Super Visas for Parents and Grandparents: How They Work

If your parents or grandparents live abroad and you want them close for an extended stretch — not just a short visit — the super visa Canada program may be the most practical option available to you. It lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents (PRs) stay in Canada for significantly longer than a standard visitor visa, without requiring them to apply for permanent residency.

This article explains what the Super Visa is, who qualifies, what documents you need, and how it compares to other pathways for bringing family to Canada. As with all immigration matters, rules and thresholds change — always verify current requirements directly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) at Canada.ca before you apply.

What Is the Super Visa?

The Super Visa is a multi-entry temporary resident visa issued to eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or PRs. As of writing, it allows holders to stay in Canada for up to five years per entry, with the option to extend that stay from within Canada — a significant improvement from the two-year-per-entry maximum that previously applied (verify the current maximum per-entry stay with IRCC, as this has been subject to policy updates).

The visa itself can be valid for up to ten years (or one year less than the passport's expiry date, whichever comes first) and allows multiple entries during that period. This means a parent or grandparent can travel back and forth between Canada and their home country throughout the visa's validity without needing to reapply each time.

The legal framework governing the Super Visa, like all Canadian immigration pathways, falls under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and its accompanying regulations.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for a Super Visa, the applicant must be:

• The parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and
• Admissible to Canada (no serious criminality or health grounds of inadmissibility that have not been addressed).

The Canadian child or grandchild — the sponsor, in practical terms — must meet a minimum income threshold based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO). The LICO is a Statistics Canada measure that is updated annually, and the required income amount depends on the number of people in the household. IRCC publishes the current LICO chart on its website; readers must check that chart for the figures that apply to their household size at the time of application.

The sponsor is not required to be the principal applicant's direct child or grandchild in every technical sense — step-relationships and adopted family relationships may also qualify, but the specific eligibility criteria should be confirmed on the IRCC website.

Key Requirements at a Glance

Proof of the Sponsor's Income

The Canadian sponsor must provide documentation proving their household income meets or exceeds the applicable LICO threshold. Acceptable evidence typically includes:

• Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the most recent tax year
• Employment letters or pay stubs (to supplement the NOA)
• T4 slips or other tax documents as required

The income of a spouse or common-law partner living in the same household can generally be combined to meet the threshold — verify this with IRCC at the time of application.

Canadian Medical Insurance

Every Super Visa applicant must have Canadian medical insurance that is valid for each entry into Canada. As of writing, IRCC requires:

• A policy issued by a Canadian insurance company (or, following regulatory updates, an equivalent approved provider — check current IRCC policy on accepted insurers)
• Minimum coverage of a required dollar amount — verify the current minimum on IRCC's website, as this threshold has been updated over time
• The policy must be valid for at least one year from the date of entry
• Coverage must include health care, hospitalization, and repatriation

This insurance requirement is one of the most important practical considerations. Annual premiums vary based on the applicant's age and health history. The applicant must purchase and provide proof of insurance before the visa is approved, not after arrival.

Immigration Medical Examination

Super Visa applicants are typically required to complete an Immigration Medical Examination (IME) through a Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP) approved by IRCC. The results must be submitted with the application.

Invitation Letter

The Canadian child or grandchild must provide a signed letter of invitation confirming:

• Their relationship to the applicant
• That they meet the income requirement
• That they commit to financially supporting the visitor during the stay

How to Apply

Super Visa applications are submitted from outside Canada — typically online through IRCC's portal, though paper applications may be available in some circumstances. The applicant submits their application, supporting documents (including the medical exam results, insurance proof, and the sponsor's financial evidence), pays the applicable processing fee, and waits for a decision.

A visa officer assesses the application and makes an admissibility determination. There is no interview requirement in most cases, though officers may request additional information.

Processing times vary and are posted on IRCC's website — they change regularly based on application volumes.

Super Visa vs. Regular Visitor Visa (TRV)

A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) — the standard visitor visa — is available to nationals of countries that require a visa to enter Canada. A TRV typically allows stays of up to six months per entry and does not require the same level of documentation as the Super Visa.

The Super Visa is deliberately designed for longer, more substantial visits. The trade-off is that it requires more documentation (proof of income, medical insurance, IME) and is only available to parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or PRs.

Super Visa vs. Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a permanent residency pathway — it is an entirely different process. Successful PGP applicants eventually become Canadian permanent residents, with the rights and obligations that entails (including a path to citizenship).

The PGP operates through a randomized pool and draw system managed by IRCC; there is no guarantee of an invitation to apply, and the program opens periodically rather than continuously. Processing times have historically been measured in years.

The Super Visa, by contrast, is a temporary status — the parent or grandparent remains a citizen of their home country and must continue renewing or maintaining their status. It does not create a path to permanent residency on its own. Families often pursue the Super Visa as a practical near-term solution while a PGP application is in progress or being considered.

Frequently asked questions