Canada Super Visa Medical Insurance & Medical Treatment Guide 2026

Understand the current Super Visa insurance requirements, one-year coverage rule, installment payments, foreign-insurer conditions, medical examinations and the separate role of Temporary Resident Permits for inadmissible foreign nationals.

A TRP is not a general medical-treatment visa

A Temporary Resident Permit is a discretionary immigration document for a foreign national who is inadmissible or does not meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act but has a compelling reason to enter or remain in Canada. Medical treatment can be relevant to a compelling-reason assessment in an appropriate case, but simply seeking treatment in Canada does not automatically mean that a person needs a TRP.

1. What Is the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa?

The Super Visa is a multiple-entry temporary resident visa for eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents or registered Indians. Under the current rules, it can allow a qualifying visitor to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time and can provide multiple entries for up to 10 years. The Super Visa is temporary status; it does not grant permanent residence.

Who it is for

Parents and grandparents visiting their Canadian children or grandchildren who meet the host and relationship requirements.

Length of stay

A Super Visa can allow a stay of up to 5 years at a time under the current rules.

Multiple entry

The visa can provide multiple entries for a period of up to 10 years, subject to passport and visa validity.

Permanent residence

The Super Visa does not create permanent-residence status. It is a temporary resident visa.

2. Super Visa Medical Insurance Requirements

A Super Visa applicant must have proof of qualifying private health insurance for each entry to Canada. The policy must be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry, cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage.

IRCC does not establish a separate $10,000–$25,000 minimum for repatriation. The policy must cover repatriation as part of the required insurance coverage.

3. Can a Foreign Insurance Company Issue a Qualifying Super Visa Policy?

Yes, but not every overseas insurance policy qualifies. IRCC permits insurance from a Canadian insurance company or from an insurance company outside Canada that meets specific Canadian regulatory requirements.

Do not describe Super Visa insurance as accepting any foreign travel-insurance company. The foreign-insurer requirements are specific.

4. Monthly Installments Are Allowed, But There Is a Deposit Requirement

IRCC currently allows a qualifying Super Visa insurance policy to be paid either in full or in installments with a deposit. This means an applicant does not necessarily have to pay the entire annual premium upfront, but simply possessing a monthly-payment quote is not enough. The applicant must have the actual qualifying insurance policy and satisfy the insurer's payment terms.

The amount of the required deposit is determined by the insurance contract. IRCC does not publish one universal deposit amount for all insurers.

5. Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Super Visa insurance products can differ substantially in how they treat pre-existing medical conditions. IRCC requires qualifying emergency health insurance, but the definition of a covered pre-existing condition, stability period, exclusions, medical underwriting and premium depends on the particular insurance policy.

Do not publish a universal 90-day or 180-day stability rule. Stability periods are insurer and policy specific.

6. Super Visa Income Rules Changed in 2026

Starting March 31, 2026, IRCC changed how family income is calculated for Super Visa eligibility. The host and qualifying co-signer can meet the required income using either of the two taxation years preceding the application. In addition, qualifying income earned by the visiting parent or grandparent can be added to the calculation when the host and co-signer meet the minimum percentage required under the new rules.

The older rule that assessed only the single taxation year before application is outdated for applications assessed under the post-March 31, 2026 rules.

7. Medical Examination for a Super Visa

Applicants for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa are required to undergo an immigration medical examination. The examination is performed by an IRCC-approved panel physician, not the applicant's ordinary doctor.

Key Guidelines & Action Items

Complete the immigration medical examination through an approved panel physician.
Follow IRCC's instructions about when the examination must be completed.
Provide the required medical-document information with the application.
Medical admissibility is assessed separately from the insurance requirement.

Having private medical insurance does not itself establish medical admissibility. The insurance requirement and immigration medical examination are separate parts of the Super Visa process.

8. Medical Treatment in Canada Is Not Automatically a TRP Case

A foreign national who wants medical treatment in Canada should first determine whether they can enter as a visitor and satisfy the ordinary temporary-residence requirements. A Temporary Resident Permit becomes relevant where the person is inadmissible to Canada or otherwise does not meet the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act requirements and has a compelling reason to enter or remain in Canada.

Situation	Possible immigration framework
Person medically admissible and otherwise qualifies as a visitor	Regular temporary-resident/visitor process, with evidence of purpose, funds and ability to leave
Person needs medical treatment but is inadmissible on another ground	TRP may be considered if the compelling-reason test is met
Person is medically inadmissible	A TRP may be requested if there is a compelling reason and the officer determines the need outweighs the risks
Person wants routine or elective treatment in Canada	No automatic TRP entitlement; ordinary visitor admission and medical-financial arrangements must be considered

A TRP is discretionary and is not guaranteed. IRCC states that the applicant's need to enter or remain in Canada must outweigh the relevant health or safety risks.

9. If You Are Coming to Canada Specifically for Medical Treatment

A person seeking medical treatment should separate the immigration question from the healthcare and payment questions. Canadian immigration authorities may assess temporary-resident eligibility and medical admissibility, while the patient and healthcare provider must separately arrange treatment, payment and any required medical insurance.

Key Guidelines & Action Items

Obtain a treatment or appointment letter from the Canadian medical provider where applicable.
Confirm the estimated treatment cost and payment arrangements.
Determine whether the patient's immigration status permits the proposed visit.
Check whether an immigration medical examination is required.
Check whether the person has a medical inadmissibility issue.
Determine whether a TRP is actually relevant before submitting one.
Arrange appropriate private medical coverage where available and applicable.
Maintain evidence showing how medical and living expenses will be paid.

Official Government & Health Authority References

Frequently Asked Questions (6 Verified Answers)

The policy must be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry, cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage. Proof of the policy is required for each entry.

Yes. IRCC permits a qualifying insurance policy to be paid in full or in installments with a deposit. An insurance quote alone is not accepted; the applicant must have the actual qualifying policy.

Yes, but only if the foreign insurer satisfies IRCC's specific requirements, including the applicable OSFI authorization and Canadian insurance-business requirements. A foreign travel-insurance policy does not automatically qualify.

No. IRCC does not prescribe one universal stability period. Pre-existing-condition definitions, stability periods, exclusions and medical underwriting are determined by the particular insurance policy.

Not simply because you want medical treatment. A TRP is for foreign nationals who are inadmissible or otherwise do not meet IRPA requirements and have a compelling reason to enter or remain in Canada. Medical treatment can be relevant to that assessment, but a TRP is discretionary and not guaranteed.

The current Super Visa can allow eligible parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time and can provide multiple entries for up to 10 years, subject to the visa's validity and the applicable immigration requirements.

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