Super Visa QuoteComplete Super Visa Application Guide 2025-2026
Step-by-step guide to applying for a Canada Super Visa, including eligibility, LICO, insurance, medical exams, invitation letters, biometrics, and approval tips.
The Canada Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents visit for years at a time instead of months. Under the current rules, an approved Super Visa holder can usually stay up to five years per entry, and the visa itself can be valid for up to ten years — which is why so many families choose it over a regular visitor visa.
The trade-off is that the application has more moving parts. IRCC wants evidence about the relationship, the host child's income, private medical insurance, and sometimes an immigration medical exam. Most refusals and delays we see are not because a family was ineligible — they happen because one of those pieces was missing, expired, or didn't meet the requirement. This guide walks through every step in the order families actually complete them, with the traps to avoid at each stage.
Super Visa at a glance
- Who can apply: Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- Stay per entry: Usually up to 5 years, extendable from inside Canada
- Visa validity: Up to 10 years with multiple entries
- Insurance required: Minimum $100,000 emergency medical coverage, valid at least 1 year
- Income test: Host child must meet the LICO threshold for their family size
- Where to apply: Online through the IRCC portal, from outside Canada
Step 1: Confirm who qualifies
The Super Visa is only for parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Spouses or common-law partners of the applicant can be included on the same application, but siblings, aunts, uncles, or adult children cannot — they would apply for a regular visitor visa instead.
The applicant must also be admissible to Canada. Past visa refusals, overstays in any country, or certain medical and criminal findings can affect the outcome. None of these is automatically fatal, but they should be addressed honestly in the application rather than left unexplained — officers can see prior history, and an unexplained gap hurts more than a well-documented one.
Step 2: Check the host meets the LICO income requirement
The child or grandchild in Canada acts as the host, and IRCC expects their household income to meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for their family size — counting everyone they already support plus the visiting parents. A family of four hosting two parents, for example, is assessed as a family of six.
Income is usually shown with the most recent Notice of Assessment, T4 slips, an employment letter, and recent pay stubs. Self-employed hosts can use business registration and tax documents. If one spouse's income falls short, the host's spouse or common-law partner can co-sign the invitation letter so both incomes count. LICO figures are updated by IRCC regularly — check the current table before applying, or see our detailed LICO guide linked below for the current thresholds and proof strategies.
Step 3: Buy medical insurance that meets IRCC requirements
Proof of paid private medical insurance is the requirement most specific to the Super Visa. The policy must provide at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, be valid for at least one year from the planned date of entry, and cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation. Since the January 2025 updates, the policy generally needs to come from a Canadian insurer or a foreign provider authorized under OSFI rules — most families keep it simple and use a Canadian insurer.
Two practical notes. First, a quote is not enough: IRCC expects proof that the policy is paid, either in full or in instalments with a committed payment plan. Second, buying before the visa decision carries little financial risk — most insurers refund the premium if the visa is refused and no claim was made, though some charge a small administration fee. If the upfront cost is a stretch, several insurers offer monthly payment plans that satisfy IRCC's paid-in-full expectation.
Insurance requirement checklist
- Minimum $100,000 CAD emergency medical coverage.
- Valid for at least one year from the date of entry.
- Covers health care, hospitalization, and repatriation.
- Issued by a qualifying insurer under current IRCC requirements.
- Paid in full, or committed instalments — a quote alone is not accepted.
Step 4: Complete the medical exam if asked
Because Super Visa visits are long, most applicants are asked to complete an immigration medical exam (IME) with an IRCC-approved panel physician in their home country. You can wait for IRCC to send the instruction, or book an upfront medical before applying to save weeks of back-and-forth — many families choose the upfront route when panel physician appointments are hard to get locally.
The exam is routine: medical history, physical check, and usually a chest X-ray and blood work. Results go directly to IRCC. A managed condition like diabetes or high blood pressure does not normally prevent approval, but it does make choosing the right insurance policy more important — pre-existing conditions need a plan that actually covers them.
Step 5: Write the invitation letter
The invitation letter is the host's promise of support, and officers read it carefully. It should be signed by the child or grandchild in Canada and clearly state the relationship, the purpose and planned length of the visit, where the parents will live, and a commitment to support them financially for the duration of the stay.
Include the host's household details — who lives at the address and how many dependants they support — because this is what the LICO assessment is checked against. Keep it factual and specific; a one-paragraph generic letter is a missed opportunity to answer the officer's questions before they're asked.
Documents to prepare
Income proof
NOA, T4/T1, employment letter, pay stubs, or other accepted proof for the host.
Invitation letter
Relationship, length of stay, financial support, address, and household details.
Relationship proof
Birth certificate or document showing the parent or grandparent relationship.
Insurance certificate
Policy proof showing coverage amount, dates, and applicant details.
Host status proof
Canadian passport, citizenship certificate, or PR card of the child or grandchild.
Applicant documents
Passport, photos, travel history, and any prior visa records.
Step 6: Apply online and give biometrics
Super Visa applications are submitted online through the IRCC portal from outside Canada. The applicant (or a family member helping them) creates an account, completes the visitor visa forms, uploads the supporting documents, and pays the fees. After submission, most applicants receive a biometrics instruction letter and must give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre by the deadline stated in the letter.
Processing times vary widely by country and season — some visa offices turn applications around in a few weeks, others take several months. The IRCC processing-times tool shows the current estimate for your country. Applying well before the planned travel date, with a complete document package, is the single best way to avoid a stressful wait.
Government fees at a glance
| Fee | Typical amount (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa fee | $100 per person | Paid online at submission |
| Biometrics | $85 per person | Family cap usually $170 when applying together |
| Medical exam | Varies by country | Paid directly to the panel physician |
| Medical insurance | Varies by age and health | The largest cost — compare insurers before buying |
Government fees change from time to time — confirm current amounts on the official IRCC website before paying.
Get a Free Super Visa Insurance Quote
Compare plans that meet IRCC requirements from multiple Canadian insurers. A licensed advisor can help you review coverage amount, deductible, monthly payments, and pre-existing condition options.
Common reasons applications get delayed or refused
- Income documents that don't clearly meet LICO for the full household size.
- Insurance that is quoted but not paid, below $100,000, or shorter than one year.
- A vague invitation letter that leaves out household size or financial commitment.
- Missed biometrics or medical exam deadlines.
- Unexplained prior refusals or gaps in travel history.
After approval — arriving and staying longer
When the visa is approved, the passport is stamped with a multiple-entry visa. At the border, parents should carry their insurance proof and the invitation letter — border services officers can ask for both and decide the authorized length of stay. Keep the insurance policy active for the whole visit; a lapse can cause problems at re-entry or if an extension is requested.
If the family decides to extend the stay beyond the authorized period, an extension can be requested from inside Canada before the current status expires, and the insurance policy usually needs to be renewed to cover the extended period. Most insurers we work with can extend or renew a policy before its expiry date — it's much harder to fix after a lapse.
Processing tips that actually move the needle
- Submit a complete application — missing documents are the top cause of delays.
- Use clear income proof and spell out household size in the invitation letter.
- Consider an upfront medical exam if panel physicians book up slowly in your country.
- Buy insurance early so the paid certificate is ready to upload with the application.
- Respond to any IRCC request within the stated deadline, even if just to ask for time.
- Keep copies of everything — extensions and renewals reuse the same documents.
Super Visa application FAQs
How long does a Super Visa application take?
It depends on the visa office handling your country and the time of year. Some applications are processed in a few weeks; others take several months, especially when a medical exam or additional documents are requested. Check IRCC's processing-times tool for the current estimate, and apply well ahead of the planned travel date.
Can I submit the application with just an insurance quote?
No. IRCC expects proof of a paid policy — either paid in full or in committed instalments — showing the applicant's name, coverage amount, and validity dates. A quote document does not prove active coverage. This is one of the most common and most avoidable reasons for a returned or refused application.
Do both parents apply together?
Each parent needs their own application and their own insurance policy, but a spouse or common-law partner can be included on the same submission, and biometrics fees are usually capped for a family applying at the same time. Insurance is priced per person by age and health, so two parents of different ages will usually pay different premiums.
What happens if the visa is refused — is the insurance money lost?
Usually not. Most Canadian insurers refund the premium in full if the Super Visa is refused before the policy starts and no claim was made, though some charge an administration fee. Keep the refusal letter — insurers ask for it as part of the refund request. This is why buying before the decision carries little financial risk.
Can parents work or study on a Super Visa?
No — the Super Visa is visitor status. Parents can stay for long periods and travel in and out of Canada, but they cannot work, and study is limited to short courses. Families looking at longer-term options sometimes consider the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for permanent residence, which is a separate lottery-based process.
Can the stay be extended beyond five years?
In many cases, yes. An extension can be requested from inside Canada before the current authorized stay expires, and the medical insurance must usually be renewed to cover the extended period. Officers assess extensions case by case, so keeping insurance active and status valid matters — subject to the rules in force at the time you apply.
Continue With Super Visa Application Resources
Always Double-Check Official Sources
Disclaimer: Rules and policy terms can change. Always double-check current Super Visa requirements on Canada.ca and confirm coverage, eligibility, pricing, and refund terms in the insurer's official policy wording before relying on this guide.
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Get a Free Super Visa Insurance Quote
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