A Super visa is a special visa exclusive to foreign parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
The Super visa has its own specific requirements for applicants. They have to be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or resident and have a signed invitation letter from the host that includes a promise of financial support, details of family members and a copy of their citizenship or residency document. They must also be covered by a private Canadian insurer for a minimum of $100,000 in emergency coverage.
A major part of the Invitation letter is convincing immigration officials that the Super visa applicant will return home at the end of their visit. This ensures that applicants do not overstay the expiration of their Super visa and incur legal consequences.
If a parent or grandparent wishes to continue their stay beyond the stated limit, they can apply for an extension. We will go into details below.
How long can you stay in Canada with a Super visa?
As with all travel documents, the Super visa has an expiry date. The latest enhancement by the IRCC saw the permissible stay of Super visa holders extended to 5 years for applicants applying after July 4th, 2022, with provisions for multiple entries over a ten-year period.
Can you extend your Super visa?
Yes, holders can apply for an extension of their Super visa while in Canada. Super visa holders have the option to request an extension of up to two years- meaning that holders can stay for a total of seven consecutive years.
Visitors who want to extend their stay in Canada must apply for a visitor record. This document gives the applicant the status of a visitor in Canada along with an extended expiry date. It is recommended to apply at least 30 days before the expiry of the current status.
How to apply for an extension of a Canadian visa?
The IRCC offers the option of online applications with the added advantages of:
- No courier fee or mail delivery time
- Quicker processing of your application
- Ensures application is complete before submission
- Allows to submit more documents as required
- Applicants can receive direct updates on the status of their application
Interested applicants will need an IRCC account to apply online. The account will be used to pay fees, submit the application and keep up to date.
To apply for an extension, the applicant will have to respond to the first question- “What would you like to do in Canada?” with “Visit” and “What is your current country/ territory of residence?” with “Canada.”
Once submitted, you can stay in Canada until the IRCC makes a decision on your application.
How much does it cost to apply for a visa extension?
According to the IRCC portal, the fee to apply for an extension is $100.
Processing times for a Visa extension?
The processing time for an Online application is 181 days, according to the IRCC website.
The article should give you a brief idea of extending your stay in Canada, whether on a temporary visa, study permit, work permit or as a Super visa holder.
