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.
Who Needs a Super Visa?
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 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 offer eligible coverage for super visa holders.
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 naturalized citizens to take a full part in the Canadian labor force.
The spouse or common-law partner of a Super Visa applicant may also come to Canada on the same status, but other dependents 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.
Super Visa: What do I need to do?
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.
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.
Super Visa letter of invitation
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).
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.
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.
