The Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents: How It Works
The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents visit Canada for long stays. The host requirements, the insurance condition, how long each stay can last, and how extensions work.
What it is
The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visa for the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows multiple entries for up to 10 years, with stays of up to five years at a time, so family can spend extended time in Canada without applying for permanent residence. The 10 years is a ceiling: the visa can be cut short by the passport or biometrics expiry date.
Because it is a visitor visa, it does not carry the rights of permanent residence.
Main requirements
- The host must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, at least 18, living in Canada, and must meet or exceed the minimum necessary income.
- The host writes and signs a letter of invitation.
- The applicant shows proof of private health insurance valid for a minimum of one year from the date of entry. The insurance can come from a Canadian insurance company or from a company outside Canada approved by the minister.
- The applicant takes an immigration medical exam.
How long you can stay
IRCC states that people who applied on or after June 22, 2023 are eligible to stay for 5 years at a time. Those who applied before that date and entered before it are limited to the length of time the border officer granted at entry, up to 5 years if they still meet the requirements.
Before your status expires you must leave or apply to extend your stay. IRCC says some holders can be approved for an extension of up to 2 years, so check which group you fall into on IRCC’s page.
Compared with sponsoring
Parent and grandparent sponsorship leads to permanent residence but has its own intake process. The Super Visa is a different tool and does not lead to residence on its own.
Some families use the Super Visa while waiting for a possible sponsorship opportunity, and others use it as their long-term arrangement. The choice depends on whether the parents want to settle permanently.
A scenario worth walking through
A hypothetical family in Canada wants the grandparents, who live in the US, to spend extended time with the children. The host checks that they meet the minimum necessary income for their family size and writes the signed letter of invitation. They buy private health insurance valid for at least a year from the date of entry, and they arrange the grandparents’ immigration medical exams.
They submit a complete application with all the documents. Because the Super Visa is a visitor visa, the grandparents understand that it does not lead to permanent residence. If they later want to settle permanently, they know they would need a different application.
How to prepare over the next 30 days
- Confirm the host’s eligibility and income against IRCC’s current minimum necessary income table
- Prepare the signed letter of invitation, including the promise of support
- Choose insurance that meets the current requirements
- Book the immigration medical exams
- Check which stay-length rules apply to your application date, and how extensions work, before planning future stays
Common questions, answered
- Can both parents apply? Yes. Each applicant is assessed individually, and each needs to meet the requirements, including the medical insurance and the immigration medical exam.
- What insurance is required? IRCC requires proof of private health insurance valid for a minimum of one year from the date of entry, from a Canadian insurance company or from a company outside Canada approved by the minister.
- How long does a Super Visa last, and how long can I stay? The visa allows multiple entries for up to 10 years, though the passport or biometrics expiry date can shorten that. IRCC says people who applied on or after June 22, 2023 can stay for 5 years at a time. Before your status expires you must leave or apply to extend, and some holders can be approved for an extension of up to 2 years.
Before you decide
A complete application, with insurance and the support letter in order, avoids most delays. If you are weighing the Super Visa against sponsorship, the sponsorship page compares them, or a free assessment will do it for your family. Requirements are IRCC's and change.
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