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Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant · RCIC

Temporary residence: visit, study and work

Super Visa

Host income and insurance checked before you apply, with an invitation letter that matches the rest of the file.

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The short answer

The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents stay in Canada for up to 5 years per entry. The host child or grandchild must meet a minimum income, provide a signed invitation letter, and the visitor needs at least one year of Canadian (or approved) medical insurance and an immigration medical exam.

Reviewed by Gurvinder Singh, RCIC ·

Super Visa

A multiple-entry visa for long family visits.

  • Up to 5 years per entry
  • Host meets minimum income
  • 1 year of medical insurance

About

Applicants must apply from outside Canada. The host must meet the low-income cut-off (LICO) minimum for their family size, which can include the visiting parents. Insurance must be from a Canadian insurer, or an approved foreign insurer, and valid for at least one year from entry.

How I help

  • Host income and family-size calculation
  • Invitation letter and insurance check
  • Re-application after a refusal
  • Parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or PRs
  • Families whose host meets the minimum income
  • Visa-exempt parents who want longer stays than 6 months

What decides these files

Where applications go wrong, and how I prevent it

  • Counting the family size correctly

    The income threshold depends on the host’s household plus the visitors. Getting the count wrong is a common refusal reason.

  • Insurance that meets every condition

    Coverage amount, duration, payment terms and insurer all have rules. I check the policy before you pay for it.

Fees and timelines change: check IRCC’s current processing times (opens in a new tab).

Questions

Super Visa: common questions

How long can parents stay in Canada on a Super Visa?

Up to 5 years per entry, and they can apply to extend their stay while in Canada. The visa itself can be valid for up to 10 years.

What is the income requirement for a Super Visa?

The host (the child or grandchild in Canada) must meet the low-income cut-off for their family size, which includes the visiting parents or grandparents. IRCC updates the table regularly.

Can a Super Visa be approved after a refusal?

Often, yes. Most refusals relate to income, insurance or ties. Once the reason is clear, usually from the refusal letter and GCMS notes, a corrected application can address it directly.

What medical insurance does a Super Visa need?

At least one year of emergency medical insurance valid from the date of entry, covering healthcare, hospitalization and repatriation, for a minimum coverage amount set by IRCC (currently $100,000). It must be from a Canadian insurer or an IRCC-approved foreign insurer. I check the policy meets every condition before you pay for it.

Can parents work or study on a Super Visa?

No. A Super Visa is a long-stay visitor status, not a work or study authorization. A parent or grandparent who wants to work or study would need the appropriate permit, which is a separate application.

How is a Super Visa different from sponsoring my parents?

A Super Visa is a fast way to have parents or grandparents stay as long-term visitors; it does not grant permanent residence. The Parents and Grandparents Program (sponsorship) leads to PR but is limited by an annual intake and a lottery. Many families use a Super Visa while waiting for a sponsorship opportunity.

Related services

Often part of the same plan

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Official sources (1)

General information only, not legal advice.

Talk to an RCIC about super visa.

Book a consultation with Gurvinder Singh, RCIC, by video, phone or in person in Surrey.

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