Canada Super Visa: How To Apply

Who is the Super Visa For?

The Super Visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to visit Canada for lengthy periods.

Do Super Visa Applicants Need Medical Insurance?

Yes, all Super Visa applicants are required to purchase private medical insurance before landing in Canada. Prior to 2022, insurance providers had to be Canadian in order to be offer eligible coverage for super visa holders.

We recommend working with BestQuote Travel Insurance Agency for your super visa insurance. Not only are they a skilled insurance agency, but they allow you to compare many different insurance providers so you can ensure you’re getting the best policy available! Get started with BestQuote here.

What is the Super Visa?

Since first being introduced in 2011, the Super Visa has allowed many thousands of international parents and grandparents to come to Canada for extended periods, benefiting families and communities across the country, not just socially, but economically too. For example, by their presence in Canada parents and grandparents of adult children can help with taking care of infants, allowing working-age immigrants and naturalised citizens to take a full part in the Canadian labour force.

The spouse or common-law partner of a Super Visa applicant may also come to Canada on the same status, but other dependants may not.

It should be noted that Super Visa holders are not allowed to work in Canada. There is a permanent residence program for parents and grandparents; however, there is a limited supply of visas under this program, and applications can take a long time to be processed.

With the limitation of permanent residence options available for parents and grandparents, the Super Visa is a great option for Canadian citizens and permanent residence to bring their loved ones to Canada.

Super Visa: What do I need to do to apply?

There are a couple of conditions that must be met in order to apply for the Super Visa:

1. You must have an invitation from a host in Canada (i.e. your child or grandchild). The host must meet a minimum income threshold, as they are responsible for your financial support while in Canada.

2. You must pass a medical examination.

3. You must have valid medical insurance coverage for at least one year. Super Visa applicants must show proof that they have purchased private medical insurance coverage from an authorized insurance provider, such as BestQuote travel insurance.

The insurance policy must:

• be valid for at least one year;
• be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit;
• cover health care, hospitalisation, and repatriation;
• provide a minimum coverage of $100,000;
• be valid for each entry to Canada; and
• be available for review by an officer at a Canadian port of entry.

We recommend working with BestQuote Travel Insurance Agency for your super visa insurance. Not only are they a skilled insurance agency, but they allow you to compare many different insurance providers so you can ensure you’re getting the best policy available! Get started with BestQuote here.

Super Visa Letter of Invitation from your Child or Grandchild

A successful Super Visa application must include a letter of invitation written by the host (child or grandchild) in Canada. This letter must include the following information about the invitee (parent or grandparent):

• Complete name;
• Date of birth;
• Address;
• Telephone number;
• Relationship to the host;
• The purpose of the trip to Canada;
• How long the invitee intends to stay in Canada;
• Where the invitee will stay, and how he or she intends to finance purchases while in Canada; and
• When the invitee plans to leave Canada.

In addition, the following information about the host must be included:

• Complete name;
• Date of birth;
• Address;
• Telephone number;
• Job title;
• Information about status in Canada (citizen or permanent resident), including proof of status;
• Family details, including names and dates of birth; and
• The total number of persons residing in the household.

The following must also be included in the Super Visa letter of invitation:

• A signed promise of financial support for the invitee by the host; and
• Proof of minimum income.

Super Visa Minimum Income Requirements

The child or grandchild of the applicant must meet a minimum income threshold under the Super Visa eligibility criteria. These thresholds are known as the low-income cut-off (LICO) and are updated annually by Statistics Canada.

The size of the family unit includes the parent(s) or grandparent(s) being sponsored.

The host may prove his or her income through any of the following means:

• Most recent copy of the Notice of Assessment. If you do not have a paper copy on file, you print your tax returns using the Canada Revenue Agency’s online service;
• Most recent copy of the T4 or T1 from your employer (if you are self-employed, you may obtain a letter from an accountant confirming annual income);
• Original letter from your employer stating title, job description, and salary;
• Employment insurance pay stubs; and/or
• Proof of other sources of income, such as a pension statement, investments, etc.

How Long Can Parents and Grandparents Stay in Canada on a Super Visa?

Since 2022, super visa holders are eligible to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time with the option to extend their stay by an additional two years at a time.

What is the Processing Time for Super Visa’s?

The processing times for a Super Visa depend on the location of the applicant, that is the parent or grandparent. For instance, Those from India can expect to wait 51 days for processing whereas those from the Philippines can expect a processing delay of 146 days.

How Much Does It Cost To Apply for a Super Visa?

It costs $100 per person to apply for a Super Visa. Applicants will also need to pay a biometrics fee of $85.

Super Visa: Speak with an immigration professional

The process of applying for and obtaining the Super Visa can be done directly between the applicant and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Many people, however, prefer the peace of mind that comes with having a qualified and experienced immigration consultant to guide them through the process.

View our Book an Immigration Consultant page for a list of recommended experts who can help with your Super Visa application. For a video overview of the Super Visa, check out this video from one of our recommended Canadian immigration consultants, Deanne Acres-Lans from Canada Abroad: