If you want your parents or grandparents to visit you in Canada for an extended period, the Super Visa Canada is probably your best option.
Unlike a regular visitor visa, which only allows a stay of up to six months, the parent and grandparent Super Visa lets your loved ones stay in Canada for up to five years at a time.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the Super Visa Canada requirements, application process, costs, extensions, and more.
Let’s jump in.
What is a Super Visa Canada?
The Canada Super Visa for parents and grandparents is a long-term, multiple-entry visa. It allows eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit for up to five years per stay (extendable by 2 years), with the visa itself valid for up to 10 years.
The visa is also known as a parent and grandparent visa Canada.
💡 Key Benefits of the Super Visa:
✅ Stay in Canada for up to 5 years per visit (extendable by 2 years)
✅ No need to renew status every 6 months like with a visitor visa
✅ Valid for 10 years, allowing multiple entries
✅ Faster processing times compared to parent and grandparent sponsorship
The Super Visa for Canada allows parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time.
A Super Visa is valid for 10 years, so the parent or grandparent can visit at many times as they want within those 10 years as long as each trip is less than five years. That means that a Super Visa is a multi-entry visa.
People who already have a Super Visa and are in Canada are able to request to extend their stay by up to two years. So in effect you’ll be able to stay for up to seven years at a time. More on this later in the article.
If the visit to Canada is less than six months at a time then you don’t need a Super Visa. All you would need is a standard visitor visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) if you’re from a visa-exempt country. You can check out which one you’ll need here.
Just to reiterate – a Super Visa for Canada is only available to parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Super Visa Canada requirements
Eligibility for Super Visa Canada
To qualify for a Super Visa for Canada, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You must be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- You must receive a written invitation from your child or grandchild in Canada.
- Your child or grandchild must meet the minimum income threshold (LICO) to support your stay.
- You must have medical insurance from a Canadian or designated foreign provider for at least one year.
- You must pass a medical exam before being approved.
- You must apply from outside Canada and be allowed to enter the country.
Super Visa income requirements
Your child or grandchild must meet a minimum income threshold, known as the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO). This is based on the size of their family unit, including:
- The host (child or grandchild)
- Their spouse or common-law partner
- Their dependent children
- Any other individuals they are financially responsible for
- You (the parent or grandparent applying for the Super Visa Canada)
Your child or grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner’s income can also be included to meet the Super Visa income requirement; not just the income of your child or grandchild.
💰 You can check the latest Super Visa income requirements here.
Medical insurance requirements for Super Visa
To be eligible for the Super Visa, you must have valid medical insurance covering:
✔ At least $100,000 in coverage
✔ A minimum of 1 year from the date of entry
✔ Emergency healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation
You will need to have bought this before you apply for the Super Visa. i.e. a valid policy document is one piece of evidence you will need to submit for with your application.
You can read the full requirements for the Super Visa insurance including how much it will cost and how to go about getting it here.
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Other requirements
Along with the concrete requirements outlined above, Immigration, Refuges and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will also consider your application to ensure that you’re a genuine visitor and will leave Canada at the end of your visit.
IRCC don’t publish the exact things the will assess you on but the sort of things they’ll consider here are your ties to your home country, family and finances and overall stability of your home country.
Required Documents for a Super Visa
When applying for a parent and grandparent Super Visa, you’ll need to submit:
- Proof of relationship: Document to show you being the parent or grandparent of the Canadian citizen or permanent resident such as birth certificate, baptismal certificate or other documents naming you as the parent or grandparent.
- Letter of invitation: A signed letter from your child or grandchild inviting you to come to Canada.
If your child or grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner’s income is needed to meet the low income cut-off (LICO) threshold then then an invitation letter is also needed from them.
The letter has to include:- A promise of financial support for the full length of your visit
- A list showing your child or grandchild’s family composition (dependents including spouse, children or other relatives that are financially dependent)
- A copy of your child or grandchild’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document. You can get more information about how to write the letter here.
- Proof of income: One of the following documents to prove that your child or grandchild meets the Super Visa income requirement as outlined above. If you need to include the income of your child or grandchild’s spouse or common-law partner to meet the minimum threshold you will need to include one of these documents for them too.
- Most recent copy of their federal income tax Notice of Assessment (NOA). They can access this at the Canada Revenue Agency’s online service here.
- Most recent copy of their T4 or T1 documents.
- A letter from their employer stating job title, job description, date of hiring and salary.
- Their employment insurance pay stubs
- A letter from an accountant confirming annual income if they are self-employed.
- Proof of other sources of income such as pension statement or investments.
- Super visa insurance policy: Proof that you have medical insurance in place for one year from your date of arrival in Canada and for coverage of at least $100,000. Get the full details on this here.
- Medical exam results: If you took the medical exam upfront then you must include a copy of the IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report in your online application. If you took it after you submitted your application you don’t need to do anything more – the results will be sent through to IRCC. Get more details on the process for medical exams here.
The exact documents you will need will vary depending on your situation but in general the above is the minimum supporting evidence you will need.
There will likely be other documents you require as supporting evidence.
For example you may need to submit biometric data (fingerprints) if you’re not from a visa-exempt country. The application process (see section below) will confirm if you need to submit biometric or not.
The supporting documents should be in French or English. If they are not, then you’ll need to have the documents translated before you submit them. There are details of what’s accepted as an official translation at the link below.
You should review the IRCC instruction guide for more information on all the documentation you might need.
How to apply for a Super Visa
Applying for a Super Visa for parents or grandparents is straightforward. You can apply online (recommended) or by paper application.
1️⃣ Gather all required documents (see list above)
2️⃣ Complete the necessary application forms
3️⃣ Pay the $100 CAD application fee (+ biometrics fee if applicable)
4️⃣ Submit your application online here.
📅 Processing times vary, so check the latest estimates here.
Cost of Super Visa Canada
💳 Super Visa application fee: $100 CAD per person
💳 Biometrics (if required): $85 CAD per person ($170 for a family of two+)
💳 eTA (if required): $7 CAD per person
💳 Super Visa medical insurance: Starts at ~$800 per year (varies based on age, health, and provider)
🔎 Find out how to get the cheapest Super Visa insurance here.
Do you need an eTA as well as a Super Visa?
If you are from a visa-exempt country and you plan on entering Canada by air, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) after your Super Visa application is approved. IRCC will provide you with a letter confirming your Super Visa approval for you to show the border agent when you arrive in Canada.
The eTA will be linked to your passport so you need to travel with the passport you used to apply for your eTA and the letter of approval.
You can check out if you’re from a visa exempt country here.
Super Visa vs. Visitor Visa vs. Sponsorship
| Feature | Super Visa | Visitor Visa | Parent & Grandparent Sponsorship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max stay per trip | Up to 5 years | 6 months | Indefinite (PR status) |
| Validity | 10 years | 10 years | Permanent Residency |
| Medical insurance required? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (PR healthcare) |
| Income requirement | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Processing time | Moderate | Fast | Very slow (lottery system) |
Extending a Super Visa
If you want to extend your stay in Canada on a Super Visa then you need to apply for a visitor record. It is this that will allow you to stay longer than the expiry date on your current status.
The cost to apply to extend your stay is $100 per person.
You must apply at least 30 days before your current status expires.
You can learn more about the process and how to apply here.
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The Super Visa Canada is a fantastic option for parents and grandparents who want to spend extended time with their families. With longer stays, multiple entries, and a straightforward application process, it’s one of the best ways to bring your loved ones to Canada.
Got questions about the parent and grandparent Super Visa? Drop them in the comments below—I’d love to help! 💬
Hi
Is there a time limit that you need to be outside of Canada after staying for the initial first two year period, before you are allowed re-entry?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Al, the super visa allows you to enter as many times as you want within the 10 years (as long as you meet the requirements) and there’s no set minimum period you need to be outside the country between each trip. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
Hi Andrew
Thanks for your reply. So technically you can do two years, Cross the border for a day and go back in and do a further two years, five times lol? Or would that be at the border control discretion if they felt that was taking advantage of the system?
Like you say that would be totally down to the CBSA agent you get at the border. You could be fine or they could only authorise re-entry for a short amount of time for example. If it were me and I was just looking for a way to extend my parents’ stay, I’d go through the proper process of applying to extend as per the link above.
Definitely!
Do we need to show any funds from Parents end? If I am sponsoring my parents and have sufficient funds and income to support their visit and stay, Do I need to show any financial statements from parents end? You mentioned other supporting documentation could be required (Any specific examples other than what you listed above). I have all of the docs you mentioned above, just trying to understand if anything else is required.
Hi there. There’s no blanket requirement to evidence funds from you parents end, only from the sponsor (i.e. you). If you have all the docs mentioned then you’re good to start the application – just follow what your application asks for. Each application is different and the exact documents can vary depending on your specifics like the visa office you’re applying to so just provide whatever documentation it asks for.
Should we have certain funds in our Savings account while applying? If i don’t have any money currently in my savings account but i provide bank statements and T4 showing i get steady salary that exceeds the minimum required gross income yearly, can i still apply?
Hello there. Yes you can still apply. The evidence that you need for the income requirement is one of the documents listed in point 3 in the “What supporting documents you need for super visa” section above. You can also check out the IRCC instructions guide using the link at the bottom of that section for more details.
Hi there! Thank you for the article, it’s very informative. Is there a set timeline by which one needs to make first entry into Canada after the supervisa is issued?
Thank you!
You’re welcome – glad you found it useful! No – there’s no fixed timeline for the first entry.
Greetings from Pennsylvania,
Medical insurance-wise for US grandparents – we have Medicare coverage here in the US. Does that qualify for the insurance required by the super visa? Or does it need to be specifically issued by a Canadian insurance provider?
Hi Bill,
It needs to be insurance from a Canadian insurer that covers medical expenses in Canada. So Medicare wouldn’t be acceptable.
Hi Andrew! I plan to settle down with my Canada PR daughter in August 2023. When is a good time to start applying for my supervisa? And when do I actually buy the insurance, before I apply for the supervisa or before I take my flight inti Canada? Thanks Andrew!
Hi Rachel,
You need to have the super visa insurance purchased before you apply for your super visa – you will need to include evidence of the purchased policy as part of the application.
Hope this helps and good luck!