Super Visa
For most families, the Super Visa is the practical answer to the parent and grandparent question, considerably faster than sponsorship, and without the intake lottery.
Long-stay multi-entry visitor visa
Parents and grandparents of citizens and PRs
Sponsor income and qualifying insurance
The realistic route for parents and grandparents
The Super Visa is a multi-entry temporary resident visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It permits stays considerably longer per entry than an ordinary visitor visa.
It exists because parent and grandparent sponsorship is subject to intake limits that leave many families waiting years with no certainty. The Super Visa gives most of the practical benefit, extended time together in Canada, without that wait.
Three things distinguish it from an ordinary visitor application: the child or grandchild in Canada must meet a minimum income requirement, the applicant must hold qualifying medical insurance, and a signed letter of invitation and support is required.
Who this is for
The Super Visa is usually the practical answer for parents and grandparents, particularly while sponsorship intake is closed or the wait is long.
Not sure which one fits?
That is exactly what the free assessment answers, in writing, at no cost.
Parents and grandparents
Direct parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Other relatives are not eligible.
Families waiting on sponsorship
Where sponsorship intake is closed or the wait is long, this delivers most of the practical benefit far sooner.
Families needing extended stays
Where an ordinary visitor visa’s shorter permitted stay does not meet the family’s needs.
Families with care responsibilities
Where a parent needs to be present for an extended period for family or health reasons.
How we prepare Super Visa applications
Income verification
We confirm the Canadian child or grandchild meets the minimum income requirement and how it will be evidenced before anything else.
Insurance guidance
Medical insurance must meet specific requirements as to coverage, duration and provider. We explain what qualifies so you do not buy the wrong policy.
Invitation and supporting documents
The letter of invitation and support, relationship evidence and accommodation details are prepared together and cross-checked.
Filing and medical exams
The application is filed complete, and we manage the immigration medical examination and any follow-up requests.
Not sure this is the right route?
Send us your situation and Jagdeep Kailey, RCIC #R535381, will tell you which routes are realistically open to you. Free, and no obligation.
What is required
- The applicant is a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- A signed letter of invitation and financial support from the child or grandchild in Canada
- Proof the inviting child or grandchild meets the minimum necessary income
- Qualifying medical insurance meeting the required coverage amount and duration
- A completed immigration medical examination
- Satisfying the officer of genuine temporary intent, as with any visitor application
Income thresholds, insurance requirements and approved provider rules are set by IRCC and updated periodically. We confirm the current figures before you purchase a policy or file.
Get a free assessment
A written review of your situation, read personally by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. You will get an honest answer, including when the answer is not yet.
Where applications commonly stall
Every file is handled personally by Jagdeep Kailey, RCIC #R535381. Here is where that makes a measurable difference on this route.
Income evidence assembled properly
Notices of assessment, employment letters and supporting records need to demonstrate the threshold is genuinely met for the correct period.
Insurance that actually qualifies
Policies are frequently bought that fall short on coverage amount, duration or provider eligibility. We check before you purchase.
Invitation drafted correctly
The letter has specific content requirements. A generic letter is a common reason for a request for further documents.
Temporary intent still applies
A Super Visa is still a visitor visa. The genuine temporary resident test applies, and long permitted stays make officers attentive to it.
Common Super Visa problems
These are the problems we see most often in files that arrive after something has already gone wrong. Almost every one is preventable at the preparation stage.
Where these applications fail
- Insurance purchased before checking the coverage and provider requirements
- Income that falls short of the threshold, or is evidenced for the wrong period
- An invitation letter missing required content about accommodation and financial support
- Overlooking that the temporary intent test still applies to a long-stay visa
- Missing or incomplete immigration medical examinations
- Assuming the visa permits work or study, it permits neither
Frequently asked
Hover or tap any question to open it.
How long can my parents stay?
The Super Visa allows a considerably longer stay per entry than an ordinary visitor visa, and it is issued as a multi-entry visa valid for an extended period. The exact permitted stay is set by IRCC policy, and we will confirm the current position.
Is the Super Visa better than sponsorship?
They serve different purposes. Sponsorship leads to permanent residence but is subject to intake limits and long waits. The Super Visa is far faster and more certain but remains temporary status. Many families pursue the Super Visa while waiting for a sponsorship opportunity.
What insurance do I need?
A policy from a qualifying provider meeting minimum coverage and duration requirements, covering healthcare, hospitalisation and repatriation. Requirements are specific and change, so confirm before purchasing, buying the wrong policy is one of the most common problems we see.
What income do I need to show?
The inviting child or grandchild must meet a minimum necessary income based on family size, evidenced through tax documents. We assess this at the outset because it determines whether the application is viable.
Can my parents work on a Super Visa?
No. It is a visitor visa and does not authorise work or, beyond very limited short courses, study.
You may also need
Family Sponsorship
Bringing a spouse, partner, child, parent or grandparent to Canada as a permanent resident.
Visitor Visas
Temporary resident visas for visits, family events and business travel, including extensions from within Canada.
Refusals & Reapplications
Understanding why an application was refused, and building a reapplication that answers the actual reasons.
Start with a free assessment
Tell us about your situation and Jagdeep Kailey, RCIC, will review it personally. No cost, no obligation.