Is it necessary to prove financial stability in order to be invited?

In Canadian immigration rules, the concept of “proving financial stability” sounds different depending on who you are inviting and for how long. In Calgary, as in all of Canada, it is not the city itself that is decisive, but the federal regulations of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). However, local incomes and prices affect the ability to meet them. Below is a detailed explanation of when you need a cash “backup,” what documentation to prepare, and why the temptation to embellish the figures can result in a five-year entry ban.

1. Short visits: regular tourist TRV

A visitor visa for up to six months does not set a fixed minimum income for the Canadian sponsor. The officer assesses the applicant's ability to support themselves. Therefore, the guest shows their personal funds, and the sponsor only if they wish to do so, by means of a letter of invitation with copies of pay stubs or a bank statement. In the practice of Calgary consultants, a positive decision is much more likely when the host provides their latest Notice of Assessment and a letter of employment — this creates a “cushion” in case the guest incurs unexpected expenses. There is no formal threshold, but the logic is simple: accommodation, food, and leisure for a guest in Calgary for six months are estimated at a minimum of CAD 10–12 thousand.

2. Super Visa: a long stay for parents and grandparents

For long-term visits by parents or grandparents, the state sets a strict financial barrier: the sponsor must earn at least the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) level. The table is indexed annually; in 2025, it will be CAD 36,576 for a family of two, CAD 44,966 for a family of three, CAD 54,594 for a family of four, and so on, increasing by CAD 7,000–8,000 for each additional family member. The sponsor, their spouse, dependent children, and all Super Visa applicants are included in the “family unit.” To confirm, IRCC requests:

  • the latest Notice of Assessment, possibly also T4/T1, proof of salary;
  • a letter of invitation with a promise of financial support;
  • medical insurance policy for CAD 100,000, paid for at least one year.

If the income is a few hundred dollars short, IRCC allows a co-signer to be added — usually a spouse who is legally employed in Calgary and adds their NOA.

3. Family sponsorship for permanent residence

Here, “financial capacity” varies by category.

  • Spouses, partners, minor children. For them, federal law almost always does not require a minimum income. The exception is when the sponsored child already has dependents, in which case the Financial Evaluation IMM 1283 formula applies. In all other scenarios, the officer is only interested in whether the sponsor is on social assistance and has no outstanding alimony payments.

  • Parents and grandparents (PGP lottery). Here you need to prove LICO + 30% for the previous three tax years. For a family of four, this is over CAD 70,000 per year. The documents are the same as for the Super Visa, but NOAs are taken for 36 consecutive months.

  • Rare “other” relatives (orphans, only relative, etc.) fall under the same higher threshold, as the sponsor signs a 10-20-year Undertaking.

4. Extension of regular visitor status

If the parents arrived on a TRV and submitted IMM 5708 on a Visitor Record, the officer will again ask if they have the means to not work in Calgary. The family provides updated statements and explanations of who is paying for their accommodation. There is no clearly defined amount, but the benchmark is approximately CAD 2,000 per month of stay per person.

5. Consequences of false bank statements

Financial references often tempt applicants to “paint a rosy picture” with the figures. Canadian law treats this as misrepresentation: submitting false or significantly exaggerated information will result in rejection and a five-year ban on obtaining any visas or statuses. Even worse, if a licensed consultant is involved in the fraud, criminal proceedings and deportation of the consultant from the register are possible.

6. How to show your money

IRCC does not approve of “cash gifts” two weeks before submission. Statements must cover at least six months, and the amounts and movement of funds must logically correlate with your salary. Instead of collecting cash, it is wiser to submit:

  • Notice of Assessment with a clear gross income figure;
  • latest T4 or pay stub to confirm that the salary is ongoing;
  • letter from employer stating position, rate, and indefinite contract;
  • if possible, a copy of the current lease or mortgage payment to show actual monthly expenses.

7. Does where you live affect your LICO number?

No. LICO is a national measure, although it is adjusted for the cost of living in large cities. Therefore, a Calgary resident uses the same table as a Toronto resident, even if rent is cheaper in Alberta. However, actual affordability is verified: officers can compare income with average rent in Calgary or utility bills to confirm that the family is not “on the edge.”

8. Where to go for help

Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, Immigrant Services Calgary, and the Centre for Newcomers have free clinics that help calculate family size, download NOAs, and check income eligibility. They also advise on how to maintain bank confidentiality and avoid providing unnecessary information.

Conclusions

For a regular tourist visa, financial stability is desirable but not required.

For a Super Visa and PGP, it is mandatory: you must prove LICO (or LICO + 30%) with current tax documents.

No formal minimum income is required to sponsor a spouse and minor children, but IRCC will check whether the applicant is receiving social assistance.

Any embellishment of figures may result in a five-year entry ban. So, the main rule is: back up your invitation with real NOAs, clear statements, and don't let consultants “fill in the blanks” — in Calgary, this will cost you more than a ticket home.