LICO Table 2020 – Low Income Cut-Off Canada

Note: Click here for LICO 2023 tables.

LICO Table 2020Laureano is a  Barbadian citizen who is a 31-year-old mechanical engineer. Upon completing his master’s degree, he started working for a manufacturing firm five years ago. Also, Laureano and his wife have great education credentials and knowledge of the English language. Consequently, they intend to immigrate to Canada under the Express Entry system. However, Laureano has heard he needs to show proof of funds when he immigrates to Canada. Someone told him the settlement funds he shows need to match the LICO table 2020. As a result, Laureano wonders what LICO is and how he can prove the settlement funds.

Immigrants to Canada need to show they intend to live in our country independently and without using social assistance [note to practitioners – see A39]. Of course, there are many ways to confirm you want to be an independent newcomer to Canada. For example, an immigration officer may consider your skills, work experience, educational credentials and your assets. Nonetheless, one of the options to prove your ability to be independent is the settlement funds. If you wonder, settlement funds refer to the amount of money you can bring to Canada when you land as a newcomer. Immigration authorities use the LICO table as a tool to evaluate the sufficiency of settlement funds.

What is LICO?

The low-income cut-off (LICO) table represents the poverty line in urban areas of Canada, with a population of 500,000 or more. In other words, if your income is below LICO, you are poor. LICO changes every year due to inflation. The first table on this page shows LICO for those people who intend to immigrate to Canada in 2020. Your settlement funds need to be equal to or higher than the values of this table. Of course, you need to consider your family size. Please note that this table is not valid for parental sponsorship. If you need to know the minimum necessary income for parental sponsorship, read the following article.

Where LICO is useful

Many immigration options consider LICO as a tool for the financial status of an application. For example, consider the following immigration options:

Of course, these are just some examples. Additional federal or provincial immigration options may also consider LICO as a tool for evaluating the financial status of applicants.

LICO table 2020

The following table shows LICO for the year 2020.

Size
of Family Unit
LICO
– 12 Months
LICO
– 6 Months
one person $25,920 $12,960
two persons $32,899 $16,135
three persons $40,445 $19,836
four persons $49,106 $24,083
five persons $55,695 $27,315
six persons $62,814 $30,806
seven persons $69,935 $34,299
If more than seven persons, for each
additional person, add
$7,121 $3,492

Most immigration options, like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, require proof of funds based on a 6-month LICO. Keep in mind, I have done my best to show the correct figures, but the numbers I have presented here are not the official numbers. Consequently, consult with other sources as well.

Note that funds need to be unencumbered, meaning you can easily have access to them. No strings attached! Consult with your immigration representative or the IRCC website for how you could prove you have access to these funds.

Comparing 12-month LICO over the years

The following table reflects the 12-month LICO for 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Size
of Family Unit
2018 2019 2020
one person $24,950 $25,338 $25,920
two persons $31,062 $31,544 $32,899
three persons $38,186 $38,780 $40,445
four persons $46,362 $47,084 $49,106
five persons $52,584 $53,402 $55,695
six persons $59,304 $60,228 $62,814
seven persons $66,028 $67,056 $69,935
If more than seven persons, for each
additional person, add
$6,722 $6,828 $7,121

Comparing 6-month LICO over the years

The following table reflects the 6-month LICO for 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Size
of Family Unit
2018 2019 2020
one person $12,475 $12,669 $12,960
two persons $15,531 $15,772 $16,135
three persons $19,093 $19,390 $19,836
four persons $23,181 $23,542 $24,083
five persons $26,292 $26,701 $27,315
six persons $29,652 $30,114 $30,806
seven persons $33,014 $33,528 $34,299
If more than seven persons, for each
additional person, add
$3,361 $3,414 $3,492

Questions about LICO or immigration matters to Canada

If you have any questions about LICO or other issues related to immigration, fill out the following form. We will get back to you as quickly as we can.

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    Updated October 12, 2020

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    Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
    Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
    Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
    Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada

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    This article provides information of a general nature only. Considering the fluid nature of the immigration world, it may no longer be current. Of course, the item does not give legal advice. Therefore, do not rely on it as legal advice or immigration advice. Consequently, no one could hold us accountable for the content of these articles. Of course, if you have specific legal questions, you must consult a lawyer. Alternatively, if you are looking for immigration advice, book an appointment.

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    Al Parsai

    This article has been expertly crafted by Al Parsai, a distinguished Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (L3 RCIC-IRB – Unrestricted Practice) hailing from vibrant Toronto, Canada. Al's academic achievements include an esteemed role as an adjunct professor at prestigious Queen's University Law School and Ashton College, as well as a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from York University. A respected member of CICC and CAPIC organizations, Al's insights are further enriched by his experience as the dynamic CEO of Parsai Immigration Services. Guiding thousands of applicants from over 55 countries through the immigration process since 2011, Al's articles offer a wealth of invaluable knowledge for readers.