What is Canada’s Super Visa?
The Super Visa is Canada’s answer for foreign parents and grandparents of Permanent residents and citizens who wish to visit Canada. The special visa allows them to visit and stay for up to five years at a time with multiple entries over a space of ten years.
What are the IRCC requirements to apply for a Super Visa?
The IRCC requires applicants to provide various documents, including:
- A letter of invitation written and signed by a child or grandchild promising financial support for the entire duration of your stay in Canada.
- Documentation to prove that the child or grandchild meets the low-income cut-off (LICO). This can be a copy of their federal income tax notice of assessment, a recent copy of their T4 or T1, a letter from their employer stating their job title and salary, or their insurance benefits statement.
- Evidence of a relationship between the parent/ grandparent and the Canadian resident.
- Proof of private medical insurance from a Canadian company valid for at least one year.
What is a Low-Income cut-off (LICO) for a Super visa?
A Canadian resident’s Income must fall within the IRCC’s Low-income cut-off to obtain a Super visa for their foreign parents or grandparents.
The Low-income cut-off amount varies with the size of the family and is as follows.
| Size of Family Unit | Minimum necessary Gross Income |
| 1 person | $26,620 |
| 2 persons | $33,140 |
| 3 persons | $40,742 |
| 4 persons | $49,466 |
| 5 persons | $56,104 |
| 6 persons | $63,276 |
| 7 persons | $70,448 |
| For each additional person above 7 persons | $7,172 |
The family size should include the host (the child or grandchild), their spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, the parent/ grandparent coming to Canada, and anyone else sponsored by the host.
What is the need for a Low-Income cut-off for Super visas?
The Low-income cut-off ensures that the host can adequately cater to the needs of their dependents during their stay in Canada.
What are the other financial requirements for a Super visa?
Apart from the income obligations, Parents and grandparents must also be covered by medical insurance from a private Canadian insurer. The IRCC also specifies that such insurance must be paid in full or through monthly instalments. The medical insurance should be valid for at least a year from entering Canada and provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage.
What is the application fee for a Canadian Super visa?
The application carries a fee of $100.
The future of the Super Visa
The Canadian government has introduced much-needed incentives to the Super visa. Over the course of the past year, the Canadian government has extended the duration of stay for holders to five years per entry, with the option to extend by another two years while in Canada. This was a significant shake-up from the old policy that only allowed holders to stay for up to two years per entry.
Further, the IRCC also announced in 2022 that they would designate international medical insurance companies to provide coverage for super visa applicants.
These positive changes come at a time when Canada leans heavily on qualified economic migrants to fill gaps in its economy. Family Reunification has become a priority for a country with one of the most accommodation immigration policies as it strives to attract, retain and integrate newcomers at an unprecedented pace.
