Maple News reports that individuals hoping to sponsor their parents or grandparents for permanent residence in Canada through the 2021 Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) must meet specific income thresholds. To prove eligibility, applicants are required to demonstrate adequate financial income over the three consecutive tax years prior to their application—specifically, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Sponsorship eligibility is largely determined by family size. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) calculates family unit size by counting the sponsor, their spouse or partner, dependent children (if any), previously sponsored individuals they are still financially responsible for, and the parents or grandparents being sponsored—including their spouses or partners and dependent children, regardless of whether all will immigrate to Canada. Notably, only dependent children of the applicants—those under 22 or meeting dependency criteria—can be included under the PGP.
The Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) levels vary depending on the number of people in the family unit, and they take into account the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus an additional 30%. For 2020, lower income thresholds were temporarily accepted due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing sponsors to include regular Employment Insurance (EI) benefits and Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) funds in their calculations.
To qualify, a two-person household needed to show income of at least $32,270 in 2020, $41,007 in 2019, and $40,379 in 2018. As the family size increases, so do the income requirements—for instance, a seven-person family required a minimum income of $68,595 in 2020. If your family size changed due to events such as childbirth or marital status updates during these years, you must meet the MNI level corresponding to your adjusted household size in each respective tax year.
Applicants must submit official proof of income—specifically, the Notice of Assessment issued annually by the Canada Revenue Agency—for each of the three required years. Failure to meet the required income levels disqualifies a candidate from sponsoring their parents or grandparents unless a spouse or common-law partner agrees to co-sign the application, thereby combining household income to meet the financial criteria.
Canadian immigration authorities use these income thresholds to ensure sponsors are capable of supporting their family without requiring additional social assistance, maintaining the integrity and sustainability of Canada’s family reunification programs.
For those who received a PGP 2021 invitation and are assessing their eligibility, it is crucial to review income and family size records carefully to prevent delays or rejections.
Maple News continues to provide trusted analysis and updates on Canada’s immigration pathways, including key insights for sponsors navigating the PGP requirements.