Long visits with parents and grandparents matter to a lot of families. The Canada super visa is built for exactly that: it allows extended stays with family in Canada without the complexity of a permanent move to Canada.
So what is this visa, who qualifies, and how does it compare with parent and grandparent sponsorship? This guide covers the Canada super visa in full, from eligibility and documents to fees, insurance and how to extend a stay, so you can decide which route suits your family.
What is the Canada super visa?
The super visa is a program for the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It was introduced in 2011 and has been amended several times since. It is a practical answer for families who want longer periods together, particularly where adult children rely on their parents for help with grandchildren or other family support.
The super visa is a multiple-entry temporary resident visa, normally issued for up to ten years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. It allows you to travel in and out of Canada throughout its validity, provided the medical insurance and financial support requirements continue to be met. It does not grant permanent residence and it does not authorise work in Canada.
Who can apply for a Canada super visa?
Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and of people who hold permanent residence in Canada may be eligible. Applicants must not be inadmissible on health or security grounds, and the visa office may set further conditions depending on the country you apply from.
One point is often missed: dependants cannot be included in a super visa application. Only the parent or grandparent, together with their spouse or common-law partner, can be covered by a single application. Anyone else needs their own visitor visa.
Canada super visa requirements
A super visa application has to meet several requirements. The main ones are:
- Proof of the family relationship: documents such as a birth certificate or baptismal certificate showing your relationship to the child or grandchild in Canada.
- Medical admissibility: an immigration medical examination and confirmation that you are admissible on health grounds.
- Private medical insurance: a valid policy with at least CAD 100,000 in coverage for health care, hospitalisation and repatriation, valid for at least one year from the date of entry. The policy may be issued by a Canadian insurer or by an insurer outside Canada that IRCC has designated for this purpose.
- Letter of invitation: a letter from the child or grandchild in Canada that includes a commitment to support you financially for the whole visit and lists the members of the host household.
- Proof of the host’s income: the child or grandchild must show household income at or above the low income cut-off (LICO) for their family size, using documents such as a recent notice of assessment, pay slips or an employment insurance statement.
Three things to keep in mind:
- The application fee is CAD 100 per person.
- The application must be submitted from outside Canada.
- You must also meet the general requirements for temporary entry to Canada as a visitor, including satisfying the officer that you will leave at the end of your authorised stay.
Documents for a Canada super visa
A super visa application for a parent or grandparent normally needs the following:
- Letter of invitation from the host, including the financial commitment
- Proof of the family relationship to the child or grandchild
- Medical insurance with at least CAD 100,000 in coverage, valid for one year
- Proof of the host’s income, such as pay slips or a notice of assessment
- Completed and signed application forms
- Passport valid for at least one year from the date of entry
- Immigration medical examination by an IRCC panel physician
- Biometrics, fingerprints and a photograph, where required
How to apply for a Canada super visa
Once the documents are ready, the application runs as follows:
- Complete and submit the forms: fill in the official forms with your personal details, travel history and the other information requested. Submit online through the IRCC portal, or on paper where that option applies to you.
- Pay the fees: the application fee is CAD 100 per applicant, with biometrics charged separately.
- Complete the medical examination: the examination must be done by a panel physician approved by IRCC.
- Give biometrics: provide fingerprints and a photograph if you are asked to.
- Wait for the decision: processing times vary by the country you apply from and by application volumes. Check the IRCC processing times tool for a current estimate and treat it as an estimate rather than a commitment.
- Receive the visa: if the application is approved, a multiple-entry visa is issued, and each entry can be authorised for up to five years at the discretion of the border services officer.
To avoid delays, check every document twice: incomplete insurance evidence, a weak letter of invitation or missing income documents are the most common reasons a super visa application stalls or is refused.
How to extend a stay on a Canada super visa
If you hold a super visa and want to stay longer, there are three routes:
1. Apply for a visitor record from inside Canada
If you are in Canada and do not want to leave, you can apply for a visitor record before your current authorised stay expires. Super visa holders may be granted up to two additional years this way. It is an application, not a right, and IRCC decides it.
2. Leave and re-enter Canada
If your super visa is still valid, you can leave Canada and ask for a new period of admission when you return. The length of that admission is decided by the border services officer at the port of entry.
3. Apply for a new super visa from outside Canada
If your authorised stay or the visa itself has expired and you are outside Canada, you apply again from abroad.
Super visa or visitor visa: what is the difference?
A super visa lets eligible parents and grandparents stay for up to five years at a time. A standard Canadian visitor visa normally allows a stay of up to six months. To stay longer on a visitor visa you have to apply for an extension and pay again.
The super visa removes that repeated extension cycle for long family visits. It is a form of temporary resident visa, but it is designed specifically for the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and it carries its own insurance and income requirements.
The main difference between the two is the length of stay authorised on each entry.
Super visa or parent sponsorship: which one?
| Topic | Canadian Super Visa | Parent Sponsorship (Permanent Residence) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of status | Temporary (up to 5 years per entry) | Permanent (no time limit) |
| Processing time | Faster (a few weeks to a few months) | Longer (1.5 to 3 years or more) |
| Financial commitment | One year of income (LICO) + private medical insurance | Income for the past 3 years + 20-year undertaking (10 years for sponsors residing in Quebec) |
| Medical insurance | Private insurance mandatory | Public health coverage after PR is granted |
| Access to services | No work permit or government services | Work permit, health services and benefits |
| Path to citizenship | None | Yes (after permanent residence and meeting the requirements) |
Canada super visa costs
The super visa is one of the better options for parents and grandparents who want extended stays with family in Canada. It carries government fees and an insurance requirement that is stricter than for an ordinary visitor visa.
The government fees are:
- Visa application fee: CAD 100
- Biometrics fee: CAD 85
That is roughly CAD 185 to file, per applicant. Fees are set by IRCC and change from time to time, so confirm them on the IRCC website before you pay.
Cost of super visa medical insurance
Medical insurance is one of the defining requirements. The policy must provide at least CAD 100,000 in coverage for health care, hospitalisation and repatriation, and must be valid for at least one year from the date of entry. It can be bought from a Canadian insurer or from an insurer outside Canada that IRCC has designated.
Premiums depend mainly on age and medical history. For a 65-year-old applicant, annual cover commonly runs around CAD 1,800, and more where there are pre-existing conditions. Providers such as Manulife, Allianz and Sun Life offer policies written for the super visa, often with a monthly payment option.
For many families, the super visa is the most practical way to spend long periods together in Canada. Understanding the costs and choosing insurance that genuinely meets the requirement are the two steps that most affect how smoothly the application goes.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a Canada super visa take to process?
Processing times depend on the country you apply from and change over time. Check the IRCC processing times tool or ask your immigration consultant for a current figure. - What has to be in the letter of invitation?
The applicant’s name and date of birth, the purpose and length of the visit, the applicant’s address and telephone number in their home country, the host’s contact details and commitment of financial support, the address where the applicant will stay in Canada, and a list of the people in the host’s household. - Can brothers and sisters be included in a super visa application?
No. Dependants cannot be included in a super visa application. Only the parent or grandparent and their spouse or common-law partner can apply together. Any other family member must apply for their own visitor visa.
