Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)

Some family sponsorship programs require that the sponsor meet a minimum income level to support themselves and their family members, including the family members they are applying to sponsor. To assess their ability to financially support their family members, IRCC uses the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI).

Get Started

Depending on the program under which they are applying, and where they live in Canada, a citizen or permanent resident can only be deemed eligible to sponsor one or more family members to Canada if they meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for their family unit size. The family unit size includes those they currently support in Canada as well as those they intend to sponsor. If applying to the parent and grandparent sponsorship program, the sponsor must prove that they have exceeded the low income cut-off for three consecutive years and sign an undertaking that promises to repay any and all social assistance received by their family members.

Federal Minimum Necessary Income for Sponsorship

Sponsors living anywhere in Canada except the province of Quebec must meet or exceed the minimum income requirements depending on the size of their family.

Minimum Necessary Income (MNI)

The MNI is updated annually, and applies to all relevant sponsorship programs for sponsors living in Canada but outside of the province of Quebec. Sponsors must provide their Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency to prove they meet the minimum income for the following years:

Size of Family UnitMinimum Income 2020Minimum Income
2019
Minimum Income
2018
2 persons$32,270$41,007$40,379
3 persons$39,672$50,414$49,641
4 persons$48,167$61,209$60,271
5 persons$54,630$69,423$68,358
6 persons$61,613$78,296$77,095
7 persons$68,598$87,172$85,835
If more than 7 persons, for each additional person, add$6,985$8,876$8,740

Quebec Minimum Necessary Income for Sponsorship

The minimum income standard in Quebec varies from its federal counterpart, as applicants must calculate the basic income needed for the sponsor’s own family’s basic needs, as well as the needs of the sponsored individual(s) and their family members, even if they are not accompanying the sponsored persons.

Total number of members in your family unitBasic annual income required
1$24,602
2$33,209
3$41,001
4$47,156
5$52,482
Each additional dependent$5,326
Number of persons
18 years of age or over
Number of persons
under 18 years of age
Gross annual income
required of the sponsor
01$8,515
02$13,496
Each additional person under 18 years of age$4,500
Number of persons
18 years of age or over
Number of persons
under 18 years of age
Gross annual income
required of the sponsor
10$17,994
11$24,177
12$27,300
Each additional person under 18 years of age$3,121
Number of persons
18 years of age or over
Number of persons
under 18 years of age
Gross annual income
required of the sponsor
20$26,388
21$29,560
22$31,912
Each additional person 18 years of age or over$8,389
Each additional person under 18 years of age$2,342

How to Calculate Family Unit Size

The low income cut-off will be determined by the size of both your family unit in Canada and that of the individuals you wish to sponsor to Canada. To calculate the size of your family unit, you must count:

and

  • The number of persons you are applying to sponsor
  • The number of dependent family members of that person, whether or not they are accompanying them
  • The number of persons currently covered by valid undertakings that you have signed or co-signed in the past
  • The number of persons currently covered by valid undertakings that your co-signed has signed or co-signed in the past

Ready to
start?

Family Sponsorship Assessment

If you want to sponsor your spouse or children, or if you want to be sponsored, we can help! Simply complete our free sponsorship assessment and a member of the Canadim Team will contact you to discuss your options!  

Get Started

Related Links

Free assessment

Discover your Canadian immigration options. Get your free assessment now!