Preloader Close
Close

Family Sponsorship

Parent and grandparent super visa

Information for parents and grandparents, including applications for super visas, processing times, what
to expect when you arrive in Canada and how to extend your stay.

What is a super visa?

A super visa lets you visit your children or grandchildren for 5 years at a time. It’s a visa that provides multiple entries for a period up to 10 years.

There are specific requirements for a super visa, including the need for medical insurance. You must meet all the criteria to be eligible.

If you want to stay for 6 months or less, apply for a visitor visa.

How long you can stay in Canada

The date you apply for your super visa may affect how long you can stay in Canada.

Super visa (for parents and grandparents): Who can apply Eligibility

To be eligible for a super visa, you must

  • be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
  • have a signed letter from your child or grandchild who invites you to Canada that includes
    • a promise of financial support for the length of your visit
    • the list and number of people in the household of this person
    • a copy of this person’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document
  • have proof of private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company or an insurance company outside Canada that has been approved by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
    • More information on approved insurance companies outside of Canada will be available in the coming months.
    • This medical insurance needs to
      • be paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit (quotes aren’t accepted)
      • be valid for at least 1 year from the date you’ll enter Canada
      • cover your health care, hospitalization and repatriation
      • provide for at least $100,000 emergency coverage

Note: Private health insurance must be valid for each entry to Canada. Be prepared to show your proof of paid insurance to a border services officer if they ask to see it when you enter Canada.

You must also

  • apply for a super visa from outside Canada
  • have your visa printed outside Canada (wait for visa office instructions)
  • be allowed to enter Canada
  • take an immigration medical exam
  • meet certain other conditions

You can’t include dependants in this application.

Financial support (proof of funds)

The child or grandchild who invites you must prove that their household meets the minimum necessary income. The following documents are examples of what can be used as proof of funds:

  • Notice of Assessment (NOA) or T4/T1 for the most recent tax year
  • Employment Insurance Benefit statements
  • employment letter including salary, job title, job description, and date of hiring
  • pay stubs
  • bank statements

Other conditions we consider

We consider several things before we decide if you can come to Canada. You must be a genuine visitor to Canada who will leave by choice at the end of your visit.

We’ll look at these things when you apply:

  • your ties to your home country
  • the purpose of your visit
  • your family and finances
  • the overall economic and political stability of your home country
How to apply

1. Get your documents ready
Before you apply for a super visa, you need

  • a letter of invitation from your child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada that includes
    • a promise of financial support for the duration of your visit
    • the list and number of people in the household of this person
    • a copy of this person’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document
  • proof that your child or grandchild’s household meets the minimum necessary income, for example:
    • Notice of Assessment (NOA) or T4/T1 for the most recent tax year
    • Employment Insurance benefit statements
    • employment letter including salary, job title, job description and date of hiring
    • pay stubs
    • bank statements
  • proof of payment for medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company, or an insurance company outside Canada that has been approved by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
    • More information on approved insurance companies outside of Canada will be available in the coming months.
    • This medical insurance needs to
      • be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
      • provide at least $100,000 emergency coverage
  • a document confirming that you had an immigration medical exam

2. Apply for a super visa
You must apply online with the IRCC Portal for a super visa and be outside Canada when you apply.

How to apply online with the IRCC Portal

Follow these steps to apply online.

1. Create an account and sign in

If it’s your first time using the IRCC Portal, we’ll ask for your email and give you a code to sign up or an account.
2. Complete the online form and upload your documents

After you answer all the questions, you’ll get a list of documents you need to upload.

This includes the documents that support your visa application.

Check the list of documents based on your situation.
3. Pay with a credit card

We accept credit cards and prepaid cards from Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express®, JCB® and UnionPay®.

After you apply

Most applications for a super visa are processed within a few weeks or less. Processing times vary depending on the visa office.

Find out what happens after you apply for a super visa.

Your fingerprints and photo (biometrics)
Book your biometrics collection appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays. Find out how to give biometrics.

We process your super visa application
We’ll check your application to make sure you have all the documents you need.

If it’s incomplete, we’ll return your application without processing it.

We may also ask you to:

  • go to an interview with our officials in your country
  • to send more information
  • get a medical exam
  • get a police certificate

We’ll tell you what to do if you need to do any of these.

We process most applications in a few weeks or less. Processing times depend on the visa office and if you need to do any extra steps (listed above).

We’ll return your passport and other original documents to you after we process your application. We won’t return original bank statements or any documents we find to be fake.

If your application is approved, the visa will be stamped inside your passport. If you’re from a visa-exempt country, we will issue you a letter to give to a border services officer when you arrive in Canada.

If your application is refused, we’ll send you an explanation.

You arrive in Canada

Identity check

A valid super visa and travel document doesn’t guarantee that you can enter Canada.

When you arrive, we’ll check your identity to make sure that you’re the same person who was approved to travel to Canada.

  • If you enter Canada at one of 10 major Canadian airports
    • Your fingerprints will be checked automatically at a primary inspection kiosk.
    • The system will check your identity against the information collected when your application was submitted.
  • If you enter Canada at smaller airports and all land ports of entry
    • Your fingerprints may be checked if we refer you to a secondary inspection, where a border services officer will use a fingerprint verification device to check your fingerprints.
Have your documents ready

When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by an officer from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

The officer will ask to see your passport and travel documents. You’ll also have other documents, such as a copy of your medical insurance. Make sure these documents aren’t packed in your luggage. This will speed up your entry into Canada.

A valid super visa and travel document (passport, titre de voyage or Certificate of Identity) does not guarantee that you can enter Canada.

Accompanying minor children

Children under 18 must travel with the right documents and meet the same entry requirements as adults. The border services officer may ask minor children to show other documents depending on whether the child is travelling alone or with someone. Find out about the specific equirements for minor children.

You enter Canada

If you pass the identity check and meet the entry requirements, the border services officer may stamp your passport or let you know how long you can stay in Canada. A super visa may allow you to stay in Canada for 5 years.

You won’t be allowed into Canada if you give false or incomplete information. You must convince the officer that

  • you’re eligible for entry into Canada
  • you’ll leave Canada at the end of your approved stay
Living in Canada

Canada may be very different from your home country, which means there’s a lot to learn about it
before you arrive. Get to know Canada, including climate, people, government and the way of life.

Work or study in Canada

Most visitors to Canada need a permit to work or study in Canada.

If you’re visiting Canada, still have legal status in Canada, and you want to work or study, there are a few options.
For a work permit, you can apply:

  • from your home country or another country where you’re lawfully admitted, or
  • in person or by mail at the nearest visa application centre (VAC)
Apply for a work permit.

For a work permit, you can apply:

  • from your home country or another country where you’re lawfully admitted, or
  • in person or by mail at the nearest visa application centre (VAC)
Apply for a study permit.

In some cases, you’re allowed to work or study without a permit. For more information, see:

  • Study in Canada – Exceptions
  • Work in Canada – Jobs that don’t need a work permit