Canada Super Visa Parent or Grandparent

What is the Super Visa?

The Super Visa is an option for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit their family in Canada. These individuals may be eligible to apply for the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa to visit their family in Canada for up to 2 years without the need to renew their status.

What are the requirements for a Super Visa application?

To obtain a Parent or Grandparent Super Visa for Canada, applicants must have valid emergency medical insurance. Super Visa applications need to provide proof that they have private emergency medical insurance valid for a minimum of 1 year, from a Canadian insurance company and that it:

• Covers emergency medical care, hospitalization and repatriation
• Provides a minimum coverage of $100,000
• Is valid for each entry to Canada and available for review by a port of entry officer

For more details, visit the Government of Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Super Visa website.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a super visa, you must have a host who

• is your child or grandchild
• is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or registered Indian who must provide a copy of
  • the Canadian citizenship document of the host (and their spouse or common-law-partner, if applicable) or
  • the permanent resident document of the host (and their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable) or
  • a Secure Certificate of Indian Status or Certificate of Indian Status (status card)
• is at least 18 years old and lives in Canada
• meets or exceeds the minimum necessary income
• signs a letter inviting you to Canada that includes
  • a promise of financial support for the duration of your visit
    • Your child or grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner can co-sign the letter if they are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
  • the list (including name and date of birth) and number of people included when you calculate your family size to determine minimum necessary income

You must also

• be outside Canada when you submit your application for a super visa
• have your visa printed by a visa office outside Canada (wait for visa office instructions)
• be allowed to enter Canada
• take an immigration medical exam
• meet certain other conditions

You can’t include dependants in this application.

Health insurance

You must have proof of a health insurance policy from either

• a Canadian insurance company
• an insurance company outside Canada that is approved by the minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (more information will be available in the coming months)

The health insurance policy should

• be valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry
• be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit (quotes aren’t accepted)
• cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation
• provide a minimum of $100,000 of emergency coverage

As a super visa holder, you should have a valid health insurance policy while in Canada. If your health insurance will expire before you leave Canada, you may need to renew or maintain your health insurance during your stay. Private health insurance must be valid for each entry to Canada.

Be prepared to show your proof of paid insurance to a border services officer when you enter Canada.

Other conditions we consider

We consider several things before we decide if you can come to Canada. You must be a genuine visitor to Canada who will leave by choice at the end of your visit.

When you apply, we’ll consider

• your ties to your home country
• the purpose of your visit
• your family and finances
• the overall economic and political stability of your home country

Are you visa-exempt? You can still apply for a super visa.

If you don’t need a visitor visa to enter Canada, you can still get a super visa to stay in Canada for 5 years. If we approve your application, we’ll issue you a letter to give to a border services officer when you arrive in Canada.

If you travel by air, you may also need to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) separately to allow you to travel to and enter Canada. The eTA will be electronically linked to your passport, so you need to travel with the passport you used to apply for your eTA, and any supporting documents for your super visa application.

Document navigation

• Letter of invitation from your child or grandchild
• Your letter of invitation from your host child or grandchild must include
• a promise of financial support for the duration of your visit
• the list (including name and date of birth) and number of people included in the family size calculation
• How to calculate family size
• To confirm your host’s minimum necessary income, include the following people in the family size count:
• yourself and any other super visa applicant applying at the same time (such as your spouse)
• host child or grandchild
• host’s spouse (which might include a separated spouse) or common-law partner
• dependent children of the host and of their spouse or common-law partner
  • Children who meet the definition of a dependent child must be included in the count, regardless of custody and child support arrangements.
• previously approved super visa applicants
  • These are super visa holders that were in another letter of invitation, signed by the host or the host’s spouse or common-law partner, that is still applicable.
• previously sponsored individuals
  • These are individuals the host or co-signer has previously sponsored (or acted as a co-signer for) where the duration of the undertaking is still in effect.
• Get examples of how to calculate your family size.
• Minimum necessary income requirements
• You must provide proof that your host child or grandchild meets the minimum necessary income. Your host child’s or grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the letter of invitation and provide proof of income if required to meet the minimum necessary income.
• Acceptable documents include
• the last notice of assessment (NOA) issued by the Canada Revenue Agency
• T4 or T1 for the last tax year
• pay stubs for the most recent 12-month period available
• Employment Insurance benefit statements
• a letter from an accountant confirming the annual income, if self‑employed
• proof of other sources of income (for example, pension statements)
• a letter from the employer stating the job title, job description and salary
• bank statements
• Proof of health insurance
• You must provide proof of payment for health insurance from a Canadian insurance company, or an insurance company outside Canada that has been approved by the minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. More information on approved insurance companies outside of Canada will be available in the coming months.
• This medical insurance should
• be valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry
• be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit (quotes aren’t accepted)
• cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation
• provide a minimum coverage of $100,000, and
• be valid for each entry to Canada and be available for review by a border services officer, upon request
• Proof of completing a medical exam
• You must provide proof that you had a medical exam with an approved panel physician.
• Proof that your host is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or Registered Indian
• You must provide proof that your host is one of the following:
• a Canadian citizen: Option 1 of 3
• Provide a copy of Canadian citizenship for your host (and their spouse or common-law partner if applicable).
• a permanent resident: Option 2 of 3
• Provide a copy of a permanent resident document for your host (and their spouse or common-law-partner, if applicable).
• a registered Indian: Option 3 of 3
• Provide a copy of a Secure Certificate of Indian Status or Certificate of Indian Status (status card) for your host (and their spouse or common-law-partner, if applicable).
• Proof of your relationship to your host
• You must prove that you’re the parent or grandparent of your host.
• Acceptable documents include
• a copy of the host’s birth certificate or baptismal certificate
• another official document naming you as the parent or grandparent of your host
• Apply online with the IRCC Portal
• Follow these steps to apply online.
• 1. Create an account and sign in
• If it’s your first time using the IRCC Portal, we’ll ask for your email and give you a code to sign up for an account.
• 2. Complete the online form and upload your documents
• After you answer all the questions, you’ll get a list of documents you need to upload.
• This includes the documents that support your visa application.
• Check the list of documents based on your situation.
• 3. Pay with a credit card
• We accept credit cards and prepaid cards from Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, JCB® and UnionPay®.
• After you apply
• Processing time ^?
• Varies by country
• Check processing times
• Find out what happens after you apply for a super visa.
• Your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)
• Book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays. Find out how to give biometrics.
• Processing your super visa application
• We’ll check your application to make sure you have all the documents you need.
• If it’s incomplete, your application may be refused.
• We may also ask you to
• go to an interview with one of our officials
• send more information
• get a medical exam
• get a police certificate
• We’ll tell you what to do if you need to do any of these.
• We process most applications in a few months or less. Processing times depend on the visa office and if you need to do any extra steps (listed above).
• If your application is approved, you will receive a letter with instructions to submit your passport to receive a visa. If you’re from a visa-exempt country, we’ll issue you a letter to give to a border services officer when you arrive in Canada.
• If your application is refused, we’ll send you an explanation.
• When you arrive in Canada
• Identity check
• When you arrive, we’ll check your identity to make sure that you’re the same person who was approved to travel to Canada.
• If you enter Canada at one of 10 major Canadian airports
  • Your fingerprints will be checked automatically at a primary inspection kiosk.
  • The system will check your identity against the information collected when your application was submitted.
• If you enter Canada at smaller airports and all land ports of entry
  • Your fingerprints may be checked if we refer you to a secondary inspection, where a border services officer will use a fingerprint verification device to check your fingerprints.
• Have your documents ready
• When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
• The officer will ask to see your passport or travel documents. You should also bring the documents you used for your super visa application (opens in a new tab) . Make sure these documents aren’t packed in your luggage.
• A valid super visa and travel document (passport, titre de voyage or Certificate of Identity) does not guarantee that you can enter Canada.
• Accompanying minor children
• You enter Canada
• If you pass the identity check and meet the entry requirements, the border services officer will stamp your passport, allowing you to stay in Canada for 5 years.
• You won’t be allowed into Canada if you give false or incomplete information. You must convince the officer that
• you’re eligible for entry into Canada
• you’ll leave Canada at the end of your approved stay
• It’s important to make sure that your passport is valid during your stay in Canada.
• Living in Canada
• Canada may be very different from your home country, which means there’s a lot to learn about it before you arrive. Get to know Canada, including its climate, people, government and way of life.
• Work or study in Canada
• A super visa doesn’t authorize you to work or study in Canada. Most visitors to Canada need a permit to work or study in Canada.
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