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Extended Family Visits

Super Visa for Parents & Grandparents

The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada for extended periods — up to five years per entry — on a multiple-entry visa valid for up to ten years.

What is the Super Visa?

The Super Visa is a multi-entry temporary resident visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Unlike a standard visitor visa, which typically allows stays of up to six months per entry, the Super Visa allows an initial authorized stay of up to five years per entry (since August 2022, increased from the previous two-year limit). The visa itself may be valid for up to ten years. A Super Visa holder can also apply to extend their stay from within Canada by up to two more years per extension. This makes it well suited for families where elderly parents or grandparents want to spend extended time with their children and grandchildren in Canada.

Up to 5 years per entry (since Aug 2022) Multi-entry, valid up to 10 years Min. $100,000 Canadian health insurance Host must meet income threshold Parents & grandparents of citizens or PRs only

Super Visa vs regular visitor visa

Super Visa

Up to 5 years per stay, multiple entries, valid up to 10 years. Requires specific Canadian health insurance, medical exam, and proof of host's income. More requirements but significantly longer stays — ideal for extended family time.

Regular Visitor Visa (TRV)

Typically up to 6 months per stay at CBSA's discretion. No health insurance or host income requirement. Simpler to obtain but limits the length of each visit. Suitable for shorter trips where the Super Visa requirements cannot be met.

Who can apply for a Super Visa?

The applicant must be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 years old and lives in Canada. Adoptive parents and step-parents in genuine parent-child relationships may also qualify. The Canadian child or grandchild (the host) must meet the income requirements and provide a signed invitation letter.

Canadian health insurance: what's required

Every Super Visa applicant must have valid private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company before the application is submitted:

  • Minimum coverage amountThe policy must provide a minimum of $100,000 coverage for health care costs, hospitalization, and repatriation.
  • Minimum validity periodThe policy must be valid for at least one full year from the date of the applicant's expected entry into Canada — not just the application date.
  • Canadian provider onlyThe insurance must be issued by a Canadian insurance company. Foreign travel insurance or international health plans do not typically satisfy this requirement.
  • Policy confirmation — not a quoteA binding policy confirmation document must be submitted with the application. A quote or estimate is not accepted by IRCC.
Keep insurance current throughout the stay

If the Super Visa holder's stay extends beyond the initial insurance period, the policy must be renewed to maintain continuous coverage. A lapse in insurance coverage is a condition violation and can create problems for extensions and future applications. Plan insurance renewals well before expiry.

Host income requirement

The Canadian child or grandchild inviting the parent or grandparent must demonstrate their household income meets the minimum necessary income threshold, currently based on the Low-Income Measure (LIM) as published by Statistics Canada and updated by IRCC. The threshold increases with household size — it accounts for all persons living in the household, including the persons being sponsored to visit. Documents typically used to prove income include:

  • Notice of Assessment (NOA)The most recent CRA Notice of Assessment confirming the host's income for the prior tax year. IRCC considers this the primary income document.
  • Employment income letterA letter from the employer confirming current employment, position, and annual salary — to show income is ongoing at the time of application.
  • Recent pay stubsTwo or three recent pay stubs confirming the host is still employed and earning the income shown in the NOA.
  • Self-employment documentsFor self-employed hosts: T1 General return, business registration, and recent financial statements to document annual income reliably.

The current income threshold for your household size is published on the official Government of Canada website. Verify the amount applicable to your situation before applying — thresholds are updated periodically.

Invitation letter from the Canadian host

The Canadian host must prepare and sign a written invitation letter. To be effective, the letter should include: the host's full name and Canadian address; their immigration status (citizen or PR) with supporting proof; the names of all persons the applicant will stay with; the relationship to the applicant; the expected dates of the visit; confirmation that the host meets the income requirement for their family size; and a commitment to financially support the applicant if needed during the visit.

Medical examination

Most Super Visa applicants are required to complete a medical examination with an IRCC-designated physician (panel physician) in their home country before or at the time of applying. The exam assesses whether the applicant poses a health or safety risk or would place excessive demand on Canada's publicly funded health services. Pre-existing health conditions should be disclosed honestly — they do not automatically result in refusal but may require additional documentation or review.

Super Visa application process

  1. 1
    Confirm relationship and host eligibility Verify the parent-child or grandparent relationship is eligible. Confirm the Canadian host's household income meets the current LIM threshold for their family size.
  2. 2
    Purchase qualifying Canadian health insurance Arrange a minimum $100,000 policy from a Canadian insurer, valid for at least one year from the applicant's expected entry date. Obtain the policy confirmation document.
  3. 3
    Prepare the invitation letter and income documents The Canadian host writes the signed invitation letter and gathers NOA, employment letter, and pay stubs confirming current income.
  4. 4
    Complete the medical examination The applicant books an appointment with an IRCC-approved panel physician in their home country and completes the required examination. Medical results are submitted directly to IRCC by the physician.
  5. 5
    Submit the Super Visa application to IRCC Apply online with all required forms, insurance confirmation, host income documents, invitation letter, and biometrics enrollment at a VAC if required.
  6. 6
    Enter Canada; CBSA grants authorized stay The CBSA officer at the port of entry determines the actual length of stay, up to 5 years. Extensions of up to 2 additional years can be applied for from within Canada.

Documents typically needed

  • Valid passport of the parent or grandparent applicant
  • Proof of the host's Canadian citizenship or PR (passport, citizenship certificate, or PR card)
  • Signed invitation letter from the Canadian host
  • Host's proof of income: recent NOA, employment letter, and pay stubs
  • Canadian health insurance policy confirmation (min. $100,000 coverage, min. 1 year validity)
  • Medical exam results from an IRCC-designated panel physician
  • Passport photos meeting IRCC specifications
  • Relationship documentation: birth certificates, marriage certificates, adoption records (as applicable to establish the parent-child or grandparent relationship)
  • Prior Canadian or international travel history (if applicable)
How we help

We review the invitation letter and financial documents to ensure they meet IRCC's requirements before the application is filed. We help identify any concerns — prior immigration history, prior refusals, health conditions, or borderline host income — and address them with appropriate supporting evidence. For parents already in Canada on a Super Visa, we advise on extensions and insurance renewal timing to maintain continuous legal status.

Super Visa — Frequently Asked Questions

The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years per entry (since August 2, 2022, increased from 2 years). The visa itself can be valid for up to 10 years and is multi-entry, meaning they can travel in and out of Canada multiple times during the validity period without needing a new visa.

Applicants must purchase a minimum of $100,000 in Canadian health insurance coverage from a Canadian insurance company. The policy must be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry, cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation, and be available for review by a CBSA officer at the port of entry. Insurance from Indian or other foreign providers does not qualify — it must be from a Canadian insurer.

The sponsoring child or grandchild must meet IRCC's minimum income threshold, which is based on Statistics Canada's Low Income Measure (LIM) for their household size. IRCC updates these thresholds periodically. The sponsor must include proof of income (e.g., Notice of Assessment, employment letter, T4 slips) with the Super Visa application. An RCIC can help verify your household income against current thresholds.

Yes. Parents and grandparents from India — including Punjab — whose children or grandchildren are Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for the Super Visa. The Super Visa is a popular option for Indian families who want to spend extended time in Canada without going through the lengthy Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) lottery.

The Super Visa is a temporary resident visa that allows extended visits to Canada (up to 5 years per entry) but does not grant permanent residence. The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a permanent residence pathway that allows parents and grandparents to live in Canada permanently. PGP applications are intake-limited and selected through an interest to sponsor process. The Super Visa is generally faster to obtain and remains a popular alternative while waiting for PGP opportunities.

Super Visa processing times vary. IRCC publishes current processing time estimates on its website based on where you apply from. Applications from India may differ from Canadian domestic timelines. A complete, well-organized application with all required documents (proof of relationship, sponsor's income, Canadian health insurance, and applicant financial ties to home country) generally processes faster than incomplete applications.

Super Visa requirements including health insurance minimums, authorized stay lengths, income thresholds, and application forms are set by IRCC and CBSA and may change. The 5-year stay-per-entry provision became effective August 2, 2022. Income thresholds are based on Statistics Canada LIM figures and are updated by IRCC. This page is general information only and does not constitute legal advice or guarantee visa approval. Verify all current Super Visa requirements on the official Government of Canada website before applying.