IRCC wants the host’s and co-signer’s CRA Notice of Assessment for either of the two preceding tax years, per the proof of financial support page. If no NOA is available, it accepts a T4 or T1 for the last tax year, pay stubs for the most recent 12 months, an original employer letter stating job title, job description and salary, bank statements from the last calendar year showing deposits, pension statements, or rental leases with proof of ownership. Applicant income used under the 75% plus 25% option needs the same proof plus evidence that it will continue in Canada.
Gathering the host’s documents takes a day if you have CRA My Account access. Applicant documents from abroad take longer and need translation if not in English or French.
What do you need before you start?
CRA My Account access for the host and co-signer, the employer’s HR contact, online banking for 12 months of statements, and the family-size count from the income requirement page. Decide which option you are relying on, because option 1 needs only NOAs and option 2 needs 12 months of evidence.
| Document | Who | Role in the file | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice of Assessment, 2025 and 2024 | Host, co-signer | Primary for option 1; preferred for option 2 | IRCC proof of financial support |
| T4 or T1, last tax year | Host, co-signer | Fallback if no NOA | IRCC proof of financial support |
| Pay stubs, most recent 12 months | Host, co-signer, applicant | Fallback; required for applicant income | IRCC proof of financial support |
| Employer letter, original | Host, co-signer, applicant | Fallback; required for applicant income | IRCC proof of financial support |
| Bank statements, last calendar year | Host, co-signer, applicant | Shows deposits match stubs or pension | IRCC proof of financial support |
| Pension statements | Any income provider | Other income | IRCC proof of financial support |
| Proof of ownership and leases | Any income provider | Rental income, with rent amount and frequency | IRCC proof of financial support |
| Proof income will continue | Applicant | Required when applicant income is used; must show currency | IRCC proof of financial support |
How do you gather the documents, step by step?
- Download the Notices of Assessment. Sign in to CRA My Account, open tax returns, and save the NOA PDF for 2025 and for 2024. Either year can be used under option 1, per IRCC’s March 2026 notice. Check line 15000 against the threshold.
- Repeat for the co-signer. The spouse or common-law partner’s NOA is added to yours only if they co-sign the letter; see co-signer rules.
- If an NOA is missing or late, get the T4 or T1. Download the T4 from CRA My Account or ask the employer; save the filed T1 return. Officers may consider these when the NOA is unavailable or incomplete, per the officer instructions.
- Collect 12 months of pay stubs. Download them from the payroll portal; name the files by month. These are required for applicant income and useful for option 2.
- Request the employer letter. Ask HR for an original letter on letterhead stating job title, job description and salary, signed and dated, with a contact name.
- Export 12 months of bank statements. Choose the account the salary or pension is paid into, so the deposits match the stubs.
- Gather pension and rental documents. Pension statements for the year; for rental income, the title or ownership document plus the signed lease showing rent and frequency.
- For applicant income, add proof it will continue. A pension letter stating the pension is payable for life, or an employer letter confirming remote work will continue, with 12 months of deposits. The document must show the currency.
- Translate anything not in English or French. Certified translation with an affidavit, per IRCC’s forms and documents page.
- List every document in the letter of invitation. The letter must name each income provider and the documents they submit; see the invitation letter page.
Which documents do officers weigh most?
The NOA, then anything that corroborates it over 12 months. The officer instructions say evidence should cover 12 months and that submitting multiple documents strengthens the application. A file with an NOA, matching T4, and bank statements showing the same salary leaves nothing to query.
| Income source | Strongest package |
|---|---|
| Salaried employment | NOA, T4, employer letter, 12 months of stubs and bank deposits |
| Self-employment | NOA, T1 with business schedule, 12 months of business bank statements |
| Pension (host or applicant) | NOA or pension statement, letter confirming the pension continues, 12 months of deposits |
| Rental income | Ownership document, signed lease showing rent and frequency, 12 months of deposits |
| Remote employment abroad (applicant) | Employer letter confirming continuation, 12 months of deposits, currency shown |
Foreign income is converted at the exchange rate on the submission date, so a falling rupee or peso can push a borderline option 2 file under the line between gathering and filing.
How long does it take?
One day for a host with CRA access and a cooperative employer. Add a week if the employer letter has to be requested formally, and two to four weeks for applicant documents that need translation and an affidavit. Do this before buying the insurance, so the policy start date is set once the filing date is known.
What if something goes wrong?
If the 2025 NOA is not yet issued, use 2024 under option 1 or file the T1 and T4 for 2025 as substitutes. If the employer will not write a letter, use the stubs, T4 and bank deposits together and explain in the invitation letter. If the host’s income clears the threshold in neither year, test option 2 with the parent’s pension, or add a co-signing spouse. If none works, the visitor visa has no income test.
SuperVisaDirect is operated by Super Visa Direct Insurance Services, an independent Ontario life and accident-and-sickness insurance agency licensed by FSRA (licence [FSRA-LICENCE]), serving Ontario residents; British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are planned for 2028. Designated licensed agent: Cameron Hayes. We arrange the insurance and do not give immigration or tax advice. Email [email protected] or request a callback, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time.
Questions people ask
What is the best proof of income for a super visa?
The CRA Notice of Assessment. IRCC's proof of financial support page names it as the document for option 1 and the preferred document for option 2, and the officer instructions call it the main evidence. Download it from CRA My Account under tax returns; it shows total income on line 15000.
Can I use my T4 instead of a Notice of Assessment?
Only if the NOA is unavailable or incomplete. The officer instructions allow a T4 or T1 as a fallback, and the proof of financial support page lists the T4 or T1 for the last tax year among substitutes. Submitting both the NOA and the T4 is stronger than either alone.
How many months of pay stubs does IRCC want?
The most recent 12-month period available. IRCC's page says pay stubs for the most recent 12 months, and the officer instructions say evidence should cover 12 months and that multiple documents strengthen the application. Pair the stubs with an employer letter and bank statements showing the deposits.
What must the employer letter say?
Job title, job description and salary, on company letterhead, signed, and original. IRCC's wording is an original employer letter stating job title, job description and salary. Adding start date, hours, and the signatory's contact details helps the officer verify it.
What proof does my parent need for their own income?
Pay stubs for 12 months, an employer letter, bank statements showing deposits, or pension statements and rental leases with proof of ownership, plus proof that the income will continue while they are in Canada. The document must show the currency. Officers convert foreign income at the rate on the submission date.
Does self-employment income count?
Yes, as shown on the Notice of Assessment. For the fallback documents, business statements and bank statements showing regular deposits are the equivalent of pay stubs. Officers look for 12 months of evidence; a single large deposit without a pattern is weaker than regular monthly amounts.
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