The Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents | All you need to know

March 13, 2025

Ishita Soni

What is the Super Visa?

The Super Visa is a special visa for people who want to bring their parents or grandparents to Canada to visit them. It lets them stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time. While it doesn’t lead to permanent residency, it allows your relatives to stay for much longer than a regular visitor visa.

However, there is also another program called the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), but it has been closed since 2020. Unlike the PGP, the Super Visa is available year-round, and you don’t need to enter a lottery to apply.

Differences Between the Super Visa and PGP

While both allow you to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada, the PGP is for permanent residency, and it’s been closed for some time. The Super Visa, on the other hand, lets them visit for extended periods but does not grant permanent residency.

Who Can Apply for the Super Visa?

Both the host (you) and the relative (your parent or grandparent) need to meet certain requirements.

Host Requirements (You)

To sponsor your parent or grandparent for a Super Visa, you must:

• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian.
• Live in Canada when you apply and when your relatives arrive.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have enough income to support your relatives while they stay in Canada (this depends on your family size).

Minimum Income Requirements

The amount of income you need depends on how big your family is. For example, if you have a spouse or children, you will include them when calculating your family size. If your income is not enough, your spouse can co-sign the application to help.

Relative Requirements (Your Parent or Grandparent)

The person you want to sponsor must:

• Be your parent or grandparent, or their spouse or common-law partner.
• Have health insurance for the entire time they will stay in Canada (at least one year).
• Complete a medical exam to ensure they are healthy enough to enter Canada.
• Prove they will leave Canada after their visit (through ties to their home country).

How to Apply for a Super Visa

Your parent or grandparent will need to apply from outside Canada. Here’s what they need to do:

Step 1: Gather the Required Documents

They need to collect the following documents:

• A letter of invitation from you, promising to financially support them.
• Proof of your income and that you can meet the income requirements.
• Proof of the health insurance policy.
• Proof that you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Proof that they are indeed your parent or grandparent.

Step 2: Submit the Application

After gathering all the documents, your relative will need to submit the application through the IRCC Portal and pay any fees. It’s important to follow the instructions carefully to avoid delays or rejections.

Step 3: Biometrics Appointment

If the IRCC asks, they will need to go to a nearby biometric collection center to give fingerprints and a photo.

Step 4: Medical Exam

After submitting the application, they will get instructions about when and where to do a medical exam. Once done, they need to include proof of this in their application.

Step 5: Wait for Processing

The last step is to wait for the IRCC to process the application. Processing times may be different depending on where they apply from.

Important Things to Know

• The Super Visa lets your parent or grandparent stay in Canada for up to 5 years, and they can ask to stay for two more years after that.
• However, the Super Visa is temporary—it does not lead to permanent residency.
• Your relative will need to have valid health insurance for their stay, and they may need to take a medical exam.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

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