LICO 2025 Table – Low Income Cut-Off for Canadian Immigration
| NOTE: The LICO 2025 article and table are guidelines for those who wish to immigrate to Canada. However, you may refer to this article for other purposes. |
Immigrants to Canada are expected to demonstrate their ability to reside in the country self-sufficiently and without resorting to social assistance (practitioners refer to A39). There are various methods to establish one’s intention to be a self-reliant newcomer. Nevertheless, the LICO (Low Income Cut-Off) table is crucial in fulfilling this requirement.
Table of contents
What is LICO?
The low-income cut-off (LICO) table for immigration purposes represents the poverty line in Canada’s urban areas with a population of 500,000 or more. In other words, you are poor if your income is below LICO. Statistics Canada updates the LICO table annually, based on the current inflation rate. The LICO requirements for immigration are based on LICO calculations before income tax.
Settlement funds versus annual income
An immigration officer may consider your skills, work experience, educational credentials, and assets to verify financial admissibility. Nonetheless, settlement funds are one of the main options to prove your ability to be independent. Of course, settlement funds refer to the money you can bring to Canada when you land as a newcomer. Immigration authorities use the LICO table to evaluate the sufficiency of settlement funds. Consider reading the following article for more information on settlement funds.
You cannot rely on settlement funds when sponsoring a family member via a family reunification option. You must demonstrate a steady income, as you are financially sponsoring your loved ones. Therefore, your income becomes more important than the money in your bank account. Please read the following articles for more information:
The LICO Table 2025 is also a point of reference for sponsorship income.
Where LICO is useful
You may use the LICO 2025 table for settlement funds and the necessary annual income. Here are some examples.
- Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC) – The 6-month LICO for settlement funds
- Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) – The 6-month LICO for settlement funds
- Sponsoring family members other than spouses, parents, or children – The 12-month LICO for the minimum necessary income
- Start-up visa – The 6-month LICO for settlement funds for immigration and the 12-month LICO for a work permit
Of course, these are just some examples. Additional federal or provincial immigration options may also consider LICO 2025 to evaluate applicants’ financial status.
LICO table 2025
The following table shows LICO for 2025*. As you see, the LICO changes based on the household size.
| Size of Family Unit | LICO – 12 Months | LICO – 6 Months |
| One person | $30,526 | $15,263 |
| Two persons | $38,002 | $19,001 |
| Three persons | $46,720 | $23,360 |
| Four persons | $56,724 | $28,362 |
| Five persons | $64,336 | $32,168 |
| Six persons | $72,560 | $36,280 |
| Seven persons | $80,784 | $40,392 |
| If more than seven persons, for each additional person, add | $8,224 | $4,112 |
*I used the latest figures posted on the IRCC website for the 6-month LICO and multiplied the 6-month values by 2 for the 12-month LICO. These figures were updated on July 7, 2025. IRCC has not released new data since then. We will update the table if any changes are made.
Like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, most immigration options require proof of funds based on a 6-month LICO. Please note that I have done my best to present the correct figures; however, the values shown here are not official numbers. Consequently, consult with other sources as well.
Comparing 12-month LICO over the years
This table presents the 12-month Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) figures from 2018 to 2025. It aims to illustrate the progression of the LICO thresholds throughout these years.
| Size of Family Unit | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| one person | $24,950 | $25,338 | $25,921 | $26,426 | $26,620 | $27,514 | $29,380 | $30,526 |
| two persons | $31,062 | $31,544 | $32,270 | $32,898 | $33,140 | $34,254 | $36,576 | $38,002 |
| three persons | $38,186 | $38,780 | $39,672 | $40,444 | $40,742 | $42,110 | $44,966 | $46,720 |
| four persons | $46,362 | $47,084 | $48,167 | $49,106 | $49,466 | $51,128 | $54,594 | $56,724 |
| five persons | $52,584 | $53,402 | $54,630 | $55,694 | $56,104 | $57,988 | $59,728 | $64,336 |
| six persons | $59,304 | $60,228 | $61,613 | $62,814 | $63,276 | $65,400 | $69,834 | $72,560 |
| seven persons | $66,028 | $67,056 | $68,598 | $69,934 | $70,448 | $72,814 | $77,750 | $80,784 |
| If more than seven persons, for each additional person, add | $6,722 | $6,828 | $6,985 | $7,120 | $7,172 | $7,412 | $7,916 | $8,224 |
Comparing 6-month LICO over the years
The table below displays the six-month Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) figures from 2018 to 2025, intended to illustrate the variations in LICO over this time frame.
| Size of Family Unit | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| one person | $12,475 | $12,669 | $12,961 | $13,213 | $13,310 | $13,757 | $14,690 | $15,263 |
| two persons | $15,531 | $15,772 | $16,135 | $16,449 | $16,570 | $17,127 | $18,288 | $19,001 |
| three persons | $19,093 | $19,390 | $19,836 | $20,222 | $20,371 | $21,055 | $22,483 | $23,360 |
| four persons | $23,181 | $23,542 | $24,084 | $24,553 | $24,733 | $25,564 | $27,297 | $28,362 |
| five persons | $26,292 | $26,701 | $27,315 | $27,847 | $28,052 | $28,994 | $30,690 | $32,168 |
| six persons | $29,652 | $30,114 | $30,807 | $31,407 | $31,638 | $32,700 | $34,917 | $36,280 |
| seven persons | $33,014 | $33,528 | $34,299 | $34,967 | $35,224 | $36,407 | $38,875 | $40,392 |
| If more than seven persons, for each additional person, add | $3,361 | $3,414 | $3,493 | $3,560 | $3,586 | $3,706 | $3,958 | $4,112 |
How to realize income in comparison to LICO
To compare your income with LICO, the best way to determine your income is to look at your Notice of Assessment (NOA) or the Option C printout. Unfortunately, a typical NOA is confusing. However, your answer is line 150 or 15000 of the NOA. Regardless, in some immigration options, you may be required to refer to your earnings statements or T4. Nonetheless, consult with an accountant for the correct figures. Also, ask a practitioner if using these sources is beneficial. Finally, if you use LICO for settlement funds, your account balance is more important than your income.
Questions about LICO 2025 or immigration matters to Canada
If you have questions about LICO 2024 or other immigration-related issues, fill out the following form. We will get back to you as soon as possible. However, if the question is case-specific, we recommend booking a consultation session.
We extracted the LICO tables with the help of the IRCC website.
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Al Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor, Queen’s University Faculty of Law
Instructor, Ashton College, Immigration Consulting Program
Author of 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada and Inadmissibility to Canada for Human Rights Violations
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