Super Visa applicants who are approved and admitted to Canada can generally stay for up to five years at a time if they continue to meet Canada’s eligibility, financial, medical and insurance requirements.
The Super Visa is a multiple-entry temporary resident visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians.
It is different from permanent residence sponsorship because it permits temporary visits rather than immigration to Canada.
The visa may be valid for multiple entries for up to 10 years. The passport’s validity, biometrics validity and the visa officer’s decision can affect the final visa period.
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What The Super Visa Allows
The Super Visa is designed for parents and grandparents who want to spend extended periods with family members in Canada.
Super Visa applicants who are approved and admitted to Canada can generally stay for up to five years at a time.
A border services officer may review the traveller’s documents and determine whether the person can enter Canada and for how long.
People who applied for the visa on or after June 22, 2023, are eligible to stay for five years at a time if they are admitted to Canada. For applications made before that date, the date of entry and the period authorized by the border officer can affect the length of stay.
The Super Visa does not by itself authorize the holder to work or study in Canada. Visitors generally need separate authorization where required.
Visitors must maintain valid status, keep their passport valid and maintain qualifying private health insurance while they remain in Canada.
Each family member must complete their own application, although family members may be able to submit applications together.
Who Can Apply For A Super Visa
The applicant must be the parent or grandparent of a host in Canada.
The host must be the applicant’s biological or adopted child or grandchild.
The host must be at least 18 years old, live in Canada and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
The host must meet the applicable minimum necessary income requirement and provide a signed letter of invitation.
The applicant must apply from outside Canada and have the visa issued by a visa office outside Canada.
The applicant must be admissible to Canada, complete an immigration medical examination and satisfy the general requirements for temporary visitors.
IRCC assesses whether the applicant is a genuine visitor who will leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay. Officers may consider the applicant’s ties to the home country, purpose of travel, family situation and financial circumstances.
Super Visa Income Requirement
The host must demonstrate enough income to support the family unit and the visiting parent or grandparent.
Family size includes the host, the host’s spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, the visiting applicants, previously approved holders covered by an applicable invitation and individuals covered by ongoing sponsorship undertakings.
IRCC’s published minimum income table lists the following amounts in Canadian dollars:
| Family Size | Minimum Required Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $30,526 |
| 2 | $38,002 |
| 3 | $46,720 |
| 4 | $56,724 |
| 5 | $64,336 |
| 6 | $72,560 |
| 7 | $80,784 |
| Each additional person | Add $8,224 |
Applicants should calculate family size carefully because previously approved visitors and active sponsorship undertakings can affect the required income.
The host’s spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the invitation and contribute income if that person meets IRCC’s conditions. Other relatives, such as the host’s siblings, cannot co-sign.
How The 2026 Super Visa Income Rules Work
Under rules effective March 31, 2026, the host and eligible co-signer may meet the income requirement using income from either of the two taxation years before the application is submitted.
The host or co-signer should generally provide a Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment.
IRCC also allows an alternative method where the host and co-signer show income equal to at least 75% of the required amount for the year before the application is submitted.
Under that method, the visiting parent or grandparent may add their own income to cover the remaining amount.
Applicants using this alternative should provide documents demonstrating the relevant income of the visitor, host and co-signer, where applicable.
Other documents may include T4 or T1 records, recent pay stubs, an employer letter, bank statements, pension statements or proof of rental income when a notice of assessment is unavailable.
Applications already in processing on March 31, 2026, and applications submitted on or after that date, are assessed under the updated income instructions.
Super Visa Health Insurance Rules
Every applicant must provide proof of private health insurance valid for at least one year from the date of entry to Canada.
The policy must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation and provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage.
The policy must be paid in full or paid in instalments with a deposit. An insurance quote is not accepted as proof of coverage.
Applicants must have proof of qualifying insurance available for review on each entry to Canada.
If the policy expires before the visitor leaves Canada, it should be renewed so that coverage continues throughout the stay.
Since January 28, 2025, qualifying insurance may be issued by a Canadian insurance company or by an eligible foreign insurer that meets the applicable ministerial and Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions requirements.
A foreign policy must be issued by an insurer authorized to provide accident and sickness insurance, appear on the applicable OSFI list and state that it was issued or made while the company was doing insurance business in Canada.
Applicants should verify the insurer’s status before purchasing a policy because brokers and claims administrators are not themselves insurance companies.
Documents Needed For A Super Visa
The personalized IRCC checklist is the final guide to the documents required for a specific application.
Common documents include a valid passport or travel document, a signed invitation letter and proof of the relationship to the host.
Relationship evidence can include the host’s birth certificate, baptismal certificate or another official document identifying the applicant as the host’s parent or grandparent.
The applicant must provide proof of the host’s Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or registered Indian status.
The invitation letter must explain the host’s promise of financial support and list the people included in the family-size calculation.
The application should include proof of the host’s income, such as notices of assessment or permitted alternative documents.
The applicant must provide proof of a completed immigration medical examination with an approved panel physician.
Documents that are not in English or French generally require an appropriate translation and a copy of the original document. The local visa office may request additional documents.
How To Apply For A Super Visa
Applicants must apply from outside Canada through the IRCC Portal or, where eligible, the newer version of the portal.
In the online questionnaire, applicants should select visitor visa or super visa when asked what they want to apply for and select the option to visit children or grandchildren for more than six months.
After completing the questionnaire, IRCC provides a personalized document checklist.
Applicants upload the required documents, pay the applicable fees and submit the completed application.
Applicants who need biometrics should pay the biometrics fee when they apply and complete the collection appointment after receiving instructions.
The processing fee is currently $100 per applicant unless the applicant is from a visa-exempt country. The biometrics fee is currently $85 when biometrics are required.
Processing times vary by country and depend on factors including application completeness, biometrics, document verification and responses to IRCC requests.
Super Visa Holders Who Are Visa-Exempt
A person from a visa-exempt country may still apply for this temporary resident visa to obtain authorization for an extended family visit.
If approved, the applicant receives a letter to present to a border services officer upon arrival.
Travelling by air may also require an electronic travel authorization linked to the passport used in the application.
Visa-exempt applicants generally do not pay the application fee or biometrics fee, although an eTA may be required for air travel.
Super Visa Compared With A Visitor Visa
A regular visitor visa may be more suitable for a visit of six months or less.
The Super Visa option is intended for eligible parents and grandparents who want to visit their Canadian family for longer periods.
Both options are temporary and neither one gives the visitor permission to work or study without separate authorization where required.
This option carries additional requirements, including the host’s income support, an immigration medical examination and private health insurance with at least $100,000 in emergency coverage.
Approval is not automatic because the applicant must satisfy Canada’s admissibility and temporary-resident requirements.
Key Points Before Applying
- Confirm that the host is an eligible child or grandchild who lives in Canada.
- Calculate the complete family size before checking the income table.
- Choose an insurer that meets IRCC’s current requirements.
- Buy qualifying insurance for at least one year from the expected date of entry.
- Arrange the immigration medical examination with an approved panel physician.
- Prepare the invitation letter, relationship evidence and host-status documents.
- Check the local visa office instructions for country-specific requirements.
- Maintain insurance, passport validity and visitor status after arrival.
This temporary family-visit option remains temporary and does not guarantee entry or permanent residence in Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a parent or grandparent stay in Canada with a Super Visa?
Eligible Super Visa holders may be allowed to stay for up to five years at a time, subject to the border officer’s decision and continued compliance with the program requirements.
How much income does a Super Visa host need?
The required income depends on family size. IRCC’s current table starts at $30,526 for one family member and reaches $80,784 for seven family members, with $8,224 added for each additional person.
Is health insurance required for a Super Visa?
Yes. Applicants need private health insurance valid for at least one year from entry, covering health care, hospitalization and repatriation with at least $100,000 in emergency coverage.
Can Super Visa applicants use foreign health insurance?
Yes, a foreign policy may qualify if it is issued by an eligible insurer that meets IRCC and OSFI requirements and is issued or made while the insurer is doing business in Canada.
Does a Super Visa allow the holder to work in Canada?
No. A Super Visa is a temporary visitor authorization and does not permit work or study without the appropriate separate permit.
Fact-Checked: Checked against current IRCC Super Visa eligibility, income, document, application and ministerial-instruction pages, including the rules in force from March 31, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only. Applicants should review the latest IRCC instructions and personalized document checklist before applying.
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