Canada Super Visa for parents and grandparents: how it works and how to apply
Stays of up to 5 years per entry for parents and grandparents. Get the required $100,000 insurance below, then follow the 8 steps.
The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents stay up to 5 years per entry, on a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years. Here's who qualifies, the step-by-step application, IRCC fees, how the insurance fits in, and what happens at the border.
The short answer
The Canada Super Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians. It is valid for up to 10 years and allows stays of up to 5 years per entry, with extensions of up to 2 years at a time from inside Canada. To qualify, the child or grandchild must send a signed invitation letter and meet the minimum income for their family size, and the parent must pass an immigration medical exam, apply from outside Canada and buy private medical insurance of at least $100,000 valid one year from entry. IRCC fees are $100 per applicant plus $85 for biometrics where required.
Super Visa vs. visitor visa vs. parent sponsorship (PGP)
Three ways parents and grandparents come to Canada. The right one depends on how long they want to stay and whether they want permanent residence.
| Feature | Super Visa | Regular visitor visa | Parents & Grandparents Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Temporary visitor | Temporary visitor | Permanent residence |
| Stay per entry | Up to 5 years | Usually up to 6 months | Live in Canada permanently |
| Host income test | Yes (LICO for family size) | No | Yes (higher, over several years) |
| Medical insurance | Required: $100,000+, 1 year | Recommended, not required | Not required after PR; provincial coverage applies |
| Provincial health care | No | No | Yes, once eligible |
| Can work in Canada? | No | No | Yes |
| Availability | Year-round | Year-round | Limited intakes, not always open |
Who is eligible for the Super Visa?
1The parent or grandparent
- Is the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian
- Applies from outside Canada
- Meets normal visitor requirements, including ties to their home country and intent to leave at the end of the stay
- Passes an immigration medical exam with an IRCC panel physician
- Has private medical insurance that meets IRCC's rules
- May include a spouse or common-law partner; dependent children cannot be included
2The child or grandchild in Canada (the host)
- Is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian
- Writes and signs a letter of invitation promising financial support for the whole visit
- Lists the number and names of people in their household
- Meets the minimum necessary income for their family size (a spouse can co-sign and add income)
- Since March 31, 2026, can qualify with 75% of the minimum plus the visiting parents' own income
How to apply for a Super Visa: 8 steps
The order matters: income and insurance problems are the most common reasons for delays and refusals.
- 1. Check the host's income and family sizeCount everyone IRCC counts and compare the income with the LICO table. Use the latest Notice of Assessment.
- 2. Write the invitation letterThe child or grandchild signs a letter with a promise of financial support for the visit, the household list and proof of their Canadian status.
- 3. Book the immigration medical examThe parent sees an IRCC-approved panel physician in their country. Results go to IRCC electronically.
- 4. Buy Super Visa insuranceAt least $100,000 per person, valid one year from the expected entry date, from a Canadian or OSFI-authorized insurer, paid in full or in instalments with a deposit. A quote is not accepted.
- 5. Complete the formsThe visitor visa application (IMM 5257) and the family information form (IMM 5645), plus the supporting documents.
- 6. Submit online and pay the feesApply from outside Canada through IRCC's online portal. Pay $100 per applicant, plus $85 for biometrics where required.
- 7. Give biometricsBook the appointment as soon as the instruction letter arrives. Applicants over 79 don't give biometrics.
- 8. Receive the decision and travelIf approved, the visa is placed in the passport. Travel with the insurance documents and invitation letter in hand luggage.
Super Visa planner: fees, timeline and stay dates
Work out the IRCC fees and when to start, then plan the stay and insurance renewals.
Your application
Results update as you change anything.
Plan the stay
See the longest likely stay and when each insurance renewal is due.
Planning tools only, based on IRCC's published fees and Super Visa rules as of October 2026. Not immigration advice; IRCC and border officers make the decisions.
The Super Visa insurance requirement, in one minute
Every applicant needs private medical insurance before applying. The policy must:
Provide $100,000+
Of emergency coverage for each applicant.
Cover the essentials
Health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
Last 1 year from entry
And be valid for each entry to Canada.
Come from a qualifying insurer
A Canadian insurer, or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer doing business in Canada.
Be paid
In full, or in instalments with a deposit. A quote is not accepted.
Travel with the parent
Available for a border officer to review on request.
If the visa is refused
Most insurers refund the premium minus an admin fee when you send the IRCC refusal letter, ideally before the policy start date. Refunds are not automatic or always 100%, so check the cancellation terms before you buy. More detail: Super Visa insurance requirements · cost by age.
At the border and during the stay
- 1The officer sets the stayUp to 5 years per entry. The date is written in the passport or on a visitor record; it may be shorter, for example if the passport expires sooner.
- 2Keep insurance in forceRenew before each policy ends, for every day in Canada. Visitors are not covered by OHIP or other provincial plans.
- 3ExtensionsSuper Visa holders can apply from inside Canada to extend by up to 2 years at a time, before the authorized stay ends. Extend the insurance too.
- !No workThe Super Visa is a visitor visa: holders cannot work in Canada and it does not lead directly to permanent residence.
- 4Leaving and returningParents can travel in and out while the visa is valid. On each new entry, the insurance must cover at least a year from that entry.
Common reasons Super Visas are refused
- Income below the minimum, or family size counted wrongRecount the household and check both tax years and the 75% option.
- Insurance that doesn't meet the rulesA quote, a home-country policy, too little coverage or the wrong dates.
- Weak ties to the home countryShow property, family, pension or other reasons to return.
- Incomplete or unclear documentsMissing pages, unsigned letters or unreadable scans delay or sink applications.
Canada Super Visa: frequently asked questions
Short answers first. Insurance-specific questions are answered in the Super Visa insurance FAQ.
What is the Canada Super Visa?
A multiple-entry visitor visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians, valid for up to 10 years and allowing stays of up to 5 years per entry.
It is temporary status: holders cannot work and do not get provincial health coverage.
Who can apply for a Super Visa?
Parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, applying from outside Canada.
The applicant's spouse or common-law partner can be included; dependent children cannot. The host must meet the minimum income and sign an invitation letter.
How long can parents stay on a Super Visa?
Up to 5 years per entry, as authorized by the border officer, with the option to apply to extend by up to 2 years at a time from inside Canada.
The visa itself can be valid for up to 10 years, allowing multiple entries.
How much does a Super Visa cost?
IRCC charges $100 per applicant plus $85 for biometrics where required ($170 maximum for a family applying together). Visa-exempt applicants pay neither fee.
Add the immigration medical exam and the required private medical insurance. See Super Visa insurance cost by age.
Which forms are needed for a Super Visa?
The visitor visa application (IMM 5257) and the family information form (IMM 5645), plus supporting documents.
Supporting documents include the invitation letter, the host's proof of status and income, proof of relationship, the insurance confirmation and the medical exam.
What must the invitation letter include?
A signed promise of financial support for the whole visit, the list and number of people in the host's household, and a copy of the host's Canadian citizenship or PR document.
A spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to add their income.
What income does the host need?
At least the low income cut-off (LICO) for their family size, for example $38,002 for 2 people or $56,724 for 4.
Since March 31, 2026, the host can meet it in either of the last two tax years, or reach 75% and add the visiting parents' own income. Check your income.
Is a medical exam required?
Yes. The applicant must complete an immigration medical exam with an IRCC-approved panel physician.
This is separate from the insurance medical questionnaire.
How long does Super Visa processing take?
It varies widely by country, from a few weeks to several months.
Check IRCC's processing-time tool for the applicant's country, add time for biometrics and passport stamping, and use the planner above to work back from the arrival date.
Do we need to buy insurance before applying?
Yes. Proof of a purchased policy, paid in full or in instalments with a deposit, is part of the application. A quote is not accepted.
Set the start date to the expected arrival date; most insurers let you move it if travel changes.
Is Super Visa insurance refunded if the visa is refused?
Usually, yes, minus an admin fee, when you send the insurer the IRCC refusal letter, ideally before the policy starts.
Refund terms differ by insurer, so they are not always 100%. Check the cancellation rules before buying.
Can Super Visa holders work or use OHIP?
No. Super Visa holders are visitors: they cannot work in Canada and are not eligible for OHIP or other provincial health plans.
That is why the private medical insurance must stay in force for the whole stay.
Does the Super Visa lead to permanent residence?
No. It is temporary status. Permanent residence for parents and grandparents is through the Parents and Grandparents Program, which has limited intakes.
Many families use the Super Visa while waiting for a sponsorship opportunity.
About the author: Pankaj Bhatia, CHS, PFA
Licensed insurance & financial advisor · Insure In Canada Inc. · Mississauga & Cambridge, Ontario
Pankaj helps families bring parents and grandparents to Canada with Super Visa insurance that meets IRCC's rules the first time. He is an insurance advisor, not an immigration consultant: for immigration advice on complex cases, speak with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.
More about Pankaj · Call 647-640-2222 · WhatsApp · Google reviews
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Sources and related pages
This page summarizes IRCC's published Super Visa rules and fees as of October 2026 for general information. It is not immigration or legal advice. Rules, fees and processing times change; always confirm on canada.ca before applying. Insurance coverage is subject to the policy's terms, conditions and exclusions.