A Canada Super Visa invitation letter is a signed letter from your child or grandchild in Canada that promises to support you financially for the whole visit and lists every person counted in their household. IRCC will not approve the visa without it, and a letter that leaves out the household list is the most common reason these files stall.
The letter only works if the host’s income clears the minimum necessary income for their family size. For 2026 filings, IRCC’s table runs from $30,526 for a family of one to $80,784 for a family of seven, with $8,224 added for each person beyond seven. The table on the IRCC page is marked “Updated July 29, 2025,” and it was still the live table when we checked.
IRCC also gives hosts two ways to prove income. Under the first, the host (plus any co-signer) meets the full minimum in either of the two tax years before the application. Under the second, the host and co-signer show at least 75% of the minimum for the year before the application, and the visiting parent or grandparent adds their own income to close the gap.
Below you get the income table, a worked example of how family size is counted, three complete sample letters you can adapt (a child inviting both parents, a child inviting one grandparent, and a spouse co-signing to combine income), the medical insurance rules, and the proof-of-income documents to attach.
All three letters are fictional. Names, dates of birth and addresses are placeholders: replace every one with your own details, and have the host (and any co-signer) sign the final letter by hand or electronically.
This guide covers the Super Visa for parents and grandparents only. If you are writing an invitation for an ordinary visitor visa, use our Canada invitation letter checklist and samples instead, and if you need to explain gaps or travel history yourself, see our Canada visitor visa letter of explanation guide.
Count Your Family Size First
The income the host needs depends on one number: family size. IRCC counts the visiting parent or grandparent and any other Super Visa applicants the host is supporting (for example, a spouse), the host child or grandchild, the host’s spouse or common-law partner (this can include a separated spouse), and the host’s dependent children and the dependent children of their spouse or partner. Dependent children count regardless of custody or child support arrangements.
Two groups people forget: anyone previously approved for a Super Visa under a letter of invitation that still applies (they count even if they are not in Canada right now), and anyone the host or co-signer sponsored earlier where the undertaking is still in effect.
- The parent(s) or grandparent(s) you are inviting now
- The host child or grandchild (you)
- The host’s spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children of the host and of the host’s spouse or partner
- Anyone with a still-valid earlier Super Visa letter of invitation from the host or spouse
- Anyone the host or co-signer sponsored whose undertaking is still in effect
The letter itself must list each of these people by name and date of birth and state the total number. That list is a stated IRCC requirement, so build it before you write anything else.
Check the Minimum Necessary Income Table
Find your family size in the table, then compare it with the host’s income. Amounts are in Canadian dollars and come from IRCC’s Super Visa proof of financial support page.
| Family size | Minimum income (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $30,526 |
| 2 people | $38,002 |
| 3 people | $46,720 |
| 4 people | $56,724 |
| 5 people | $64,336 |
| 6 people | $72,560 |
| 7 people | $80,784 |
| Each person beyond 7 | +$8,224 |
IRCC revises this table, so confirm the amounts on the official Super Visa proof of financial support page on the day you submit. Do not mix this table with the sponsorship income tables for the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP), which use different, higher amounts.
Worked example: a host, her husband and their one child are three people. Inviting both of her parents makes five, so the minimum is $64,336. If she invites only her mother, the family size is four and the minimum drops to $56,724.
Combine Income With a Co-Signer or the Visiting Parent
IRCC’s current page describes two routes, and a co-signer’s income can be added to the host’s under both. The host’s spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the letter of invitation and provide proof of income if that is what it takes to reach the minimum.
| Option 1 | Option 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Host income needed | Full minimum, including any co-signer | At least 75% of the minimum, including any co-signer |
| Which year | Either of the 2 tax years before you apply | The year before you apply |
| Visiting parent’s income | Not needed | Added to cover the gap; combined total must reach the minimum |
| Main document | CRA notice of assessment | CRA notice of assessment for host or co-signer, plus applicant income proof |
Worked example for Option 2: a family of four needs $56,724, and 75% of that is $42,543. If the host and spouse together earned $44,000 last year, they clear the 75% mark, and the visiting parent needs to show at least $12,724 of their own income (for example a pension) to reach $56,724.
If the visiting parent contributes income, IRCC also wants proof they will keep earning it while in Canada, and the document must state the currency they are paid in.
Reports say this flexibility took effect at the end of March 2026. We could not confirm that exact date on canada.ca, so rely on the current IRCC page rather than the date when you file.
Write the Letter: What It Must Contain
IRCC says the host must draft and sign the letter. The page names two required contents: a promise of financial support for the duration of the visit, and the list (with name and date of birth) and number of people included in the family size calculation. Everything else in the samples below is standard good practice that makes the officer’s job easier, not an extra IRCC rule.
- Host’s full name, address, phone, email and status in Canada (citizen or permanent resident)
- Visitor’s full name, date of birth, passport number and home address
- Relationship to the visitor
- Required: promise of financial support for the duration of the visit
- Required: list of every person in the family size, each with name and date of birth, plus the total
- Where the visitor will stay and the planned length of visit
- Signature and date from the host, and from the co-signer if there is one
Keep it to one page where you can. Use plain business English, state the numbers once, and attach the proof documents listed in Step 6 rather than describing them at length.
Three Sample Invitation Letters
Copy the sample closest to your situation and replace the bracketed or placeholder details. All names are fictional.
Priya Sharma
Unit 12, 480 Maple Street
Brampton, Ontario L6Y 0A1
Phone: 905-555-0142 | Email: [email protected]
[Date]
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Visa Application Centre / Visa Office
RE: Letter of invitation for Super Visa applicants Ramesh Sharma and Sunita Sharma
To the Visa Officer,
I am a Canadian citizen. I am writing to invite my parents, Ramesh Sharma (date of birth 14 March 1961, passport number [number]) and Sunita Sharma (date of birth 2 August 1963, passport number [number]), of Pune, India, to visit me in Canada on a Super Visa. They will stay with me at the address above.
I promise to provide financial support to my parents for the entire duration of their visit, including food, housing and any other expenses they may have. They will not need to seek employment or public assistance in Canada.
The people included in my family size calculation are:
1. Priya Sharma (host), date of birth 9 June 1990
2. Arjun Mehta (my husband), date of birth 21 January 1988
3. Ananya Mehta (my daughter), date of birth 5 November 2019
4. Ramesh Sharma (applicant), date of birth 14 March 1961
5. Sunita Sharma (applicant), date of birth 2 August 1963
Total family size: 5.
My husband and I together earned more than the minimum necessary income for a family of five. I have attached our Canada Revenue Agency notices of assessment, T4 slips and employer letters as proof. My parents have also purchased private medical insurance from a Canadian insurer that meets IRCC requirements.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
Priya Sharma
Date signed: [date]
Daniel Okafor
305-1200 Granville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 1M5
Phone: 604-555-0187 | Email: [email protected]
[Date]
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
RE: Letter of invitation for Super Visa applicant Grace Okafor
To the Visa Officer,
I am a permanent resident of Canada. I invite my grandmother, Grace Okafor (date of birth 30 April 1955, passport number [number]), of Lagos, Nigeria, to visit me in Canada on a Super Visa for up to [number] months. She will live with me at the address above.
I promise to provide financial support to my grandmother for the entire duration of her visit, including accommodation, food, local transport and incidental costs.
The people included in my family size calculation are:
1. Daniel Okafor (host), date of birth 12 February 1992
2. Grace Okafor (applicant), date of birth 30 April 1955
Total family size: 2. I have no spouse, common-law partner or dependent children, and I have not previously sponsored anyone or signed another Super Visa invitation.
My income meets the minimum necessary income for a family of two. I have attached my most recent Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment and an original letter from my employer stating my job title, duties and salary.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
Daniel Okafor
Date signed: [date]
Mei Lin Chen and Jason Wong
77 Elm Crescent
Calgary, Alberta T3A 2B4
Phone: 403-555-0123 | Email: [email protected]
[Date]
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
RE: Letter of invitation for Super Visa applicant Hua Chen, signed by host and co-signer
To the Visa Officer,
I, Mei Lin Chen, am a Canadian citizen. I invite my mother, Hua Chen (date of birth 17 July 1959, passport number [number]), of Guangzhou, China, to visit us in Canada on a Super Visa. She will stay in our home at the address above.
My husband, Jason Wong, is a permanent resident of Canada and co-signs this letter. Together we promise to provide financial support to my mother for the entire duration of her visit.
The people included in our family size calculation are:
1. Mei Lin Chen (host), date of birth 3 October 1989
2. Jason Wong (spouse and co-signer), date of birth 22 May 1987
3. Lucas Wong (dependent son), date of birth 14 August 2021
4. Hua Chen (applicant), date of birth 17 July 1959
Total family size: 4.
Neither of us alone reaches the minimum necessary income for a family of four, so we are combining our incomes. Our attached notices of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency show our individual incomes and the combined total. Pay stubs and employer letters for both of us are also attached.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
Mei Lin Chen (host)
Date signed: [date]
[Signature]
Jason Wong (co-signer)
Date signed: [date]
If a letter states a family size, make sure the numbers in it match your income documents exactly. A mismatch between the list of people and the minimum you claim is the quickest way to get a request for more information.
Attach Proof of Income and Medical Insurance
IRCC prefers the host’s (or co-signer’s) CRA notice of assessment. If one is not available, the host or co-signer can substitute other documents.
- Latest Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (preferred)
- T4 or T1 for the last tax year
- Pay stubs for the most recent 12 months available
- Original employer letter with job title, job description and salary
- Bank statements from the last calendar year showing investment income or regular employment or pension deposits
- Other income proof, such as pension statements or rental property ownership and lease documents
- Accountant’s letter confirming annual income, if self-employed
- Employment Insurance benefit statements, where relevant
The visiting parent or grandparent must also have private medical insurance. IRCC’s rules for the policy are specific.
- Valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
- Minimum coverage of $100,000
- Covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation
- Paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit (quotes are not accepted)
- Valid for each entry to Canada and available for a border services officer to review
- Issued by a Canadian insurer, or a company outside Canada approved by the minister
Common Mistakes
The household list must show each person’s name and date of birth. A bare headcount does not meet the requirement.
People you or your co-signer sponsored, or invited earlier on a Super Visa with a letter still in force, raise your family size and your required income.
IRCC does not accept quotes. Pay the policy in full or with a deposit and attach proof of payment.
The Parent and Grandparent Program sponsorship tables are different from the Super Visa table. Use the Super Visa amounts above.
If your spouse’s income is counted, they must co-sign the letter and supply their own proof of income.
What Comes Next
Once the letter, income proof and insurance are ready, the visiting parent or grandparent submits the Super Visa application with the letter attached. For related reading, see how IRCC changed the table in our report on the Super Visa income requirement update effective July 29, 2025, and our overview of Super Visa invitations for sponsoring parents and grandparents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a Super Visa invitation letter include?
IRCC requires a signed letter from the host child or grandchild with a promise of financial support for the duration of the visit, plus the list, with names and dates of birth, and the total number of people in the family size calculation.
How much income do you need for a Super Visa?
IRCC’s table, updated July 29, 2025, starts at $30,526 for a family of one, $38,002 for two, $46,720 for three and $56,724 for four. It reaches $80,784 for seven, with $8,224 added per extra person.
Can my spouse’s income count toward the Super Visa requirement?
Yes. The host’s spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the letter of invitation and provide proof of income if needed to meet the minimum. A co-signer’s income can be combined with the host’s under both IRCC income options.
Can the visiting parent’s income count for a Super Visa?
Yes, under Option 2. If the host and co-signer earned at least 75% of the minimum in the year before applying, the applicant can add their own income, and the combined total must meet the full minimum.
How much medical insurance does a Super Visa require?
Private insurance with at least $100,000 of coverage for health care, hospitalization and repatriation, valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry. It must be paid in full or with a deposit, because quotes are not accepted.
Which documents prove the host’s income for a Super Visa?
IRCC prefers the CRA notice of assessment. Alternatives include a T4 or T1, 12 months of pay stubs, an original employer letter, bank statements, pension statements, or an accountant’s letter for self-employed hosts.
Who counts in the family size for a Super Visa?
The applicants, the host child or grandchild, the host’s spouse or partner, and dependent children, plus anyone with a still-valid earlier Super Visa invitation or an undertaking the host or co-signer signed. Each person must be listed in the letter.
Does the Super Visa letter need a specific format?
IRCC names only two required contents: the promise of financial support and the household list with names, dates of birth and total. The host must draft and sign it, and a co-signer signs too if their income is counted.
