The Super Visa is a temporary visa that is an attractive option for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who want to bring their foreign parents and grandparents to Canada.
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The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to visit their family for up to five consecutive years without renewing their visitor status. Super Visa holders can enter Canada multiple times for up to 10 years. In addition, there is no lottery for the Super Visa, so it offers greater certainty to families hoping to sponsor.
Who is eligible for a Super Visa?
In order to be eligible for the Super Visa, an applicant must be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. A spouse or common law partner of the applicant may be included on the application, but no dependents may be included.
Moreover, the applicant must not be inadmissible to Canada on the basis of criminality or health. Super Visa applicants will need to undergo a medical examination. In addition, the purpose of the visit to Canada will be examined and the applicant must be able to maintain sufficient ties to their home country.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ensures that the parents and grandparents will be properly supported during their time in Canada. the child or grandchild of the applicant must be able to prove that they can meet the income requirements, identified by the Low-Income Cut Off (LICO) in the table below. The purpose of the income requirement is to assess the child or grandchild’s ability to financially support their family members, especially since the responsibility that can come with supporting an elderly family member can be large.
Low Income Cut-Off (LICO)
| Size of family unit | Minimum necessary gross income |
|---|---|
| 1 person (your child or grandchild) | $25,921 |
| 2 persons | $32,270 |
| 3 persons | $39,672 |
| 4 persons | $48,167 |
| 5 persons | $54,630 |
| 6 persons | $61,613 |
| 7 persons | $68,598 |
| More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add | $6,985 |
The proof may be in the form of the following documents:
- Notice of Assessment (NOA) or T4/T1 for the most recent tax year
- Employment Insurance Stubs
- An employment letter that includes salary and hire date
- Pay stubs
- Bank statements
The applicant must also provide a signed letter from their child or grandchild inviting them to Canada, which includes:
- A promise of financial support for the length of your visit
- The list and number of people in the household of this person
- A copy of this person’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document
The applicant must also have medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company that is:
- Valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
- At least $100,000 of emergency coverage
- Have proof that the medical insurance has been paid in full
How to Apply
Once the applicant has all the proper documentation, the application should be processed at the Canadian visa office responsible for the applications place of residence outside Canada.
After the application has been submitted, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will review it and may also ask that the applicant:
- Go to an interview with their officials in the applicant’s country
- To send more information
- To get a medical exam
- To get a police certificate
