Family

Super Visa

A visitor visa built for parents and grandparents, allowing stays measured in years rather than months — and available while the parent sponsorship route remains a lottery with a queue behind it.

Why people choose it

Sponsoring a parent for permanent residence depends on being drawn from a pool of interested sponsors, and the wait that follows is long. A Super Visa does not make anyone a permanent resident, but it does let them be here — for extended periods, with multiple entries, over a visa valid for up to ten years.

What has to be established

• The relationship. The applicant must be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• An invitation and support. The child or grandchild in Canada provides a written undertaking of support.
• Household income. That person must meet a minimum income threshold, which varies with household size and is revised annually.
• Medical insurance. Private coverage, valid in Canada, meeting the required minimum and term.
• A medical examination, and the ordinary admissibility requirements.
• Genuine intent to leave at the end of the authorised stay — this is still a visitor visa, and refusals usually turn on it.

Income thresholds, insurance minimums and permitted stay lengths are set by IRCC and change. We confirm the figures that apply on the day your application is prepared rather than quoting numbers that may have moved.