Canada Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents: 2026 Guide

This article provides general information, not legal advice. Super Visa requirements can change and individual circumstances matter. Always confirm the current requirements, forms, fees and document instructions on the official IRCC website before applying.

For many families, a few weeks together is not enough. Parents may want to help after the birth of a grandchild, spend a longer season with family or simply have the flexibility to return to Canada without preparing a new short visit every time.

Canada's Super Visa is designed for that kind of extended family visit. It is a temporary resident option for eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians. For qualifying travellers, it can allow stays of up to five years at a time and multiple entries over a visa period of up to 10 years.

That flexibility comes with extra requirements. The Canadian host must meet an income test, the applicant needs qualifying private health insurance and an immigration medical exam is required. The Super Visa also remains a temporary status: it does not grant permanent residence.

This guide explains the current rules, including the important income changes that took effect on March 31, 2026.

Super Visa at a glance

A Super Visa may be worth considering when:

• the visitor is the parent or grandparent of an eligible host in Canada
• the family wants visits longer than the usual period available to most visitors
• the host can meet the minimum necessary income requirement
• the applicant can obtain qualifying medical insurance
• the applicant can complete the required immigration medical exam
• the applicant can still satisfy the general requirements to enter Canada as a genuine temporary visitor

IRCC currently states that Super Visa holders can stay for five years at a time and receive multiple entries for up to 10 years, subject to the validity of the visa, passport, biometrics and the decision made at the border.

If the planned visit is six months or less, a regular visitor visa may be the more relevant route. See CADLEAF's visitor visa eligibility and documents guide^[1] for the ordinary visitor-visa process.

Who can apply for a Super Visa?

The applicant must be the parent or grandparent of the host in Canada. IRCC's current rules require the applicant to apply from outside Canada and meet both the Super Visa-specific requirements and the general rules for visiting Canada.

The host must be the applicant's biological or adopted child or grandchild and must:

• be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian
• be at least 18 years old
• live in Canada
• meet or exceed the applicable minimum necessary income
• write and sign the required invitation letter

The applicant must also:

• be outside Canada when submitting the application
• be admissible to Canada
• have qualifying private health insurance valid for at least one year from the date of entry
• complete an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician
• satisfy IRCC that the visit is genuinely temporary

IRCC can consider factors such as the applicant's purpose of travel, ties to the home country, family situation and finances when assessing the temporary-visit requirement.

A Super Visa is not permanent residence

The Super Visa is a temporary resident visa pathway, not a permanent residence program.

That distinction matters because parents or grandparents may also hear about the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). The two programs serve different purposes:

Super Visa	Parents and Grandparents Program
Temporary residence	Permanent residence sponsorship
Extended visits to Canada	Immigration to Canada as a permanent resident
Requires qualifying insurance	Uses sponsorship and undertaking rules
Host income requirement applies	Sponsor financial rules apply
Available as an application route when requirements are met	Intake depends on IRCC invitation/intake rules

As of September 2026, IRCC has paused new intake under the Parents and Grandparents Program until further notice while continuing to process existing applications. The Super Visa remains available as a temporary family-visit option.

A family that has already submitted a sponsorship application can still apply for a Super Visa while waiting for a decision, provided the Super Visa requirements are met.

How long can a parent or grandparent stay?

For Super Visa applications made on or after June 22, 2023, IRCC says an eligible holder can stay in Canada for five years at a time.

The visa itself may provide multiple entries for up to 10 years, but these two concepts should not be confused:

• visa validity controls when the person can travel to Canada and seek entry
• authorized stay controls how long the person may remain in Canada after entry

A border services officer makes the final admission decision each time the person enters Canada.

Before the authorized stay expires, the visitor must either leave Canada or apply to extend their stay. A Super Visa does not create unlimited status in Canada merely because the visa counterfoil remains valid.

The 2026 income rules: what changed?

The host's income is one of the most important parts of a Super Visa application.

On March 31, 2026, IRCC changed how families can satisfy the minimum necessary income requirement. The new rules created two main options.

Option 1: qualify using either of the previous two tax years

The host can show that their income, together with an eligible co-signer's income if applicable, met or exceeded the required amount in either of the two taxation years immediately before the application.

For this option, IRCC requires the relevant Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment.

This can help a host whose income was high enough two years ago but lower in the most recent taxation year.

Option 2: host reaches 75%, then applicant income can help

Under the second option, the host and eligible co-signer must first show that their total income in the year before the application is submitted was at least 75% of the minimum necessary income.

If they reach that threshold, the Super Visa applicant's own income may be added to cover the remaining amount.

The combined income must reach the full minimum necessary income.

When applicant income is used, IRCC also requires evidence that the applicant will continue earning that income while in Canada. The supporting document must identify the currency in which the applicant is paid.

This is a significant change from the older approach and can make the Super Visa workable for some families that previously fell short based only on the host's income.

How to calculate family size

Before looking at the income table, calculate the family size correctly. This is where many applications can become confusing.

IRCC says the count can include:

• the Super Visa applicant and any other Super Visa applicants the host is supporting
• the host child or grandchild
• the host's spouse or common-law partner
• dependent children of the host and of the host's spouse or common-law partner
• certain previously approved Super Visa applicants still covered by an applicable invitation
• people the host or co-signer previously sponsored where the sponsorship undertaking is still in effect

For example, if an unmarried Canadian citizen with no children invites one parent, the family size is generally 2: the host and the invited parent.

If a host invites both parents and also has a spouse and two dependent children, the family size is generally 6.

Do not assume family size means only the people living in the same home. Existing sponsorship or Super Visa obligations can still affect the count.

Current minimum income table

IRCC's current published table, last updated July 29, 2025, lists these minimum amounts:

Family size	Minimum necessary income
1	$30,526
2	$38,002
3	$46,720
4	$56,724
5	$64,336
6	$72,560
7	$80,784
Each additional person over 7	Add $8,224

Because IRCC updates income figures periodically, use this table as a reference only and confirm the live figure on IRCC's proof of financial support page before submitting the application.

Who can co-sign the invitation?

The host's spouse or common-law partner may co-sign the invitation and contribute income if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian and otherwise meet the applicable requirements.

Other relatives, such as the host's sibling, cannot simply co-sign to raise the family income.

The invitation letter must identify the people included in the family-size calculation and include the required promise of financial support.

What income documents can be used?

The exact evidence depends on which income option is used.

For the tax-year option, IRCC requires the relevant CRA notice of assessment.

For the 75%-plus-applicant-income option, IRCC identifies evidence that may include:

• CRA notice of assessment
• T4 or T1 records
• pay stubs covering the relevant period
• an employer letter stating position, job description and salary
• bank statements showing regular employment, pension or investment income
• pension statements
• rental-property ownership and lease evidence showing rental income

If the parent or grandparent is contributing income under the new rule, similar records may be used to establish that income, along with proof that the income will continue while the person is in Canada.

The goal is not to submit every document on the list. It is to provide the evidence IRCC requests for the chosen income route and make the calculation easy to verify.

Health insurance: one of the biggest Super Visa requirements

A regular visitor-visa application does not normally impose the same Super Visa insurance rule.

For a Super Visa, the applicant must have proof of qualifying private health insurance. IRCC currently requires the policy to:

• be valid for at least one year from the date of entry
• provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage
• cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation
• be paid in full or through an instalment plan with a deposit
• be valid for each entry to Canada
• be available to show a border services officer on request

A quote is not enough.

Can the insurance be from outside Canada?

Yes, in some circumstances.

Current rules allow insurance from:

• a Canadian insurance company, or
• an insurance company outside Canada that is authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to provide accident and sickness insurance and appears on OSFI's public list of federally regulated financial institutions

For a foreign insurer, IRCC also requires the policy to have been issued or made while the company was doing insurance business in Canada, and the policy documentation must contain the required statement.

This is an area where applicants should verify the actual insurer or underwriter, not just the broker or website selling the policy.

If the policy will expire before the visitor leaves Canada, IRCC advises renewing it so coverage remains in place.

The immigration medical exam is mandatory

A Super Visa applicant must complete an immigration medical exam with an IRCC-approved panel physician.

A family doctor who is not an approved panel physician cannot complete the immigration medical exam for IRCC purposes.

Keep the proof of the completed exam and follow the instructions given by IRCC or the panel physician. Additional medical information may be requested depending on the results.

What the invitation letter should cover

The invitation letter is more than a casual invitation.

It should be written and signed by the host and include the information IRCC requires, including:

• the host's commitment to financially support the applicant for the authorized stay
• the people included in the family-size calculation
• the name and date of birth of each person counted
• evidence supporting the host's income
• the host's status in Canada
• the relationship between the applicant and host

If an eligible spouse or common-law partner is co-signing, the letter and financial records should make that clear.

The invitation letter should match the rest of the application. Dates, relationship details, accommodation plans and funding arrangements should not contradict the forms or supporting documents.

Core document checklist

Every application is fact-specific, and IRCC may issue a personalized or visa-office-specific checklist. Common Super Visa evidence includes:

• valid passport or travel document
• proof of relationship to the child or grandchild in Canada
• proof of the host's Canadian citizenship, permanent residence or registered Indian status
• signed invitation letter
• family-size calculation
• proof of the host's income
• co-signer records, if applicable
• applicant income records if using the 2026 income-sharing option
• qualifying private health insurance
• proof of the immigration medical exam
• documents supporting the temporary purpose of the visit
• evidence requested by the responsible visa office
• translations that meet IRCC requirements for documents not in English or French

Use CADLEAF's Document Checklist^[2] as an organizational aid, but always treat the personalized IRCC checklist and official visa-office instructions as controlling.

How to apply for a Super Visa

The process is online for most applicants.

1. Apply from outside Canada

IRCC requires the Super Visa application to be submitted while the applicant is outside Canada.

2. Sign in to the correct IRCC portal

Applicants can use the IRCC Portal. Some people may qualify for the newer portal version, depending on factors such as age, whether they are applying alone, previous application history and whether they are using a representative.

3. Choose the Super Visa purpose

In the portal, IRCC currently directs applicants to select Visitor visa or super visa and then the option for visiting children or grandchildren for more than six months.

4. Upload the forms and supporting evidence

The portal generates a personalized document checklist. Upload complete, readable documents and include any country-specific material requested by the visa office.

5. Pay the application fees

IRCC currently lists a Super Visa fee of $100 per person for applicants who require the visa. Biometrics, when required, currently cost $85 for an individual.

Visa-exempt applicants follow a different fee and travel-document process, so check the live IRCC instructions before paying.

6. Give biometrics if required

After submission, wait for the biometrics instruction letter if biometrics are required.

Biometrics validity can affect how long IRCC can issue the visa, so applicants with previous biometrics should still check the current rules instead of assuming no further action is needed.

What happens after you apply?

IRCC reviews the application and may request more documents, an interview or other information.

Processing times vary by country and by the facts of the application. Treat an online processing-time estimate as a planning guide, not a guaranteed decision date.

If the application is approved, follow IRCC's instructions for the passport or travel authorization process.

The final decision to admit a traveller is still made at the Canadian border. The traveller should be ready to show that they continue to meet the Super Visa requirements, including having valid insurance.

Visa-exempt parents and grandparents can still use the Super Visa

A parent or grandparent from a visa-exempt country can still qualify for Super Visa benefits.

If approved, IRCC can issue a letter confirming that the person meets the Super Visa eligibility requirements. If travelling by air, the person may also need an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

This is useful because visa exemption by itself does not automatically provide the longer Super Visa stay.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using the wrong family size

Do not count only the host and visiting parent. Spouses, dependent children, previous sponsorship undertakings and other active Super Visa obligations may change the number.

Buying insurance based only on price

Confirm that the policy meets every IRCC requirement, including duration, coverage amount, hospitalization, repatriation and insurer eligibility.

Treating the income table as permanent

The amount can change. Recheck the official table immediately before filing.

Assuming the Super Visa guarantees a five-year stay

It creates eligibility for extended stays, but admission remains subject to examination at the border and continued compliance with the conditions of temporary residence.

Confusing a Super Visa with parent sponsorship

The Super Visa does not provide permanent residence. A family should be clear about whether the goal is an extended temporary visit or permanent immigration.

Ignoring the temporary-resident assessment

Strong host income and valid insurance do not remove the general visitor requirements. IRCC can still assess the purpose of travel, family and financial circumstances, ties and whether the applicant is a genuine temporary visitor.

Frequently asked questions

Can both parents apply for a Super Visa?

Potentially, yes. Each applicant must meet the applicable requirements, and both invited parents are included in the host's family-size calculation.

Can a parent work in Canada on a Super Visa?

A Super Visa is visitor status. It does not, by itself, authorize employment in Canada. A person who wants to work needs separate authorization where required.

Can the host's brother or sister co-sign?

No. IRCC currently allows the host's eligible spouse or common-law partner to co-sign. Other family members such as siblings cannot co-sign the invitation for this purpose.

Can the parent use their own income in 2026?

Possibly. Under the rules effective March 31, 2026, applicant income may be added if the host and eligible co-signer first meet at least 75% of the applicable minimum and the required evidence shows that the applicant's income will continue while in Canada.

Is $100,000 the cost of the insurance?

No. It is the minimum emergency coverage the policy must provide under IRCC's current requirements. The actual premium depends on factors such as age, coverage terms and medical history.

Does a Super Visa holder need insurance for every trip?

IRCC requires proof of a qualifying policy on each entry to Canada. The insurance should remain valid during the stay, and a policy that will expire before departure should be renewed.

Can a Super Visa lead directly to permanent residence?

No. It is a temporary resident route. Permanent residence for parents and grandparents is a separate process with different eligibility, intake and sponsorship rules.

Before submitting: a practical final check

Before filing, confirm that:

• the applicant is actually a parent or grandparent of the host
• the host's status and residence in Canada are documented
• family size has been calculated correctly
• the current IRCC income figure has been checked
• the chosen income option is supported by the right evidence
• the invitation letter includes every required person and financial commitment
• the insurance is from a qualifying insurer and meets the coverage rules
• the medical exam has been completed as required
• the application explains a genuine temporary visit
• the personalized checklist and local visa-office instructions have been followed
• all documents and answers are accurate and consistent

A Super Visa can offer families significantly more time together, but the application is strongest when the financial, insurance, medical and temporary-visit evidence all tell the same clear story.

If paid help is being considered, read CADLEAF's guide on how to verify an authorized Canadian immigration representative^[3] before hiring anyone.

Official sources

• IRCC — Super visa for parents and grandparents^[4]
• IRCC — Super Visa: Who can apply^[5]
• IRCC — How long you can stay in Canada^[6]
• IRCC — Super Visa forms and documents^[7]
• IRCC — Proof of financial support^[8]
• IRCC — Changes to how the Super Visa income requirement is calculated^[9]
• IRCC — Submit your Super Visa application^[10]
• IRCC — After you apply^[11]
• IRCC — 2026 Super Visa ministerial instructions^[12]
• IRCC — Parents and Grandparents Program intake update, July 15, 2026^[13]