By Nasir Khan, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB # R1053580), PrimeRoute Immigration Consulting Inc. Reviewed against IRCC information in November 2026.
Short answer: The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident visit for up to five years at a time. The child or grandchild who invites them must meet a minimum income and sign an invitation letter, and the visitor needs Canadian-recognized private health insurance, a medical exam and the usual visitor qualifications.
Who can apply
You must be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian who is at least 18 and lives in Canada. You must be outside Canada when you apply and admissible to Canada. You must also meet the general visitor conditions: be a genuine visitor who intends to leave at the end of the stay, and have ties to your home country. If you are visa-exempt, you can still get a Super Visa, which then comes as a letter to show a border officer, and you may also need an eTA if you fly.
The host: income and invitation letter
The child or grandchild is called the host. They must write and sign a letter of invitation, show that they meet the minimum necessary income for their family size, and list everyone counted in the family, including each person's name and date of birth. A spouse or common-law partner who is a citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian may co-sign, but other relatives such as siblings cannot.
IRCC publishes the minimum income table, which depends on the number of people in the host's family and is updated from time to time. It counts the applicants, the host, the host's partner and dependent children, and certain people the host has already sponsored. The host proves income with Canada Revenue Agency notices of assessment for the two most recent tax years, or with the most recent notice of assessment plus documents showing income over the previous 12 months. The host's spouse or common-law partner can co-sign the invitation, and their income can be counted. IRCC updated these instructions effective March 31, 2026. Check the table and the documents list on IRCC's page for the current figures before you start.
Private health insurance
This is the requirement that most often causes trouble. IRCC requires proof of a policy with these features:
- Valid for at least one year from the date you enter Canada, and valid for each entry.
- Covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation, with emergency coverage of at least $100,000.
- Paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit. A quote is not accepted.
- Issued by a Canadian insurer, or, since January 28, 2025, by a foreign insurer that is authorized by Canada's financial regulator and listed by it, with a statement confirming that.
- Brokers and claims administrators are not insurers and do not qualify.
Medical exam
You must complete an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician and include the proof. Book it early, because results take time to reach IRCC.
How to apply and what it costs
You apply online through the IRCC portal. After the questionnaire, you receive a personalized document checklist. The Super Visa fee is $100 per person, and biometrics are $85 if you must give them. Visa-exempt applicants pay neither fee. IRCC says it cannot issue a Super Visa valid for longer than your biometrics, so give them promptly if asked.
How long you can stay
If you applied on or after June 22, 2023, you can stay five years at a time. If you applied earlier, the rules depend on when you entered Canada, and an officer may grant a longer stay in some cases. Before your status expires you must leave Canada or apply to extend, and it is your responsibility to keep a valid visitor status.
Super Visa or ordinary visitor visa
A visitor visa suits shorter visits and has fewer requirements, but a stay is normally up to six months. The Super Visa takes more preparation but allows long visits without repeated applications. If your parents plan to stay many months a year, the Super Visa often makes sense. If they plan one short visit, it may not be worth the cost of a year of insurance. Sponsorship of parents is a separate route, with its own rules and annual limits.
Common mistakes
- Insurance that does not meet the rules. A quote, a short policy or a policy from the wrong insurer.
- Income documents that do not match the family size.
- A letter of invitation missing family details.
- Medical exam booked late.
- Weak ties to the home country for a long stay.
When a consultant can help
A consultation can help you decide between a Super Visa, a visitor visa and sponsorship, check the host's income against the table, and review the insurance and documents before you apply. We cannot promise approval.
Frequently asked questions
Who can invite me on a Super Visa?
Your child or grandchild, if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, at least 18 and living in Canada, and meet the minimum income.
How much health insurance do I need?
Coverage of at least $100,000 for emergencies, valid for at least one year from your entry, with proof that it has been paid, not only a quote.
Can I buy insurance from a company outside Canada?
Since January 28, 2025, yes, if the insurer is authorized by Canada's financial regulator and listed by it, and the policy comes with a statement confirming that.
How long can I stay?
Five years at a time if you applied on or after June 22, 2023.
Is a Super Visa the same as sponsoring a parent?
No. A Super Visa is a long-stay visitor option. Sponsorship leads to permanent residence and has separate requirements and limits.
Can you guarantee approval?
No. IRCC makes the decision. We can help you prepare a complete application.
Related: read about visitor visas, spousal sponsorship, immigrating from overseas and refusals and procedural fairness letters, see all Canadian immigration services, or learn how we work.
Bringing your parents to Canada?
Book a 30-minute online consultation with Nasir Khan, RCIC-IRB # R1053580. You will get an honest look at your options, including when you are not yet eligible.
This page is general information, not legal or individual immigration advice. Immigration decisions are made by government authorities such as IRCC, and no consultant can guarantee a result. Rules, fees and processing times change, so confirm current requirements on the official IRCC website before you act.