Super Visa — bring your parents & grandparents
to Canada for up to 5 years at a time
The Super Visa is Canada's most powerful long-stay option for parents and grandparents of citizens and PRs. While the PGP is paused in 2026, the Super Visa is the best way to reunite with family for extended periods — no lottery, no wait list.
(vs 6 months regular)
multiple entry
coverage required
time 2026
PGP alternative
Super Visa vs. Regular Visitor Visa vs. PGP — which is right for your family?
The Super Visa is a special category of visitor visa with dramatically longer authorized stays. It sits between a regular visitor visa (short-term) and the PGP (permanent residence) in terms of commitment and benefits.
Visitor Visa (TRV)
Standard temporary visit — 6 months at a time
Super Visa
Extended family visits — 5 years per stay
Parents & Grandparents Program
Permanent residence — lottery-based
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) has no new intake announced for 2026. For families wanting to reunite with parents and grandparents, the Super Visa is the fastest and most accessible pathway. With 5-year stays and 10-year validity, it offers genuine long-term family time while PGP remains closed.
Super Visa eligibility — two sides of the application
A Super Visa application has requirements for two parties: the applicant (the parent or grandparent travelling to Canada) and the host (the child or grandchild in Canada). Both must meet their respective eligibility criteria.
- Must be the biological, adoptive, or step-parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act
- Must apply from outside Canada — you cannot apply for a Super Visa while already in Canada
- Must be admissible to Canada — no criminal inadmissibility, no health inadmissibility
- Must demonstrate genuine temporary intent — ties to home country (property, family, pension, financial accounts), intent to return after visit
- Must hold private health insurance — min $100,000 CAD, valid for at least 1 year, from a Canadian or IRCC-approved international insurer
- Must complete an immigration medical exam (IME) with an IRCC-designated panel physician — results valid 12 months
- Spouse or common-law partner of the applicant can be included — but dependent children cannot be added to a Super Visa application
- Must have a valid passport for the full duration of the intended stay — minimum 6 months validity recommended
- Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person registered under the Indian Act
- Must be at least 18 years old and living in Canada
- Must meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) based on family size — LICO + 30%, updated July 29, 2025
- Under new March 2026 rules: can use income from either of the 2 most recent tax years, OR combine income with the visiting parent's/grandparent's documented income
- Must provide a signed invitation letter that includes: promise of financial support, home details, duration and purpose of the visit
- Must provide proof of relationship (birth certificate, adoption documents, or legal documents showing the family link)
- A spouse or common-law partner of the host can co-sign the income commitment to help meet the MNI requirement
Minimum Income Requirements — what the host must earn
The host's household income must meet or exceed the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) — calculated as the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30%. These thresholds were updated July 29, 2025 and remain in effect for all 2026 applications.
| Family size | Who is counted | Minimum income required (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | Host only (single, no children, no partner) | $30,526 |
| 2 persons | e.g. Host + 1 parent visiting | $38,002 |
| 3 persons | e.g. Host + spouse + 1 parent, or Host + 2 parents | $46,720 |
| 4 persons | e.g. Host + spouse + 1 child + 1 parent | $56,724 |
| 5 persons | e.g. Host + spouse + 2 children + 2 parents | $64,336 |
| 6 persons | e.g. Host + spouse + 3 children + 2 parents | $72,560 |
| 7 persons | e.g. Host + spouse + 4 children + 2 parents | $80,784 |
| Each additional | For every person beyond 7 | + $8,224 |
Source: IRCC official income table, updated July 29, 2025. These figures are LICO + 30% and apply to all provinces and territories except Quebec. Quebec has separate income assessment rules. Always verify on canada.ca before applying.
How to calculate your family size — count all of these
New income assessment options — effective March 31, 2026
On March 20, 2026, IRCC announced two new options for how income is assessed. Both apply to all new applications submitted on or after March 31, 2026, AND to all applications already in processing as of that date. Previously, only the single most recent tax year was assessed. Now there are two alternatives.
Super Visa Eligibility & Income Calculator
Calculate your family size, find the required income threshold, and check whether the host meets the MNI — using the July 2025 income table and the new March 2026 two-year assessment rule.
Find out if your family qualifies — in 60 seconds
Uses the official IRCC MNI table updated July 29, 2025. Applies March 2026 two-year income assessment rules automatically.
Our RCIC can review your exact income documents and identify the strongest application strategy.
Free Assessment →Health Insurance Requirements — what's mandatory and what's changed
The Super Visa insurance rules — exactly what IRCC requires
- ✓ Emergency medical care and hospitalization
- ✓ Repatriation (return of remains if death occurs)
- ✓ Emergency dental (recommended in certificate)
- ✓ Pre-existing conditions (some policies — verify carefully)
- ✗ Submitting a quote instead of a paid certificate
- ✗ Coverage under $100,000 CAD
- ✗ Policy valid for less than 1 year
- ✗ Policy from an insurer not approved in Canada
- ✗ Allowing policy to lapse during extended stay
- ⚠ Insurance must be renewed to cover the full stay duration
- ⚠ Cost varies significantly by age and health — older applicants or those with pre-existing conditions pay more
- ⚠ Purchase insurance only after your visit dates are confirmed — starting too early wastes coverage
- ⚠ Bring your insurance card and certificate when crossing the border
Previously, only Canadian insurance companies could provide qualifying Super Visa coverage. Since January 2025, IRCC also accepts policies from international insurance companies authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). This gives families more flexibility in choosing a provider — but the $100,000 minimum, 1-year duration, and coverage standards still apply regardless of where the insurer is based.
How to apply for a Super Visa — from start to boarding
Host confirms eligibility and calculates family size
Use the calculator above to determine family size and verify you meet the MNI. Decide which income year to use (or whether Option 2 combined income applies). Gather your Notices of Assessment from the CRA (2024 and 2025 recommended under new rules).
Host prepares invitation letter and income documents
The invitation letter must include: your name and address in Canada, proof of your citizenship/PR status, a commitment of financial support for the visitor's stay, the purpose and expected duration of the visit, and your signed declaration. Attach your income documents (NOA, T4, employer letter, pay stubs).
Applicant books and completes the Immigration Medical Exam (IME)
The IME must be completed with an IRCC-designated panel physician in the applicant's country. IME results are valid for 12 months — time the exam carefully so it remains valid throughout processing. Results are sent directly to IRCC — you do not submit them yourself.
Applicant purchases qualifying health insurance
Purchase the insurance policy (min $100K CAD, min 1 year, from approved insurer). Obtain the official certificate — not a quote or summary. The insurance certificate must be in the application package. Do not just purchase a quote and expect it to count.
Applicant completes and submits the online application
Apply online through the IRCC portal (ircc.canada.ca). For visa-required countries: complete IMM 5257 (Temporary Resident Visa application). Attach all documents: passport, photos, insurance certificate, invitation letter, income documents, IME confirmation, proof of relationship, ties to home country. Pay the $100 CAD application fee + $85 biometrics fee if required.
Provide biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)
After submitting online, most applicants receive a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) — you have 30 days to give fingerprints and a photo at a designated VAC. Book this appointment immediately after submission — biometrics delays are a leading cause of processing delays. Processing time officially begins after biometrics are received.
Wait for IRCC decision (~132 days average in 2026)
IRCC reviews the full file. They may request additional documents or an interview. Processing times vary by country — check the IRCC tool for current times. Keep your insurance current throughout processing. If approved, IRCC will request your passport for visa stamping or issue an electronically-linked authorization.
Receive Super Visa and enter Canada
The Super Visa will be stamped in your passport. At the Canadian border, present your passport, Super Visa, proof of health insurance (certificate), and invitation letter. A CBSA officer will determine your authorized stay — up to 5 years per entry. Keep your insurance valid throughout your stay.
Government fees
Documents required — host and applicant
Missing documents are the single biggest cause of Super Visa delays and refusals. Prepare everything before submitting the application.
- 📄Valid passport — biographical page, min 6 months validity beyond intended stay
- 📸Recent passport-sized photographs meeting IRCC specifications
- 🏥Immigration Medical Exam results confirmation (from IRCC panel physician — results go directly to IRCC)
- 🛡Health insurance certificate — paid and active policy, min $100K CAD, min 1 year, approved insurer
- 🏠Proof of ties to home country — property deed, employment letter, pension confirmation, family documents (spouse, children remaining at home)
- ✈Travel history — previous visa stamps, prior visits to Canada, US, UK, EU
- 👨👩👧Proof of relationship to host — birth certificate, adoption certificate, or legal documentation
- 📋Completed application forms (IMM 5257 for TRV countries)
- 💳Proof of fee payment ($100 + $85 biometrics)
- 🇨🇦Proof of Canadian citizenship or PR — Canadian passport, citizenship certificate, or PR card
- 💰Notice of Assessment (NOA) from CRA — for 2024 and/or 2025 (whichever qualifying year under new 2026 rules)
- 💼Employer letter — company letterhead, job title, start date, current salary/wages
- 📑Recent pay stubs — 3–6 months showing consistent income
- 📊T4 slips for the qualifying year(s)
- 🏢If self-employed: accountant's letter confirming annual income from business
- ✉Signed invitation letter — financial support commitment, home details, purpose and duration of visit, host's signature
- 👨👩👧Proof of relationship — same birth certificate/adoption docs as applicant provides
- 💰If using Option 2 (combined income): visiting parent's pension statements, investment income documents, savings statements in CAD equivalent
A Super Visa application is more complex than a regular visitor visa
Between income calculations, IME timing, insurance selection, invitation letter drafting, and the new 2026 two-year income rules — there are many ways a well-intentioned application can fail. Our RCIC prepares and reviews complete Super Visa packages.
Common Super Visa refusal reasons — and how to address them
Host income below MNI threshold
Use the new 2026 two-year assessment rule — check both tax years. If still insufficient, explore Option 2 (combined parent income). A family size calculation error can shift the threshold by $8,224+.
Weak ties to home country
Officer not convinced the applicant will return home. Fix: property documents, ongoing financial obligations, dependants remaining at home, active business, pension payments confirming residency abroad.
Insurance deficiency
Quote submitted instead of paid certificate. Coverage under $100K. Policy from non-approved insurer. Policy valid for less than 1 year. Always submit the full active insurance certificate.
Inadmissibility concerns
Criminal record (even from another country), prior overstays, misrepresentation on previous applications. May require a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) — consult an RCIC before applying.
Medical exam issues
Expired IME results (12-month validity). Missing exam. Medical condition flagged as inadmissibility. Time your IME carefully — don't do it too early or too close to your planned entry date.
Incomplete or inconsistent documents
Missing documents, inconsistencies between the invitation letter and income documents, or translation issues. All non-English/non-French documents must be certified translated.
Bring your parents and grandparents to Canada —
start with the right assessment
Whether you're calculating income under the new 2026 rules, choosing the right insurance, or navigating a previous refusal — our RCIC will assess your full situation and build a strong Super Visa application strategy.
Harikrishnan Nair — RCIC R731549 · CICC Member · CAPIC Member · Litmus Immigration Services Inc. · Calgary, Alberta