Super Visa Canada: Bring Your Parents and Grandparents for Up to 5 Years

The Super Visa is often the best option while you wait for a PGP invitation, or if you do not want the 20-year sponsorship undertaking that comes with PGP.

For the parent or grandparent (applicant)

• Is the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Applies from outside Canada (in most cases)
• Has a valid passport
• Is admissible to Canada: no serious criminal record, no serious health issues
• Completes an immigration medical exam
• Has private medical insurance that meets IRCC's rules
• Has ties to their home country and plans to visit temporarily

A parent's spouse or common-law partner can be included in the same application. Dependent children cannot be included.

For the child or grandchild in Canada (host)

• Is a Canadian citizen, PR or registered Indian
• Is 18 or older
• Lives in Canada
• Writes a signed letter of invitation promising financial support for the whole visit
• Meets the minimum income (LICO) for their family size

The child or grandchild must earn at least the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for their household size. The household includes the host, their spouse, their dependent children, the visiting parents or grandparents, and anyone else the host has sponsored and is still responsible for.

IRCC updated this table on July 29, 2025.

New since March 31, 2026: the host (and co-signer) can meet the income in either of the two tax years before applying, not just the last one. And if the host meets IRCC's minimum share of the requirement, the visiting parent's or grandparent's own income can be added to cover the rest.

Example: You, your spouse and one child live in Canada. Your two parents are visiting. That is a household of 5.

Can I combine incomes? Yes. Your spouse or common-law partner's income can be added to yours. Their name must be included on the letter of invitation.

Proof of income: most recent Notice of Assessment (NOA) or T4/T1, employment letter with salary, recent pay stubs, or bank statements for self-employed hosts.

The insurance must:

• Be from a Canadian insurance company, or from a foreign insurance company authorized by Canada's Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) and doing insurance business in Canada
• Cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation
• Provide at least $100,000 of emergency coverage
• Be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
• Be valid each time the parent or grandparent enters Canada
• Be paid in full or in instalments (with a deposit), with proof of payment

Many insurers offer refunds if the visa is refused, so you can buy the policy before applying. Read the pre-existing conditions terms carefully. Policies with low prices often exclude chronic illnesses.

Parent or grandparent

• Valid passport and photos
• Proof of relationship: the host's birth certificate showing the parent's name (grandchildren also need the parent's birth certificate)
• Immigration medical exam confirmation
• Medical insurance certificate and proof of payment
• Proof of ties to home country: property, pension, family, bank accounts
• Travel history (past visas)

Child or grandchild in Canada

• Letter of invitation with promise of financial support
• Proof of citizenship or PR (passport, citizenship certificate, PR card or COPR)
• Proof of income: most recent NOA, T4, employment letter, pay stubs
• List of people in the household
• Spouse's income documents, if combining income

1. Check the host's income against the current LICO table.
2. Book the medical exam with an IRCC panel physician (or wait for instructions).
3. Buy medical insurance that meets the rules.
4. Write the letter of invitation with all details and the promise of financial support.
5. Gather documents for the applicant and host.
6. Apply online and pay fees.
7. Give biometrics at a Visa Application Centre.
8. Get a decision and send the passport for the visa sticker.
9. Enter Canada. The border officer authorizes a stay of up to 5 years.

Refused? Fix the exact reason and reapply. In many cases it is a document issue, such as insurance dates or income proof, that can be fixed quickly.

1. Income check: we count your household and compare it with the current LICO
2. Insurance review: we check the policy meets IRCC rules before you apply
3. Invitation letter: written with every required detail
4. Document review: relationship proof, income and ties
5. Application filing and biometrics guidance
6. Extensions for parents already in Canada
7. PGP planning: submitting an Interest to Sponsor form in the next intake

Book a Super Visa consultation