If you’re living in Canada as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and hoping to sponsor your parent(s) or grandparent(s) to live with you, the Super Visa is likely your best option.
Canada has only one family reunification program for sponsoring these relative for permanent residency—the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)—and this has been closed to intake since 2020.
While not a pathway towards permanent residency in Canada, the Super Visa allows the host’s relative(s) to visit them in Canada for years at a time.
Sponsor your parents or grandparents to come to Canada
If your relative(s) only want to stay for six months or less, a regular visitor visa is the way to go if they’re from a visa-required country. If not, an Electronic Authorization (eTA) will suffice (if arriving by air from an eTA-required country).
The rest of this article will cover
- Key differences and Super Visa and the PGP;
- Eligibility requirements for both the host and sponsored person(s);
- The minimum required income for hosts; and
- How to apply.
About the Super Visa
The Super Visa allows eligible hosts to sponsor their parent(s) or grandparent(s) to become temporary residents in Canada for up to five years at a time while they visit their child or grandchild.
Super Visa holders also have the option to request a two-year extension once the five years are up—but it’s important to note that the visa will only be valid for a 10-year period.
These visas are available year-round, unlike the PGP, which sends out invitations to apply once per year and operates on a lottery system.
The Super Visa does not grant permanent residency status, and does not authorize holders to work or study in Canada.
While both the PGP and Super Visa facilitate family reunification, there are some important differences:
| Factors | Super Visa | PGP |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Can apply at any time | Once-a-year lottery system |
| Processing time | *6 months or less | Intent to live in Quebec: 48 months
Intent to live outside Quebec: 33 months |
| Maximum length of stay | 5 years, with the possibility of a 2-year extension | Unlimited |
| Invitation required? | Direct application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Portal. | Must receive an invitation to apply (ITA) after submitting an interest to sponsor form. |
| Status granted | Visitor status | Canadian permanent residence |
| Financial requirements | Host must meet the minimum necessary income requirements, dependent on family size, for the most recent tax year. | Host must meet the minimum necessary income, dependent on family size, for the past 3 taxation years. |
| Medical insurance | Required | Not required |
*Processing times for the PGP are country-dependent.
Sponsor your parents or grandparents to come to Canada
Eligibility requirements
There are certain criteria both hosts and their relatives must meet when applying for a Super Visa.
Sponsor eligibility
Only eligible candidates can sponsor their parent(s) or grandparent(s) for a Super Visa. To be considered an eligible host, you need to
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian;
- Reside in Canada at the time of application and at the time your relatives arrive;
- Be at least 18 years of age; and
- Meet or exceed the minimum income requirements (based on family size).
To apply, you must promise to support your relatives throughout their stay in Canada.
Minimum income requirements
The the annual income you need to sponsor your relatives depends on the size of your family.
Your spouse or common-law partner can co-sign the application to help meet the income requirements.
You should include the following people when calculating your family size
- Yourself;
- Your spouse;
- Your dependent children;
- Your spouse’s dependent children;
- The people you are sponsoring (e.g., your grandparent and their spouse, if applicable);
- Previously approved Super Visa applicants you or your co-signer has sponsored whose stay in Canada has not ended; and
- People you or your co-signer have previously sponsored (if the duration of the undertaking is still in effect).
The following table details the minimum income necessary in relation to family size.
| Number of family members | Annual income required |
|---|---|
| 1 | $29,380 |
| 2 | $36,576 |
| 3 | $44,966 |
| 4 | $54,594 |
| 5 | $61,920 |
| 6 | $69,834 |
| 7 | $77,750 |
More than seven: For every additional family member, an additional $7,916 should be added.
Sponsee eligibility
Parent(s) and grandparent(s), as well as their spouses or common-law partners, can be included in the application. The application does not permit the inclusion of dependents.
All individuals listed in the Super Visa application have to be admissible to Canada and purchase health insurance for the duration of their stay.
The health insurance policy should
- Be valid for at least a year, beginning from date of entry;
- Provide a minimum coverage of $100,000;
- Be paid in full or in instalments; and
- Cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation.
The policy also needs to be issued by either a Canadian insurance company or foreign insurer outside Canada—providing they meet Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada‘s (IRCC) standards.
In addition to this necessary health policy, sponsored parties are required to take an immigration medical exam. After their application has been submitted, they will be sent instructions on how and when to book their appointment, as well as the type of exam.
Furthermore, IRCC must be satisfied that your relative has an intent to leave Canada at the end of their stay. This can be proven through several factors such as ties to their home country and the purpose of their visit.
How sponsees can apply
Only your parent(s) or grandparent(s) need to submit an application, but you must provide them with certain documents to include in their application.
They must apply from outside Canada.
Step one: Gather the necessary documentation for the application, including
- The letter of invitation from the sponsoring host, including the promise of financial support, and list and number of people included in the calculation of family size;
- Proof of the host’s income;
- Proof of a health insurance policy;
- Proof that the host (and their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable) is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian; and
- Proof of the relationship to the host.
Step two: Submit the application on the IRCC Portal and pay all associated fees. Closely follow the instructions provided in order to avoid processing delays or outright application refusal.
Step three: Book an appointment as soon as possible at the nearest official biometric collection site if IRCC determines that the applicant(s) is (are) required to submit biometrics.
Step four: Wait to hear back from IRCC regarding the date and time the applicant(s) need(s) to complete the medical exam, as well as the type. Once completed, include proof of the exam in the application.
Step five: Wait for the application to be processed—processing times can vary significantly based on the visa office where you submitted your application.
Sponsor your parents or grandparents to come to Canada
