Super Visa insurance questions, answered clearly

Super Visa insurance is private emergency medical insurance that parents and grandparents must hold to get and use a Canadian Super Visa.

It pays for unexpected medical emergencies while your parents are in Canada, such as hospital stays, doctor visits, ambulance, diagnostic tests and prescription drugs for a covered emergency, and the cost of returning them home (repatriation). Visitors are not covered by provincial health plans like OHIP, so without this insurance a single hospital stay can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Yes. IRCC will not approve a Super Visa without proof of qualifying medical insurance, and the border officer can ask to see it on every entry.

The insurance protects your family and Canadian taxpayers from large medical bills. A policy that is missing, expired or below the minimum can lead to a refusal or problems at the border.

A Super Visa lets parents and grandparents stay up to 5 years per entry; a regular visitor visa usually allows up to 6 months.

In exchange for the longer stay, the Super Visa requires a host income test, an immigration medical exam and $100,000 of medical insurance. A visitor visa has no insurance requirement, but buying Visitors to Canada insurance is still strongly recommended. See the comparison table further down this page.

Parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian under the Indian Act.

The applicant's spouse or common-law partner can be included. Dependent children of the applicant cannot. The applicant must apply from outside Canada, pass an immigration medical exam, show they will leave Canada at the end of their stay, and provide a signed invitation letter and income proof from the host.

Up to 5 years per entry, on a multiple-entry visa that can be valid for up to 10 years.

Super Visa holders can also ask IRCC to extend their stay by up to 2 years at a time from inside Canada. Insurance must be in force for the whole stay, so renew or extend the policy before it ends.

The policy must give at least $100,000 of emergency coverage, cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and be valid for at least one year from each entry.

• Issued by a Canadian insurance company, or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer.
• Paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit. Quotes are not accepted.
• Valid for each entry to Canada.
• Available for a border services officer to review on request.

The name of a broker or claims administrator does not count as the insurer, so the documents must show the actual insurance company.

It must come from a Canadian insurer, or from a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI that issues the policy as part of its business in Canada.

A policy bought in your parents' home country from a local insurer will usually not qualify. Buying from an established Canadian insurer through a licensed Canadian advisor avoids this risk.

Yes. IRCC accepts policies paid in full or paid in instalments with a deposit, as long as you have a real policy and not just a quote.

Not every insurer offers monthly plans, and some charge a small instalment fee. If monthly payments stop, the policy can be cancelled, which could leave your parents uninsured and out of compliance. Pankaj can show you which insurers offer monthly plans and what the deposit will be.

At least one full year from the date your parents enter Canada, and again for each later entry.

The year runs from the entry date, not the purchase date. If the arrival date moves, ask the insurer to move the policy start date so it still covers a full year. For a stay longer than one year, keep the policy renewed without gaps.

$100,000 is the legal minimum; many families choose $150,000 to $300,000 for parents with health concerns because serious hospital stays can exceed $100,000.

Moving from $100,000 to $150,000 or $200,000 usually adds a modest amount to the premium. Use the premium estimator to compare.

A policy confirmation or certificate showing the insurer, policy number, insured names, coverage amount, coverage dates and that it is paid (in full or with a deposit).

Upload it with the Super Visa application, and have your parents carry a printed copy in their hand luggage for the border officer.

Yes, many insurers offer couple or family policies, but each person must have at least $100,000 of their own coverage.

Each parent is priced on their own age and health, and each must meet IRCC's requirements individually. Other family members, such as siblings visiting with them, need their own policy.

Published 2026 quotes for $100,000 of coverage and a $0 deductible run about $1,150 to $1,800 a year for a healthy parent aged 50 to 64, $1,600 to $2,400 at 65 to 69, and $2,550 to $6,650 from age 70 to 84.

*Published Canadian market quotes taken October 11, 2026, for one person, $100,000 coverage, $0 deductible and no pre-existing cover. A $1,000 deductible typically lowers these by 18–22%. See the full Super Visa insurance cost guide or estimate yours.

The deductible is the part of a claim you pay yourself before the insurer pays; a higher deductible lowers the premium.

For example, with a $1,000 deductible and a $6,000 covered bill, you pay $1,000 and the insurer pays $5,000. Depending on the insurer, the deductible applies per claim or per policy period, so check the wording. Choose an amount your family could comfortably pay in an emergency.

Older travellers are more likely to need emergency care, so insurers price each age band higher, with the biggest jumps after 70 and 80.

IRCC sets no upper age limit, but some insurers stop accepting new applicants above about 85 or 90, and options to cover pre-existing conditions narrow with age. Buying before a birthday that moves your parent into a higher age band can save money.

Compare several insurers, choose a sensible deductible, and only pay for pre-existing coverage if your parent actually needs it.

• Prices for the same parent can differ by hundreds of dollars between insurers.
• A $1,000 deductible typically cuts the premium by about 18–22% compared with $0.
• Answer the medical questionnaire accurately; a cheaper policy that won't pay a claim is not a saving.
• Never drop below $100,000 or one year of coverage to save money.

They can be, if the condition is "stable" for the period the policy requires and you choose a plan that covers stable pre-existing conditions.

Plans that exclude pre-existing conditions are cheaper but will not pay claims related to those conditions. If your parent takes regular medication for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol or heart problems, it is usually worth paying for pre-existing coverage. Pankaj reviews each parent's history before recommending a plan.

A condition is usually stable if, during a set period before coverage starts, there were no new symptoms, no medication changes, no new tests or treatment, and no hospital visits for it.

Stability periods are often 90, 180 or 365 days, depending on the insurer and the applicant's age. A change in medication dose can make a condition unstable under some policies, so tell your advisor about any recent changes.

For the visa, yes: IRCC requires an immigration medical exam. For the insurance, usually no exam is needed, only a medical questionnaire.

The immigration medical exam is done by an IRCC-approved panel physician. The insurance questionnaire decides eligibility and price, and it can affect whether a future claim is paid.

The insurer can deny claims or void the policy, even if the mistake was unintentional.

Insurers check medical records when a claim is made. Gather your parents' prescriptions and recent reports before applying, and answer every question accurately. If you notice an error after buying, contact your advisor right away so it can be corrected.

The host must meet the low income cut-off (LICO) for their family size, for example $38,002 for 2 people and $56,724 for 4 people.

Figures are the most recent LICO used in IRCC's Super Visa instructions (2026). Check your household.

The host, their spouse or partner, their dependent children, the parents or grandparents applying, and anyone else the host already supports through a valid Super Visa or an active sponsorship.

The applicant's own other family members back home are not counted. Getting the family size wrong is a common reason for refusals.

Yes. Since March 31, 2026, a host who earns at least 75% of the minimum can add the visiting parents' income to cover the remaining 25%.

IRCC now allows two ways to qualify:

1. Option 1: the host (plus a co-signing spouse) meets the full minimum in either of the two tax years before applying.
2. Option 2: the host meets at least 75% of the minimum over the latest 12 months or tax year, and the applicant's own income, such as a pension, rent or remote work, covers up to 25%.

For Option 2 you need 12 months of proof of the applicant's income. Foreign income is converted to Canadian dollars at the exchange rate on the application date.

For insurance: the parents' passport details, dates of birth, travel dates and accurate medical history. For the visa: an invitation letter, income proof and the insurance documents.

• Invitation letter signed by the child or grandchild, promising financial support and listing the household members.
• Proof the host is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Income proof: Notice of Assessment (NOA), T4 or T1, pay stubs, employer letter or bank statements.
• Insurance confirmation from the insurer, plus the immigration medical exam.

In an emergency, go to the hospital or call 911 first, then call the insurer's 24/7 assistance number on the policy card as soon as possible.

Many policies require you to contact the assistance company before or soon after treatment, and may reduce payment if you don't. Keep all receipts, reports and the hospital's itemized bill. Pankaj's office can guide you through the claim paperwork.

Not usually when the policy starts on arrival. If coverage is bought after your parent is already in Canada, a waiting period applies.

Waiting periods are often 48 hours for illness, or longer for older applicants and some plans. Injuries from accidents are usually covered right away. Buying before arrival avoids the gap.

It covers emergencies only, not routine or planned care.

• Regular check-ups, ongoing treatment and refills of usual medication.
• Unstable pre-existing conditions, or any pre-existing condition on a plan that excludes them.
• Non-emergency or elective surgery, and treatment that could wait until the parent returns home.
• Claims linked to alcohol or drug misuse, high-risk activities, or travel against government advisories.

Exclusions vary by insurer, so read the policy wording or ask for a plain-language summary.

No. Super Visa holders are visitors and are not eligible for OHIP or other provincial health plans.

That is why private insurance is required, and why it should stay in force for every day your parents are in Canada.

Usually yes: most insurers refund the full premium, minus a small admin fee, when you send the IRCC refusal letter.

Submit the refusal letter as soon as you receive it, and before the policy start date where possible. Estimate your refund.

Most insurers refund the unused days, minus an admin fee, as long as no claim has been made.

You will need proof of the departure date, such as a boarding pass or passport stamp. Some policies have a minimum premium or do not refund the last few months, so check the terms before you buy.

Renew or buy a new policy before the current one ends, so there is no gap in coverage.

Renewal terms depend on the insurer and on your parent's health at renewal time. A gap can create a waiting period and may cause pre-existing conditions to be treated differently. Pankaj's office can remind you before the renewal date.

Yes. Insurance must cover the whole stay, including any extension IRCC approves.

Arrange the new coverage before the old policy ends and keep the confirmation with the extension application.

They would be uninsured, so any emergency would be billed directly to the family, and they would no longer meet the Super Visa condition.

Set a reminder at least a month before the end date. Buying a new policy after a gap usually brings a waiting period and stricter rules for pre-existing conditions.

From a licensed Canadian insurance advisor or broker who can compare several Canadian insurers, or directly from an insurer.

A broker such as Pankaj Bhatia compares plans side by side, checks that the policy meets IRCC rules, helps with the medical questionnaire, and supports you with claims, refunds and renewals.

No. Insurers set the premium, and the price is generally the same whether you buy through a licensed advisor or directly.

Advisors are paid by the insurer, so you get comparison and claims help at no extra cost.

In most cases the same day, once the application is completed and paid.

Buy well before the visa application or travel date so there is time to fix any details. If the visa takes longer than expected, the start date can usually be changed.

Pankaj Bhatia, PFA, CHS, is a licensed insurance and financial advisor specializing in Super Visa and visitor insurance, with offices in Mississauga and Cambridge, Ontario.

You get side-by-side quotes from leading Canadian insurers, help with pre-existing conditions, and follow-up support by phone or WhatsApp for claims, refunds and renewals.