Navigate co-signer rules for successful parent sponsorship applications
On This Page You Will Find:
- Who qualifies as your co-signer for parent and grandparent sponsorship
- Current program status and what it means for your family
- Income combination strategies to meet financial requirements
- Critical restrictions that could disqualify your co-signer
- Alternative pathways while the program remains paused
Summary:
If you're planning to sponsor your parents or grandparents to Canada, understanding co-signer eligibility could make or break your application. While the Parents and Grandparents Program remains paused in 2026, knowing these rules positions you for success when applications reopen. Only your spouse or common-law partner can serve as your co-signer, and they must meet strict income and background requirements. With processing times stretching years and limited spots available, getting your co-signer documentation right from the start is crucial for your family's reunion plans.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Only your spouse or common-law partner can be your co-signer (no other family members qualify)
- Co-signers must provide 3 years of tax documentation and meet the same criminal background requirements as sponsors
- You can combine incomes with your co-signer to meet the Minimum Income Requirement
- The Parents and Grandparents Program is currently paused with no new applications accepted in 2026
- Super Visa remains the primary alternative for extended family visits during the program suspension
Maria Santos remembers the sinking feeling when she calculated her income for the third time. As a single mother working as a dental hygienist in Toronto, her $52,000 annual salary fell short of the Minimum Income Requirement needed to sponsor her elderly parents from the Philippines. That's when her immigration consultant mentioned something that changed everything: "What about your husband's income?"
This scenario plays out in thousands of Canadian households each year, where families discover that strategic use of a co-signer can improve an impossible dream into an achievable goal.
Current Program Status: What You Need to Know
The Parents and Grandparents Program hit the pause button in 2026, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada confirming that no new applications will be accepted this year. This administrative break allows the government to work through the substantial backlog of existing applications, some of which have been waiting for processing since 2020.
If you submitted your application before the pause, your file continues moving through the system. For everyone else, this waiting period provides valuable time to prepare your documentation and understand the co-signer requirements that will apply when the program reopens.
The uncertainty around reopening dates makes preparation even more critical. When applications do resume, you'll likely face intense competition for limited spots, making a perfectly prepared application with proper co-signer documentation essential.
Who Qualifies as Your Co-Signer
The rules around co-signers are surprisingly restrictive, catching many families off guard during the application process.
Your Spouse or Common-Law Partner Only
Your co-signer can only be your spouse or common-law partner – period. This means your adult children, siblings, parents, or other relatives cannot serve as co-signers, regardless of their income or willingness to help.
The length of your relationship doesn't matter for co-signer eligibility. Whether you've been married for six months or twenty years, your spouse qualifies. Similarly, common-law partners can serve as co-signers regardless of how recently they achieved common-law status.
Income Documentation Requirements
Your co-signer must provide comprehensive income proof covering the three taxation years immediately before your application date. This includes:
- Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency for each of the three years
- T4 slips and any additional tax documents
- Employment letters confirming current income status
- Self-employment income documentation if applicable
The three-year requirement ensures income stability rather than temporary earnings spikes. Immigration officers want to see consistent earning capacity that will continue throughout the sponsorship period.
How Income Combination Works
The power of adding a co-signer lies in combining your household income to meet the Minimum Income Requirement, which varies based on your family size and location.
Calculating Combined Income
When you include a co-signer, immigration officers add both incomes together for each of the three required years. They then assess whether this combined amount meets or exceeds the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30 percent for your family size.
For example, if you earn $45,000 annually and your spouse earns $35,000, your combined $80,000 household income might qualify you to sponsor parents when your individual income wouldn't meet the threshold.
Meeting the Minimum Threshold
The income requirements increase with each person you're sponsoring. Sponsoring both parents requires meeting a higher income threshold than sponsoring just one parent. Your co-signer's income can provide the boost needed to qualify for multiple sponsorships simultaneously.
Remember that the income requirement applies to your total family size, including yourself, your co-signer, any dependent children, and the relatives you're sponsoring. A family of six (two sponsors plus two children plus two grandparents) faces significantly higher income requirements than a couple sponsoring one parent.
Critical Restrictions for Co-Signers
Co-signers face the same stringent background requirements as primary sponsors, with some restrictions that surprise applicants.
Criminal Background Requirements
The sponsorship bar for violent crime applies equally to co-signers. This means if your spouse or common-law partner has certain criminal convictions, they cannot serve as your co-signer, even if they meet all income requirements.
Violent crimes, sexual offenses, and crimes against family members create permanent bars to sponsorship participation. Even older convictions can disqualify potential co-signers, making background disclosure crucial during the planning phase.
Joint Legal Responsibility
When someone becomes your co-signer, they accept joint and several liability for the sponsored relatives. This legal commitment means both the sponsor and co-signer are fully responsible for supporting the sponsored parents or grandparents for the entire undertaking period, typically 20 years.
If the sponsored relatives require social assistance during this period, both the sponsor and co-signer become liable for repayment to the government. This responsibility continues even if the sponsor and co-signer later divorce or separate.
Alternative Options During the Program Pause
While waiting for the Parents and Grandparents Program to reopen, families aren't without options for bringing elderly relatives to Canada.
Super Visa as Primary Alternative
The Super Visa has emerged as the go-to solution for extended family visits during the PGP suspension. This multiple-entry visa allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit without requiring permanent residence.
Super Visa applications require proof of private health insurance, income verification from the Canadian child or grandchild, and a commitment letter outlining the visit purpose and duration. While not offering permanent residence, the Super Visa provides meaningful time together for families.
Preparing for Program Resumption
Use this pause period strategically to strengthen your future application. Gather three years of tax documents, ensure your co-signer meets all requirements, and consider ways to increase household income if you're currently borderline for qualification.
Many successful applicants use this time to pay down debt, increase their income through career advancement or additional work, or ensure their co-signer's employment situation is stable and well-documented.
Planning Your Co-Signer Strategy
Success in parent and grandparent sponsorship often comes down to careful planning and realistic assessment of your situation.
Assess Your Combined Financial Picture
Calculate your household income for the past three years, including your potential co-signer's earnings. Compare this against the LICO requirements for your family size to determine if you qualify or need to strengthen your financial position.
Consider income trends as well as absolute numbers. Immigration officers prefer to see stable or increasing income rather than declining earnings, even if you technically meet the minimum requirements.
Document Everything Early
Start gathering financial documents now, even with the program paused. Tax documents, employment letters, and income verification can take time to obtain, especially for self-employed co-signers or those with complex income sources.
Ensure your co-signer understands the long-term commitment involved. The 20-year undertaking period represents a significant legal and financial obligation that survives relationship changes and other life circumstances.
Conclusion
While the Parents and Grandparents Program remains paused in 2026, understanding co-signer requirements positions you for success when applications resume. Your spouse or common-law partner represents your only co-signer option, but their income contribution could make the difference between qualification and disappointment.
Use this waiting period to strengthen your financial position, gather required documentation, and ensure your co-signer meets all background requirements. When the program reopens, families with properly prepared co-signer documentation will have a significant advantage in the competitive application process.
Remember that sponsoring parents or grandparents represents one of Canada's most sought-after immigration programs. Getting your co-signer strategy right from the beginning gives your family the best chance of reuniting in Canada permanently.
FAQ
Q: Who can serve as my co-signer for the Parents and Grandparents Program application?
Only your spouse or common-law partner can serve as your co-signer for PGP applications. This restriction is absolute - no other family members qualify, regardless of their income level or willingness to help. Your adult children, siblings, parents, or other relatives cannot serve as co-signers under any circumstances. The length of your relationship doesn't affect eligibility; whether you've been married for six months or twenty years, your spouse qualifies. Common-law partners can also serve as co-signers regardless of how recently they achieved common-law status. This restrictive rule often surprises applicants who assume other family members could help meet income requirements, making it crucial to understand before planning your sponsorship strategy.
Q: What income documentation must my co-signer provide, and how does income combination work?
Your co-signer must provide comprehensive income proof covering the three taxation years immediately before your application date, including Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency, T4 slips, employment letters, and self-employment documentation if applicable. When calculating eligibility, immigration officers add both your income and your co-signer's income together for each of the three required years. For example, if you earn $45,000 annually and your spouse earns $35,000, your combined $80,000 household income might qualify you when individual income wouldn't meet the threshold. The combined amount must meet or exceed the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30 percent for your total family size, including yourself, your co-signer, dependent children, and the relatives you're sponsoring.
Q: What are the critical restrictions that could disqualify my potential co-signer?
Co-signers face the same stringent background requirements as primary sponsors, with criminal history being the most common disqualifier. The sponsorship bar for violent crime applies equally to co-signers - if your spouse has convictions for violent crimes, sexual offenses, or crimes against family members, they cannot serve as your co-signer regardless of meeting income requirements. Even older convictions can create permanent bars to participation. Additionally, co-signers accept joint and several liability for sponsored relatives, meaning both sponsor and co-signer become fully responsible for supporting parents or grandparents for the entire 20-year undertaking period. This legal commitment continues even if the couple later divorces or separates, and both parties become liable for government repayment if sponsored relatives require social assistance.
Q: Since the Parents and Grandparents Program is paused in 2026, what alternatives exist and how should I prepare?
The Super Visa has become the primary alternative during the PGP suspension, allowing parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit through a multiple-entry visa. While not offering permanent residence, it requires proof of private health insurance, income verification, and a commitment letter. Use this pause period strategically to strengthen your future application by gathering three years of tax documents, ensuring your co-signer meets all requirements, and improving household income if you're borderline for qualification. Many successful applicants use this time to pay down debt, advance their careers, or stabilize their co-signer's employment situation. When the program reopens, families with properly prepared co-signer documentation will have significant advantages in the competitive application process.
Q: How do I calculate if my combined income with my co-signer meets the Minimum Income Requirement?
Calculate your household income by adding both you and your co-signer's total annual income for each of the past three years, then compare this against the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30 percent for your complete family size. Your family size includes yourself, your co-signer, any dependent children, and the relatives you plan to sponsor. For instance, a family of six (two sponsors, two children, two grandparents) faces significantly higher requirements than a couple sponsoring one parent. Immigration officers prefer stable or increasing income trends rather than declining earnings, even if you technically meet minimums. Remember that sponsoring multiple relatives simultaneously requires meeting higher thresholds, so your co-signer's income contribution becomes crucial for qualifying for multiple sponsorships. Consider consulting current LICO tables and adding the 30 percent requirement to determine your specific threshold.
Q: What legal responsibilities does my co-signer accept, and how long do these commitments last?
When someone becomes your co-signer, they accept joint and several liability for the sponsored relatives throughout the entire undertaking period, typically 20 years from the date your parents or grandparents become permanent residents. This means both you and your co-signer are individually and collectively responsible for providing financial support, ensuring sponsored relatives don't require social assistance, and covering basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare costs not covered by provincial plans. If sponsored relatives do require government assistance during this period, both sponsor and co-signer become legally obligated to repay these amounts to the government. Critically, this responsibility survives major life changes - divorce, separation, or even death of the primary sponsor doesn't release the co-signer from their obligations. The commitment also includes ensuring sponsored relatives attend any required medical exams and comply with immigration conditions.
