Yes, your spouse or common-law partner can co-sign, and nobody else can. IRCC’s forms and documents page says the host’s spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the letter of invitation and provide proof of income, must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, and that other family members such as siblings cannot co-sign. The officer instructions add that the co-signer must prove they are 18 or over and reside in Canada. Their income is then added to yours for the minimum income test.
Co-signing is how most two-income households clear the threshold. A host earning $41,000 with a spouse earning $19,000 meets the $56,724 figure for a family of four; neither does alone.
Who can and cannot co-sign?
The test has four parts: relationship, status, age and residence. All four must be met on the date the application is submitted.
| Person | Can co-sign? | Why | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse, Canadian citizen, living in Canada | Yes | Meets all four tests | IRCC forms and documents |
| Common-law partner, permanent resident | Yes | Common-law partner is named alongside spouse | IRCC forms and documents |
| Spouse, registered Indian | Yes | Status card is accepted proof | IRCC forms and documents |
| Spouse on a work or study permit | No | Not a citizen, PR or registered Indian | IRCC forms and documents |
| Spouse living outside Canada | No | Must reside in Canada | IRCC officer instructions |
| Host’s sibling | No | IRCC names siblings as excluded | IRCC forms and documents |
| Host’s adult child | No | Only spouse or common-law partner | IRCC forms and documents |
| Visiting parent’s spouse (the other parent) | No, but their income may count as applicant income | Applicant, not co-signer; 75% + 25% option | IRCC Mar 2026 notice |
What does the co-signer have to provide?
Four proofs plus income evidence, per the officer instructions: relationship to the host, status in Canada, age and residence, and income.
| Proof | Document |
|---|---|
| Relationship | Marriage certificate, or evidence of common-law status such as a joint lease, joint accounts or a statutory declaration |
| Status in Canada | Citizenship certificate or card, PR card or confirmation of permanent residence, or Secure Certificate of Indian Status |
| Age and residence | Passport or driver’s licence with date of birth and Canadian address; a utility bill or lease |
| Income | Notice of Assessment for either of the two preceding tax years; T4 or T1, pay stubs, employer letter or bank statements if no NOA |
The co-signer is named in the letter of invitation with their relationship to the host, and signs beneath the host. The invitation letter page shows where each element goes; proof of income documents covers the income evidence.
How does the co-signer’s income change the calculation?
It is added to the host’s and tested against the same threshold. Under option 1, the combined total in either of the two preceding tax years must meet the minimum for the family size. Under option 2, the combined total must be at least 75%, with the visiting parent’s own income covering the remainder.
| Scenario, family of 4, threshold $56,724 | Host | Co-signer | Combined | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host alone | $48,000 | not co-signing | $48,000 | Fails option 1; 85% so option 2 possible with $8,724 of applicant income |
| Spouse co-signs | $48,000 | $22,000 | $70,000 | Meets option 1 |
| Spouse on work permit | $48,000 | cannot be counted | $48,000 | As host alone |
| Host and spouse both low, parent has pension | $30,000 | $14,000 | $44,000 (78%) | Meets option 2 if parent’s pension is at least $12,724 and continuing |
Figures are illustrations against IRCC’s 29 July 2025 table on the proof of financial support page. Note that a spouse who co-signs is already in the family-size count whether or not they co-sign, so co-signing never raises the threshold; it only adds income.
Does co-signing create a legal liability?
A signed promise of financial support for the length of the authorized stays, not a sponsorship undertaking. IRCC’s officer instructions describe the letter’s content as a promise of financial support; it is not the multi-year undertaking signed in permanent residence sponsorship. The real exposure for both signatories is a parent’s uninsured hospital bill, which is what the $100,000 policy exists for. Keep it valid for the whole stay and for one year from each re-entry.
What if the spouse will not or cannot co-sign?
Use option 2 with the parent’s own income, or wait for a tax year that clears the threshold alone. From 31 March 2026 the host’s income need only reach 75% of the minimum, with the applicant covering up to 25%. If the host is below 75% alone, the application is not viable until income rises or family size falls, and the visitor visa is the alternative. For a couple visiting together, the couples insurance page shows how two policies are priced.
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Questions people ask
Who is allowed to co-sign a super visa invitation letter?
Only the host's spouse or common-law partner. IRCC's forms and documents page says the spouse or common-law partner may co-sign and provide proof of income, must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, and that other family members such as siblings cannot. The officer instructions add that the co-signer must be 18 or over and reside in Canada.
Does a co-signer have to be a Canadian citizen?
No, but they must be a citizen, a permanent resident or a registered Indian. A spouse on a work permit or study permit cannot co-sign, and their income cannot be counted. A spouse who becomes a permanent resident before the application is submitted can co-sign from that date.
What does the co-signer have to provide?
Proof of their relationship to the host (marriage certificate or evidence of common-law status), proof of their status in Canada, proof they are 18 or over and live in Canada, and their income evidence, normally the Notice of Assessment. They sign the letter of invitation beneath the host and are named in it with their relationship.
Can my brother or my adult child co-sign instead?
No. IRCC states that other family members, such as siblings, cannot co-sign. The same applies to the host's adult children, parents-in-law and friends. If the host and spouse together do not meet the threshold, the only other income that counts is the visiting parent's own, under the 75% plus 25% option from 31 March 2026.
Does co-signing make my spouse financially liable?
The letter is a promise of financial support for the length of the authorized stays, signed by both. It is not the 20-year undertaking used in permanent residence sponsorship. The practical liability is the parent's medical costs, which is what the $100,000 policy covers; keep it valid for the whole stay.
My spouse and I are separated. Do they still count?
A separated spouse still counts in the family size, which raises the threshold, but cannot be made to co-sign. If they will not co-sign, their income is not counted. Check the family-size count carefully on the income requirement page before deciding whether the application is viable.
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