Canada Super Visa

A super visa is a multiple-entry visa specifically for the parents and grandparents of PR holders and Canadian citizens. Super visa holders can visit and stay in Canada for up to five years without needing to renew their status.

 

What is the Super Visa?

A super visa allows you to visit your children and grandchildren for five years at a time. It is a type of multiple-entry, temporary residence visa that comes with a validity of ten years. The visa can be extended for 2-years from within Canada. The legal immigration status of parents and grandparents visiting their family in Canada will be that of a visitor. The application intake for the super visa will be held throughout the year, similar to that of the Parents and Grandparents program (PGP). With a Canada Super visa, parents and grandparents can freely travel from Canada to their country of nationality without re-applying for the Temporary resident visa. IRCC will issue an official letter to super visa holders, which will authorize their visit to Canada for up to two years at the initial entry.

 

Comparison: Super Visa vs. Visitor Visa

Canada super visa is a visitor visa exclusively for parents and grandparents. In contrast, a Canada visit visa allows individuals to visit their family and friends, attend a business, and undergo medical treatment in Canada. One of the major differences between a super visa and a visit visa is the duration of stay in the country. A visit visa comes with a validity of 6 to 12 months with the option of extending the stay period, while a Super visa lets you stay in Canada for two years without needing to re-apply for the visa.

The table given below has the list of differences between a Canada super visa vs. visitor visa:

Factor	Canada super visa	Canada visit visa
Duration of stay	For up to 5 years	For up to 6 months
Validity of visa	Valid for up to 10 years	Up to 6 months
Eligibility	Parents and grandparents	Anyone can apply
Type of entry	Multiple-entry visa	Can be single-entry or multiple entry
Processing time	4-6 months	8-40 days

 

Benefits of choosing the Super Visa over other visas

Some of the benefits of choosing a Super visa over other visas:

• A super visa is valid for 10 years without needing to be renewed, while a visit visa is only valid for two years.
• Candidates with a super visa can stay in Canada for up to 5 years; while a visit visa lets you stay for six months.
• The super visa is only open for parents and grandparents, making the process more streamlined.
• Super visa is a multiple entry visa allowing the candidates to travel to and from the country freely
• The super visa can also be extended if you wish to extend your stay in the country

 

Key Eligibility Criteria for the Canadian Super Visa

To qualify for a Canada super visa, your sponsor must be:

• A child or grandchild
• A citizen of Canada or PR holder with proof of:

• The citizenship document of the host
• PR document of the host
• Secure Certificate of Indian Status or Certificate of Indian Status (status card)

• Must be 18 years of age
• Must be residing in Canada
• Must meet the income requirements
• Letter of invitation 

 

Income thresholds and proof of funds

As proof of sufficient funds, one must submit the following documents:

• Copy of the Notice of Assessment
• Copy of T4 or T1 from the employer
• Offer letter with details of job description, salary, and job title
• Pay slips
• Provide proof of sources of income like investments, pensions etc.

 

The minimum amount of funds required to immigrate to Canada depends on the number of family members. The sponsor must fulfill the following income requirements mentioned in the table below:

Number of family members	Funds you need (in Canadian dollars)
1	$29,380
2	$36,576
3	$44,966
4	$54,594
5	$61,920
6	$69,834
7	$77,750
If more than 7 people, for each additional family member, add	$7,916

 

Medical and police clearance requirements

The complete lists of medical requirements that are to be submitted by the sponsor are as follows:

Must have a valid medical insurance policy from:

• An IRCC-approved insurance company outside Canada
• Canada-based insurance company

The medical insurance policy must:

• Have a validity of 12 months starting from the entry date
• Must be paid in installments or total with a prior deposit
• Must cover repatriation, hospitalization, and healthcare
• Must cover a minimum of $100,000 of the emergency coverage

Super visa holders must have a valid health insurance policy during their stay in the country. If the insurance expires before you exit the country, you may have to maintain it throughout your stay in Canada or renew it. Super visa holders with private health insurance must ensure it is valid for each entry into the country.

Note: The border services officer may request proof of paid insurance at entry.

 

Relationship criteria (parents and grandparents)

You can sponsor the parents and grandparents to apply for a Canada super visa if:

• You are a child or grandchild of the visa applicant
• You are a citizen of Canada or a PR holder

You can prove the above factor with copies of any of the below documents:

• Citizenship document
• PR document
• Indian status card

As proof of your relationship with the sponsor, you must submit:

• Copy of the sponsor’s baptismal or birth certificate
• Legal document that proves you are the parent or grandparent of the sponsor

Note: Dependents cannot be included in the application. 

 

Canada Super Visa Requirements

Documentation needed from the applicant and sponsor:

The checklists of documents that are to be fulfilled by the applicant are:

• An invitation from your sponsor (child or grandchild)

A Super visa application is incomplete without a letter of Invitation from the Canadian sponsor.  The letter of Invitation from a child grandchild must include the following details:

• Date of birth
• Full name
• Complete address
• Contact number
• Proof of relationship with the sponsor
• Purpose of your trip
• Details of the duration of stay in the country
• Information on the duration of stay in the country
• Proof of accommodation during your stay
• Medical certificate
• Valid health insurance with a minimum of 12 months of coverage

 

The checklists of documents that are to be fulfilled by the sponsor are:

• Must be 18 years or older
• Be a Canadian citizen or PR holder
• Fulfill the income requirements
• Letter from the employer with job title, job description, and salary details
• Proof of bank statements

 

Proof of relationship and financial support

Your relationship with the sponsor (parents or grandchildren) can be proven by submitting the following:

• Birth certificate or baptismal certificate of the sponsor
• Official documents stating your relationship with the sponsor

The sponsor (child or grandchild) must fulfill the minimum income requirement threshold known as the low-income cut-off (LICO). Statistics Canada annually updates the LICO. You can submit the following checklist documents as proof of income requirements. 

• Notice of Assessment (NOA)
• T4 or T1 of last year’s tax
• Pay slips for the recent 12 months
• Statements of employment insurance benefits
• Confirmation letter from an accountant verifying the annual income
• Proof of any additional income sources

 

Medical insurance requirements (minimum coverage, duration, recognized providers)

The medical insurance policy that you possess must meet the criteria below:

• Validity of at least 12 months
• Have paid the total amount or a deposit in installments
• It covers repatriation, hospitalization charges, and healthcare
• Offers a coverage of at least $100,000
• It is valid each time you enter the country
• Should be available for review by a Canadian official at the port of entry

 

How to Apply for a Canada Super Visa?

The application process for the Canada super visa is similar to that of a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). The application will be examined based on many factors, such as the purpose of the visit, proof of sufficient funds, proof of relationship between the sponsor and the visa holder, minimum income requirements, etc. Parents and grandparents who are applying for a super visa must undergo a complete medical check-up, and any additional instructions and forms will be granted after the application submission. Super visa applicants can apply for the visa online and offline, but they must be outside the country when applying.

 

Online vs. paper application

How to submit your Super visa application online?

Step 1: Receive an invite code

You must receive an invite code to create your IRCC account for the first time. 

Step 2: Create an online account

The next step would be to create an account online and sign into it.

Step 3: Complete the form and submit the documents

Fill in the online application form and upload the required documents for a Canada super visa

Step 4: Pay the required fee

Pay the required application fee for the Super visa. The visa fees can be paid via prepaid cards and credit cards.

Step 5: Await the visa status

Once the fee payment is completed, you can wait for the status of your Super visa.  

 

How to submit your Super visa application offline?

The Super visa applications are usually applied online with only online applications being accepted and processed. However, one can apply via paper if they fall under any of the two criteria given below:

• You are unable to apply online because of a disability (or)
• You are traveling with a travel or identity document that was  issued to a stateless person, refugee or non-citizen

You can apply offline or via paper by following the steps given below:

Step 1: Check if you are eligible to apply online

Step 2: Arrange the required, documents for the Super visa 

Step 3: Pay the application fees

Step 4: Submit the application form

Step 5: Wait for the status of your visa

 

Detailed guide to filling out the application forms

The Canada super visa application can be completed via two different application modes. You can apply online for the super visa by following the above directions, while offline applications can be submitted via paper for candidates with certain exemptions.

 

How is your Canada super visa application processed?

• Once the application is submitted, the concerned authorities review and verify the authenticity of the required documents. 
• Upon clearing the document check, a visa representative will decide on your visa interview. The candidate will then be notified about the place and time of the interview.
• If the applicant's application is approved, the list of submitted documents, along with the passport, is returned to them.
• In cases where the application is rejected, the passport and documents are returned along with an explanation of why the application was refused.

 

Super Visa Letter of Invitation from your Child or Grandchild

Super visa applicants are required to submit a letter of invitation. The sponsor (child or grandchild) in Canada must sign and write an invitation letter. The letter can be co-signed by a qualifying spouse or common-law partner of the sponsor to meet the minimum income requirements.

The letter of invitation, along with supporting documents, must include the following:

• A promise to financially support the super visa applicant throughout their stay in the country
• A complete list of family members to assess if the sponsor meets the minimum required income

 

How to calculate your family size?

The list of individuals that should be included in calculating the family size count to meet the minimum income requirements is as follows:

• The sponsor
• Sponsor’s spouse or common-law partner (Can include separated spouse)
• Dependent children of the sponsor, the sponsor’s spouse or common law partner (Can include dependent children of any dependent children). Children who fulfill the “Dependent children” definition can also be added to the count.
• Super visa applicant or other super visa applicant applying at the same time like super visa applicant’s spouse or common-law partner
• Super visa applicants who were previously approved (Any valid super visa holders who were sent a Letter of invitation by the sponsor or the sponsor’s spouse)
• Candidates who were previously sponsored like:

• Candidates who were previously sponsored by the sponsor or sponsor’s spouse for whom the duration of undertaking is still currently in effect

 

What should be included in a Letter of Invitation?

The checklist of documents that are to be included while writing a Letter of Invitation is as follows:

Details of the Super visa applicant:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Complete residential address
• Contact details like phone number
• Proof of your relationship with the applicant
• Purpose of the trip
• Duration of your stay in the country
• Proof of residence of the applicant along with roof of funds
• When the applicant plans to exit the country

 

Details of the sponsor:

• Complete name
• Date of birth
• Address and contact details like phone number
• Job role & title
• Complete details of the family, like names and date of birth of spouse and dependents
• Proof that you are a Canadian citizen or PR
• Documents to support your status in the country:
• Birth certificate in Canada: if you are born there
• Citizenship card if you are a naturalized citizen
• Copy of PR card or IMM 1000
• Indian status card or Certificate of Indian Status

 

Canada Super Visa Processing Time

The application process for a Canada super visa is similar to that of a Temporary Graduate visa (TGV). Once submitted, the application is examined by the officials to check if it includes all the required documents. An incomplete application will most likely be rejected or refused. You may also be asked to:

• Attend an interview with one of the officials
• Send other additional information
• Get a medical examination
• Get a police clearance certificate

Most super visa applications are processed within a few months or even before that, depending on the visa office and the submission of requirements, along with other factors.

Approved applicants receive a letter with instructions for submitting their passports to receive a visa. If you belong to a visa-exempt country, you will be issued a letter to hand to the border services officer when you enter the country.

 

Factors that can affect processing times

The processing time for a Canada visa varies depending on several factors, such as the completeness of the application, the type of visa, and the time of the year. Some of the factors that influence the application processing time are as follows:

• Application intake: The processing times may slow down when there is a huge volume or intake of applications.
• Country of residence: The country from which you apply also impacts the processing time. Some countries have different application volumes and processing procedures that can further affect the processing time.
• Medical insurance: Health insurance is a key requirement for a Super visa application. Availing the medical insurance services from the right insurance company can avoid delays in your application processing time.
• Prompt response to any additional requests: The officials may ask for further requirements and documents related to your application. Not responding promptly to the officials can postpone the processing of your application.
• Changes in immigration policies: Any new changes or updates announced to immigration policies will directly alter and impact the processing times. Stay updated on the latest immigration policies.

 

Current average processing times and how to check the status

The average processing time for a Canada super visa can take around 4-6 months.

Depending on how you apply for the visa, you can check the status of your super visa application using any of the three methods given below.

If you have applied through the IRCC secure account:

Step 1: Sign in to your IRCC account

Step 2: Click on “Check status and messages” under the “View my submitted applications or profiles.” section.

*Note: For a detailed breakdown of the events in your application, you may be required to open a different account with a unique client identifier (UCI) and application number via the Application Status Tracker.

If you have applied through the IRCC portal:

Step 1: Sign in to your IRCC account

Step 2: Check the status of your visa

*Note: For a detailed breakdown of the events in your application, you may be required to open a different account with a unique client identifier (UCI) and application number via the Application Status Tracker.

If you applied offline via paper:

If you have applied offline, the first step is to link your paper application to the IRCC account so you can check your status.

Step 1: Link your paper application to the IRCC secure account

(Sort out all the emails received related to your application along with the identification numbers)

Step 2: Check the updated status of your application

You can find the following list in your account:

• Application status
• Application-related emails and messages
• Any requests from the officials regarding additional documents or other information

 

Canada Super Visa Cost

The application cost for a Canada super visa is $100, with a biometric fee of $85. The table below has a complete breakdown of all the costs for a Super visa:

Fees	$CAN
Visitor visa - per person Single or multiple entry temporary resident visa	100
Visitor visa – per family (1 fee per family of 5 or more people) Single or multiple entry temporary resident visa; maximum fee for a family of 5 or more people applying at the same time and place	$500
Extend your stay as a visitor – per person	$100
Restore your status as a visitor (Visa fee not needed)	$229

 

Super Visa for Visa-Exempt Visitors

Individuals from certain countries that do not require a visitor visa to travel to Canada are also known as visa-exempt visitors. Visa-exempt visitors can stay in Canada for six months without renewing their status. However, parents and grandparents from visa-exempt countries can still apply for a Super visa to be eligible to stay in the country for up to 5 years at a time. The application process for visa-exempt parents and grandparents will be the same as the regular Super visa application process. Visitors from visa-exempt countries who travel to Canada by air must apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

List of visa-exempt countries
Andorra	Italy
Australia	Japan
Austria	Republic of Korea
Bahamas	Latvia
Barbados	Liechtenstein
Belgium	Lithuania
British citizen	Luxembourg
British National (Overseas)	Malta
British overseas citizen (re-admissible to the United Kingdom)	Monaco
British Subject with a right of abode in the United Kingdom	Netherlands
Brunei Darussalam	New Zealand
Bulgaria	Norway
Chile	Papua New Guinea
Croatia	Poland
Cyprus	Portugal
Czech Republic	Romania (electronic passport holders only)
Denmark	Samoa
Estonia	San Marino
Finland	Singapore
France	Slovakia
Germany	Slovenia
Greece	Solomon Islands
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, must have a passport issued by Hong Kong SAR.	Spain
Hungary	Sweden
Iceland	Switzerland
Ireland	Taiwan, must have an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes the personal identification number
Israel, must have a national Israeli passport	United Arab Emirates
	Vatican City State, must have a passport or travel document issued by the Vatican.

 

Canada Super Visa Extensions

The Canada super visa allows candidates to stay in the country for up to five years. You can extend your stay if you wish to remain longer. The application for extending your application can be submitted no more than 30 days before the expiry of the current visa status. Suppose the current visa expires while your extension application is being processed. In that case, you can stay in Canada until a decision is made, which can be known as implied status.

Documentation needed for extensions

The checklist of documents required to extend your Canada super visa:

• A copy of your residential permit
• A copy of your passport
• A copy of the visa application
• Copy of bank statements
• Copy of visa application and passport of parents
• Police verification certificate
• Notarized lease agreement & C Form

 

Duration and limitations of extensions

The Canada super visa is valid for ten years and allows the applicants to stay in the country for up to 5 years at each entry. The visa can be extended for an additional two years, giving the visa holder more time to spend with their family.