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🇨🇦 Current IRCC Super Visa Framework 2026

Canada Super Visa Master Guide for Parents & Grandparents 2026

Understand the current 2026 Super Visa rules for parents and grandparents, including 5-year stays, the new income test, mandatory medical insurance, medical exams and the application process.

1. What the Super Visa Is and Who Qualifies

The Super Visa is a multiple-entry temporary resident visa for the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. It is designed for longer family visits than an ordinary visitor visa.

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be the parent or grandparent of the host child or grandchild.
  • The host must be at least 18 years old and live in Canada.
  • The host must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
  • The host must meet the applicable Minimum Necessary Income requirement and sign the invitation letter.
  • The applicant must apply from outside Canada.
  • The applicant must provide proof of the qualifying family relationship and the host's Canadian status.
  • The applicant must complete an immigration medical examination with an approved panel physician.
  • The applicant must obtain qualifying private health insurance.
  • The applicant must satisfy Canada's general temporary-resident and admissibility requirements, including convincing the officer that they will leave Canada when required.

Stay Rules

  • For Super Visa applications made on or after June 22, 2023, a holder can stay for up to 5 years at a time after entry.
  • Before authorized status expires, the holder can apply from inside Canada to extend the stay for up to 2 additional years.
  • The Super Visa can provide multiple entries for up to 10 years, subject to the validity of the visa, passport and applicable biometric limitations.
  • The maximum period is not an automatic guarantee at every entry; the border services officer determines the authorized stay.
  • A Super Visa does not authorize the holder to work or study in Canada.

2. Super Visa vs Ordinary Visitor Visa

A Super Visa is a specialized visitor document for qualifying parents and grandparents and has longer potential stays and additional eligibility requirements.

FeatureSuper VisaOrdinary Visitor Visa
PurposeLonger visits to a qualifying child or grandchild in CanadaGeneral temporary visits
StayUp to 5 years at a time for eligible applications made on or after June 22, 2023Length is determined under ordinary visitor rules; do not assume a fixed 6-month stay
Health InsuranceMandatory qualifying private policyNo Super Visa-specific $100,000 insurance condition
Host Income TestSpecific host MNI requirementNo Super Visa MNI test
Medical ExamImmigration medical exam requiredRequirements depend on the applicant's circumstances and IRCC instructions
Application Fee$100 CAD per applicant unless visa-exemptVisitor-visa fee follows the ordinary TRV fee schedule

3. 2026 Host Income Requirement

The Super Visa uses a Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) test. From March 31, 2026, IRCC allows two alternative ways to satisfy the income requirement.

Family Size RuleFamily size includes the host and family members, the invited parent or grandparent applicant(s), and other people who must be counted under the current IRCC rules, including certain previously approved Super Visa applicants and people covered by an existing sponsorship undertaking.

Income Options

  • Option 1: Host income, including eligible co-signer income, meets or exceeds the applicable MNI in either of the two taxation years immediately preceding the application.
  • Option 2: The host/co-signer meets the required most-recent-year income threshold and the visiting parent or grandparent's qualifying income is added to meet the applicable MNI.

Proof

  • The host or co-signer should provide the CRA Notice of Assessment for the taxation year(s) relied on under the current income option.
  • IRCC provides alternative evidence where an NOA is unavailable, including certain tax forms, employer letters, pay records and other documents demonstrating income.
  • The invitation letter must list the people included in the host's family-size calculation.

4. Super Visa Health Insurance and Medical Requirements

Private medical insurance is a core Super Visa eligibility requirement. The policy must satisfy IRCC's exact coverage, validity, insurer and payment rules.

Insurance Rules

  • Minimum emergency medical coverage: $100,000 CAD.
  • The policy must be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry.
  • It must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
  • It must be valid for each entry to Canada.
  • It can be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit.
  • A quote alone is not accepted as proof of insurance.
  • A Canadian insurance company can qualify.
  • A foreign insurance company can qualify only where it satisfies the current OSFI and Canadian-insurance-business requirements.
  • Proof of insurance may be requested by a border services officer on entry, and coverage should be renewed when necessary to maintain insurance during the stay.

Medical Rules

  • Applicants must complete an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician.
  • Medical admissibility is separate from the financial and insurance tests.
  • Insurance treatment of pre-existing conditions depends on the actual policy and underwriting terms; do not treat a particular 90-day or 180-day stability period as an IRCC-wide rule.

5. Invitation, Documents and Application Process

The application must establish the family relationship, the host's Canadian status, the host's income and invitation, the applicant's insurance and medical eligibility, and the applicant's overall temporary-resident case.

Required Documents

  • Signed invitation letter from the host child or grandchild.
  • Proof that the host is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
  • Proof of the parent/grandparent relationship, such as the host's birth certificate or another official relationship document.
  • Proof that the host meets the applicable MNI using the income option relied upon.
  • Proof of qualifying private medical insurance.
  • Proof of completion of the required immigration medical examination.
  • Any additional documents required by the applicable visa-office instructions.
  • Biometrics evidence where requested by IRCC.
Co Signer RuleThe host's spouse or common-law partner may co-sign and provide income evidence if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. Other relatives, such as siblings of the host, cannot co-sign the Super Visa invitation.

Application Steps

  • Confirm the applicant qualifies as the host's parent or grandparent.
  • Calculate the correct family size and select the applicable 2026 MNI income method.
  • Prepare the invitation letter and host-status/relationship evidence.
  • Obtain qualifying health insurance and proof of purchase.
  • Complete the immigration medical examination.
  • Submit the application from outside Canada through the current IRCC online process.
  • Pay the applicable $100 Super Visa fee unless visa-exempt and pay the biometrics fee if required.
  • Complete biometrics after receiving instructions where applicable.
  • Carry insurance proof and relevant documents when travelling to Canada.
Application Fee$100 CAD per Super Visa applicant unless the person is from a visa-exempt country. Biometrics can be an additional $85 when required.

6. Practical 2026 Super Visa Checklist

Quick Warnings

  • Do not confuse Super Visa income rules with the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) sponsorship income rules.
  • Do not claim that approval is guaranteed or that the applicant will automatically receive a full 5-year stay.
  • Do not treat pre-existing-condition stability periods from one insurer as universal IRCC requirements.
  • Do not treat biometrics as mandatory for every applicant.
  • Do not use an insurance quote as a substitute for proof of qualifying purchased coverage.

Mandatory Action Checklist

✓Host is the applicant's child or grandchild.
✓Host is at least 18 and lives in Canada.
✓Host is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
✓Correct family size has been calculated.
✓2026 MNI has been checked using the appropriate income option.
✓If relying on parent/grandparent income under the alternative method, all required income evidence has been prepared.
✓Invitation letter is complete and includes the family-size details required by IRCC.
✓Relationship evidence and host-status evidence are ready.
✓Insurance provides at least $100,000 emergency coverage and is valid for at least 1 year from entry.
✓Insurance covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation and is paid in the manner IRCC permits.
✓Medical examination has been completed with an approved panel physician.
✓Local visa-office instructions have been reviewed.
✓Biometrics have been completed if requested.
✓Applicant understands that the Super Visa does not authorize work or study.
✓Applicant will maintain required health insurance while in Canada and on re-entry.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For Super Visa applications made on or after June 22, 2023, the holder can stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time. Before status expires, they can apply from inside Canada for an extension of up to 2 additional years.

The host must be the applicant's child or grandchild, be at least 18 years old, live in Canada and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. The host's spouse or common-law partner can co-sign if they meet the required Canadian-status conditions.

The applicable MNI depends on family size. From March 31, 2026, the host can generally qualify using income at or above the required amount in either of the two taxation years immediately preceding the application, or by using the alternative method that combines qualifying host income with the visiting parent or grandparent's income.

The applicant needs private health insurance with at least $100,000 CAD in emergency coverage, valid for at least 1 year from entry, covering health care, hospitalization and repatriation. The policy must be valid for each entry and may be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit.

The Super Visa requires an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician. Biometrics are required when IRCC instructs the applicant to provide them; the current biometrics fee is $85 when applicable.

No. A Super Visa is a temporary resident visitor document and does not itself authorize work or study. A separate permit is generally required for those activities.

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2026 Super Visa Metrics

Stay Per EntryUp to 5 years
In-Canada ExtensionUp to 2 additional years
Medical InsuranceMinimum $100,000 emergency coverage
Super Visa Fee$100 CAD per applicant unless visa-exempt

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