Super Visa Canada: The Complete Guide (2026)

The super visa is the most powerful way for most families to bring parents and grandparents to Canada for long visits. This guide walks through what it is, who qualifies, every requirement, how long they can stay, how to apply, and what changed in 2026. Use it as your home base and follow the links to our free tools when you need a precise answer.

What the super visa is

The super visa is a special temporary resident visa for parents and grandparents. Unlike a regular visitor visa, it is multiple-entry and valid for up to 10 years, and each entry can last for years rather than months.

It does not make your parent a permanent resident, and it does not lead directly to citizenship. It is a visitor status — your parent stays a visitor, just one who can remain in Canada for a very long time. If you want permanent status instead, compare the two paths in our super visa vs sponsorship guide.

Who qualifies

Two people must qualify: the host in Canada and the visitor coming to Canada. Both sides have conditions.

The host (the person inviting)

• Must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a registered Indian under the Indian Act.
• Must be the child or grandchild of the person being invited.
• Must meet a minimum income for the household size (more on this below).
• Must sign a letter of invitation promising to support the visitor financially.

The visitor (the person coming)

• Must be a parent or grandparent of the host. Spouses and dependants of the parent can sometimes be included.
• Must be admissible to Canada (no serious criminal or medical inadmissibility).
• Must buy qualifying medical insurance and pass an immigration medical exam.

Not sure if you both qualify? Run the free eligibility check first — it takes a minute and flags the common problems before you spend money.

The core requirements

There are three financial and health requirements that decide most applications: income, insurance, and the medical exam. Get these right and you are most of the way there.

Income

The host must show a minimum income based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus a margin, for their family size. The figure rises with each additional person. We cover the exact thresholds and how to count your family size in the income requirements guide, and you can test your own numbers in the income calculator.

Insurance

The visitor must hold at least CAD $100,000 in medical coverage from a Canadian insurer, valid for at least one year. It must stay valid for the whole stay. See the full breakdown in our insurance guide.

Medical exam

The visitor must complete an immigration medical exam (IME) with an IRCC panel physician. Only doctors on IRCC's approved list count — a regular family doctor cannot do it.

How long they can stay

This is where most online confusion lives. Since June 22, 2023, super visa holders can stay up to 5 years per entry. Entries before that date were limited to 2 years. The date that matters is the date your parent entered Canada.

A CBSA officer can hand-write a shorter leave-by date at the border, and if they do, that date governs. With no written date, the default 5-year stay applies.

How to apply, step by step

1. Confirm eligibility for both host and visitor using the eligibility tool.
2. Gather host income proof — Notice of Assessment, pay stubs, or pension statements. Check the bar with the income calculator.
3. Buy medical insurance ($100K, Canadian insurer, 1 year) before applying.
4. Write the invitation letter — use our invitation letter helper.
5. Submit the online application with all supporting documents.
6. Give biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a collection point, usually VFS Global.
7. Complete the medical exam with an IRCC panel physician.
8. Wait for a decision — check current speeds on the processing times page.

Want a printable to-do list? The document checklist lays out everything you need to upload.

What changed in March 2026

On March 31, 2026, IRCC made the income rule more flexible in two ways. First, a two-year rule: you can now qualify using either of your two most recent tax years, and this applies retroactively to applications already in process. Second, a parent's own income — such as a pension or investments — can now help meet the threshold.

Where to go next

Dig into the full requirements, the income rules, and the insurance guide. When you are ready to act, the eligibility, income, and stay duration calculators do the math for you.