What the super visa is
The super visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents visit their family for long periods. It is a visitor document, not permanent residence. With the Parents and Grandparents Program paused since 15 July 2026, it is the main way for many families to spend long periods together in Canada.
- Stays of up to 5 years per entry.
- A visa that can be valid for up to 10 years, with multiple entries.
- From inside Canada, you can ask to extend a stay by up to 2 years at a time.
Who can apply
- The parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (the "host"). The applicant's spouse or common-law partner can be included. Dependent children can't.
- You apply from outside Canada.
- You must be admissible to Canada, which includes a medical exam.
- You must show that you intend to visit temporarily.
Key requirements (as of 2026-10-11)
- Letter of invitation from the child or grandchild in Canada, with a promise of financial support for the length of the visit, the list of people in the household, and a copy of their Canadian citizenship or PR document.
- Host's minimum income. The host's household must meet a minimum income based on the low-income cut-off (LICO) for its size, counting the visiting parents or grandparents. Since 31 March 2026, a host whose own income is at least 75% of the LICO can add the visiting parent's or grandparent's income to reach the total. IRCC updates the table about once a year; see the host financial support page.
- Medical insurance from a Canadian insurer, or (since 28 January 2025) a foreign insurer authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). It must provide at least $100,000 of coverage, cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, be valid for at least 1 year from entry, and be paid or partly paid with a deposit.
Fees are on the IRCC fee list and times in IRCC's processing-times tool.
Super visa or visitor visa?
A regular visitor visa usually allows stays of up to 6 months per entry. The super visa allows much longer stays but has the income and insurance requirements above. An officer decides each application and can refuse either one; see refused applications if that happens.
Recent changes
- 15 July 2026: the Parents and Grandparents Program is paused, so more families look at the super visa.
- 31 March 2026: hosts can combine their income with the parent's or grandparent's income (with the 75% minimum).
- 28 January 2025: OSFI-authorized foreign insurers accepted.
How we can help
Anasse Boulbaroud, RCIC, can check the host's income against the current LICO table, review the insurance and invitation documents, and prepare the super visa application. Only IRCC decides. Book a consultation.