IMMIGRATION.EDUCATION.NATURALIZATION
Canada’s Super Visa For Parents
and Grandparents to Visit
A super visa can be just as exciting as it sounds—this travel document allows you to visit your children or grandchildren in Canada for up to 2 years at a time. A super visa allows parents and grandparents to enter Canada multiple times for a period of up to 10 years.
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Have a signed letter from your child or grandchild inviting you to Canada, along with their promise of financial support for the duration of your stay.
- Have medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company that is valid for at least 1 year and has at minimum $100,000 coverage.
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadians to come to Canada. Initially, they can come for up to two years without having to renew their status, and can enter multiple times over a 10 year period.
This visa is available all year, and is an alternative to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for those seeing to reunite with their parents and grandparents temporarily. Since the PGP has high demand and limited space, the Super Visa offers more certainty of family reunification. It is especially useful for citizens of countries that need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to travel to Canada, as it means they do not have to constantly re-apply for a visitor’s visa.
This visa is available all year, and is an alternative to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for those seeing to reunite with their parents and grandparents temporarily. Since the PGP has high demand and limited space, the Super Visa offers more certainty of family reunification. It is especially useful for citizens of countries that need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to travel to Canada, as it means they do not have to constantly re-apply for a visitor’s visa.
Immigration officers ultimately want to ensure that you will leave by choice at the end of your stay. To assess this, they may also look at other aspects of your life such as the purpose of your visit, your finances, as well as any instability in your home country. Notably, you cannot include any dependents on a super visa application.
How to apply for a Super Visa?
Applicants have to apply from outside Canada. The Super Visa process is similar to the regular TRV process, however, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) needs to ensure that the parents and grandparents will be well supported during their time in Canada. Some of these additional documents include a signed letter from their Canadian child or grandchild, and medical insurance of at least $100,000 from a Canadian insurance company.
The letter must include a promise of financial support throughout the duration of the visit. The Canadian must prove their citizenship or permanent residency status with documentation, and include a list of the people in their household.
Immigration officers will also consider whether or not the applicant will actually leave the country at the end of the authorized stay. According to the government website, they will examine the applicant’s ties to their home country, the purpose of their visit, family and finances, and the overall political stability of their home country.
As a family reunification program, over 90% of parents and grand-parents choose to apply under the Super visa stream as compared to the visitor visa due to its higher approval rate. Furthermore, it provides additional safeguard for your loved ones as they carry extended medical/travel insurance. Looking to sponsor your parents under the Super Visa program, we can help! Book a free consultation