A long-validity visa letting parents and grandparents visit for much longer per stay.
The Super Visa is a distinct thing from an ordinary visitor visa, and the difference is worth understanding before choosing between them. It is designed specifically for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and it allows a much longer stay per visit than the usual six months.
It carries requirements an ordinary visitor visa does not. The applicant generally needs Canadian medical insurance meeting conditions IRCC sets, and the inviting child or grandchild in Canada generally has to demonstrate income at or above a published threshold, evidenced through their tax records.
It is still a visit. It does not lead to permanent residence by itself and it is not a substitute for sponsorship — but because the Parent and Grandparent sponsorship stream opens only periodically, the Super Visa is frequently the practical route for families who want time together in the meantime.
| Who it is for | Parents and grandparents of citizens and permanent residents |
|---|---|
| Stay per visit | Substantially longer than a standard visitor visa |
| Medical insurance | Required, on terms set by IRCC |
| Inviting family member | Generally must meet a published income threshold |
| Leads to permanent residence | No — it is a visit |
What an application on this route usually involves. Not a checklist that guarantees anything — IRCC sets the requirements, and they change.
Whether it fits you is what a consultation is for. This page cannot answer that and does not try to.
A policy bought on price alone frequently fails one of IRCC's conditions. Check the requirements first, then buy.
The income test is generally evidenced through tax documents. Payslips and bank statements on their own are usually not what is being asked for.
The two applications are assessed differently. Applying on the wrong basis means being assessed against the wrong requirements.
It is assessed as a visit. An application that reads as an intention to remain permanently undermines itself.
It is restricted to parents and grandparents, allows a much longer stay per visit, and adds requirements a visitor visa does not have — medical insurance and an income threshold for the inviting family member.
No. It is a long-stay visit. Permanent residence for parents and grandparents runs through family sponsorship, which is a separate stream with its own periodic intake.
The inviting child or grandchild in Canada, not the applicant. It is evidenced through their tax records rather than by assertion.
IRCC sets conditions the policy must meet. Buying a policy before checking those conditions is one of the more common and more avoidable problems on this route.
That is the one question this page cannot answer. Start with the free assessment, then bring your situation to a consultation with the RCIC-IRB.
Start Your AssessmentBook a paid consultationThis page is general information. It is not an assessment of your eligibility, and nothing on it is immigration advice for consideration. Parent and Grandparent Super Visa matters at ZIMMR are advised on directly by Irshad Osman, RCIC-IRB.
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