Is there a minimum income requirement to sponsor a spouse in Canada?

Last updated: February, 2026

No minimum income in most cases

For most spousal sponsorship applications, there is no fixed minimum income threshold the sponsor must meet. Unlike some other family sponsorship categories, spousal sponsorship is usually not assessed against a published minimum income table. Instead, IRCC focuses on whether the sponsor is eligible and whether they can reasonably carry the sponsorship undertaking (a binding promise to support the sponsored person’s basic needs).

The undertaking is the real financial requirement

When you sponsor a spouse (or partner), you sign an undertaking promising to provide financial support for basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and health needs not covered by public services. This commitment is legally binding for the entire undertaking period—even if your circumstances change.

Importantly, the undertaking generally continues even if:

you separate or divorce
the sponsored person becomes a Canadian citizen
either of you moves provinces or leaves Canada
you experience financial difficulties

This is why spousal sponsorship is “not an income test,” but it is still a serious financial commitment.

Sponsor eligibility rules that matter financially (without being “minimum income”)

Even where there is no minimum income threshold, the sponsor must still meet key eligibility rules. One of the most significant financial-related restrictions is that a sponsor cannot be receiving social assistance (welfare), except where the assistance is due to disability. In practical terms, IRCC wants to ensure the sponsored person will not have to rely on social assistance after becoming a permanent resident.

The limited scenario where minimum income does apply

Minimum income requirements can apply in a specific and less common situation: when the spouse/partner you are sponsoring has a dependent child, and that dependent child has dependent children of their own. In that scenario, the sponsor may have to meet a minimum income requirement tied to the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) methodology.

A simple example:

You are sponsoring your spouse.
Your spouse has a dependent child.
That dependent child has their own dependent child.
In that case, an income threshold may apply and IRCC will expect stronger income documentation aligned to the financial evaluation requirements.

Quebec sponsors (provincial undertaking and current intake limits)

If you live in Quebec, there is an additional provincial undertaking step, and Quebec’s intake rules can significantly affect timing and feasibility. Quebec has stated it has reached its maximum number of undertaking applications for certain categories (including spouses/partners in specific circumstances) for a defined period, and this can prevent new undertaking submissions until that period ends. Because Quebec rules can be updated, Quebec-based sponsors should verify current intake status and process steps on the official provincial page: Submitting an undertaking application to sponsor a spouse or a conjugal partner.

For personalized guidance on spousal sponsorship minimum income rules, Quebec considerations, and what financial documentation best fits your situation, speak with our immigration consultants, review our transparent fees, or book a consultation to assess your situation and prepare a compliant application.

Do you need to show proof of funds for the application?

Spousal sponsorship is not a program that requires you to show a particular bank balance. There is typically no “proof of funds” threshold and no settlement-funds test like the ones used in economic immigration.

When financial documents still matter

Even without a bank-balance requirement, financial documentation can be useful when it helps demonstrate the sponsor’s eligibility and the credibility of the undertaking in the couple’s circumstances. This is especially relevant if the sponsor is:

between jobs or newly employed
self-employed with variable income
supporting a larger household
relying on a clear plan (housing arrangements, stable income source, etc.)

In these situations, the goal is not to prove a minimum amount of money in an account—it is to show a consistent, realistic picture of how basic needs will be met and that the sponsor remains eligible.

If your case triggers minimum income (exception scenario)

If your family composition falls into the dependent-child-with-dependents exception, the file becomes income-sensitive and should be prepared according to the official financial evaluation approach and family size calculation rules. In that scenario, tax and income documents become central—not bank balance screenshots.

For the detailed federal rules (including the undertaking definition, eligibility criteria, and the MNI/LICO exception wording), use IRCC’s official guide as the single federal reference link on this page: Guide IMM 5289 – Sponsor your spouse, partner or dependent child.