Nigerians who have acquired Canadian citizenship or permanent residency must now meet a higher income threshold to bring their parents or grandparents into the country under the Super Visa programme. Effective 2025, sponsors must earn a minimum of $30,526, an increase from $29,380 in 2024, to be eligible.
The revised financial requirement scales with family size. For instance, a two-person household must now earn at least $38,002, while families of three and four require $46,720 and $56,724, respectively. The bar is even higher for larger families, reaching $64,336 for five, $72,560 for six, and $80,784 for seven members. For every additional family member beyond seven, an extra $8,224 in income is required up from last year’s $7,916 increment.
To help meet the threshold, spouses or common-law partners are permitted to co-sign applications, allowing combined household incomes to be considered.
The Super Visa, a long-term visitor permit, allows eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to stay in Canada for up to five consecutive years per visit, with the visa remaining valid for up to 10 years. However, Super Visa holders are not allowed to work, study, or access public healthcare services during their stay.
Income eligibility depends heavily on the sponsor’s household size a calculation that includes the sponsor, their spouse or partner (even if separated), any dependent children, and all Super Visa applicants. Individuals already in Canada on a Super Visa, or those previously sponsored under an active undertaking, must also be counted.
To illustrate, a divorced Nigerian with two dependent children inviting both parents would need to meet the income threshold for a family of five $64,336. Even if custody is shared with a former spouse, both children must be included in the count.
In another scenario, a married applicant with one child invites a grandparent, while the spouse is already hosting their own parents under valid Super Visas. The household count jumps to six, requiring an income of $72,560.
A more complex case involves someone who is now remarried but previously co-sponsored their ex-spouse’s parents. If they now intend to invite their own parents, they must include themselves, their spouse, their child, their parents, and the two previously sponsored individuals making a total of seven, and triggering the $80,784 income requirement.
Canada’s updated Super Visa rules underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring sponsors are financially capable of supporting incoming family members without straining public resources. For many Nigerian families, these changes demand careful financial planning but also offer a continued pathway for family reunification under clear and structured conditions.