Parents and Grandparents
Super Visa
Want to spend an extended visit with your children or grandchildren in Canada? A Super Visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to make multiple visits and stay for up to five years at a time.
01 What Is a Super Visa?
A Super Visa is a multiple-entry temporary resident visa for eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons registered under the Indian Act. It may be valid for up to ten years and permits stays of up to five years at a time.
If the planned visit is six months or less, a regular visitor visa may be sufficient.
02 Who Can Apply?
Both the visiting parent or grandparent and the host child or grandchild must meet the applicable requirements.
Applicant Requirements
- be the biological or adopted parent or grandparent of the host;
- apply from outside Canada and have the visa issued outside Canada;
- complete an immigration medical examination;
- obtain the required private health insurance;
- be admissible to Canada; and
- satisfy IRCC that the visit is temporary, taking into account the purpose of the visit, ties to the home country, family, and finances.
Host Requirements
- be the applicant’s biological or adopted child or grandchild;
- be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act;
- be at least 18 years old and live in Canada;
- meet the minimum necessary income requirement; and
- write and sign an invitation promising financial support and listing everyone included in the family-size calculation.
03 What Financial Support Is Required?
The minimum income depends on family size. The count generally includes the host, their spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, the applicants being invited, and people still covered by certain previous Super Visa invitations or sponsorship undertakings.
Their total income must meet or exceed the minimum required amount for the relevant family size. A Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment for the chosen year is required.
The combined income must meet the full minimum. The applicant must provide evidence of income for the preceding 12 months and show that the income will continue while they are in Canada.
Who Can Co-Sign?
The host’s spouse or common-law partner may co-sign if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act. Other relatives, including the host’s siblings, cannot co-sign.
04 What Insurance Is Required?
The applicant must have private health insurance from a Canadian insurer or an eligible foreign insurer. The policy must:
- be valid for at least one year from the date of entry;
- provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage;
- cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation;
- be paid in full or by instalments with a deposit—a quote is not enough;
- be valid for each entry to Canada; and
- be available for review by a border services officer.
Insurance from Outside Canada
A foreign insurer must be authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to provide accident and sickness insurance, appear on its public list of federally regulated financial institutions, and issue the policy while conducting insurance business in Canada.
Coverage should remain valid throughout the stay. If it will expire before the applicant leaves Canada, it should be renewed.
05 How to Apply
The applicant must be outside Canada when the application is submitted. The usual process is:
Confirm the Requirements
Confirm that the applicant, host, family-size calculation, income evidence, and intended visit meet the Super Visa requirements.
Prepare the Invitation and Financial Proof
The host signs the invitation and provides proof of status, residence, relationship, family size, and sufficient income. An eligible spouse or common-law partner may co-sign.
Complete the Medical Exam and Arrange Insurance
The applicant completes an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician and obtains a policy that meets the Super Visa insurance rules.
Apply Online
Complete the application through the appropriate IRCC Portal, upload the forms and supporting documents, and pay the applicable fees.
Complete the Remaining Steps
Provide biometrics if required and respond to any request for an interview, police certificate, or additional information. If approved, follow IRCC’s instructions and carry the insurance and supporting documents when travelling.
06 How Long Can You Stay?
Visa validity, the period authorized for each visit, and an extension of visitor status are different.
The visa expiry date controls when it can be used to travel to Canada. It is not the date by which the visitor must leave after each entry.
A Canada Border Services Agency officer makes the admission decision at the port of entry. The visitor must comply with any specific date placed in the passport or visitor record.
The visitor must apply before their current status expires. Approval is not automatic, and valid visitor status must be maintained.
07 Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a Super Visa from inside Canada?+
Can I apply while a parent or grandparent sponsorship application is in process?+
Can dependants be included in a Super Visa application?+
Does a Super Visa lead to permanent residence?+
Does a valid Super Visa guarantee entry to Canada?+
Must insurance remain valid after the first year?+
Talk to a Licensed Expert
Planning an Extended Family Visit?
Our licensed team can assess the Super Visa requirements, review the income and insurance evidence, and help prepare the application.
