period that precedes the day the officer receives the information indicating that the sponsor may no longer meet the minimum necessary income requirement.