Longer visits for parents and grandparents
The Super Visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians who want to visit Canada for extended periods. Unlike a regular Visitor Visa, a Super Visa can allow eligible parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time and provides multiple entries for up to 10 years.
It is often the practical alternative when the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship intake is closed or the sponsor has not been invited to apply.
Who can apply
The applicant must be the parent or grandparent of an eligible host in Canada. Dependants cannot be included in the Super Visa application. The applicant must also meet visitor eligibility, medical, insurance, and admissibility requirements.
The host in Canada must provide a signed invitation and prove they meet the minimum income requirement for their family size. The application should make the family relationship, financial support, insurance coverage, and temporary visit purpose easy for an officer to assess.
Core document checklist
Typical Super Visa files include:
- proof of relationship to the child or grandchild in Canada
- invitation letter with support details
- proof of the host's Canadian status
- proof the host meets the minimum necessary income
- private medical insurance that meets IRCC requirements
- immigration medical exam
- passport and travel history
- proof of funds and ties to the home country
- explanation of visit plans and return intent
Super Visa vs visitor visa vs PGP
A visitor visa is better for shorter stays. A Super Visa is better for longer parent or grandparent visits. PGP sponsorship is for permanent residence, but it depends on intake rules and invitations. Many families use a Super Visa while waiting for a future PGP opportunity.
Compare related pages:
Official reference
For current rules, see IRCC's Super Visa page.
