Super Visa Insurance
Bring your parents and grandparents to Canada — covered and approved.
✓ Compare 12 insurers✓ Meets the IRCC $100,000 rule✓ No cost for my advice✓ Licensed ON · BC · AB
A Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents visit for up to five years at a time. To qualify, applicants must hold valid emergency medical insurance from a Canadian provider that meets government (IRCC) requirements — and that's exactly what I arrange.
I place compliant Super Visa policies with leading Canadian insurers, including flexible monthly payment plans starting from roughly $2 a day, so the coverage is affordable and your application has the insurance documentation it requires.
What this coverage gives you
Meets IRCC requirements
Coverage that satisfies the minimum amount, one-year term and Canadian-insurer rules for Super Visa approval.
Monthly payment plans
Pay monthly instead of one large up-front premium — easier on the budget.
Emergency medical & hospital
Substantial coverage for hospital, medical and related emergency expenses while in Canada.
Refund if the visa is refused
Most plans refund your premium (less any admin fee) if the Super Visa is denied — I'll confirm the terms.
Who it's for
- Parents of citizens or permanent residents
- Grandparents visiting family in Canada
- Families sponsoring long visits
- Anyone needing IRCC-compliant medical cover
- Visitors wanting monthly payment flexibility
Super Visa Insurance questions
How much coverage does a Super Visa require?
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At least $100,000 of emergency medical coverage per person, valid for a full year from the date your parent or grandparent enters Canada, and covering health care, hospitalization and repatriation. It must come from a Canadian insurer or a foreign insurer IRCC accepts. Every plan I quote meets that standard, and many families choose $150,000 or more for older parents.
Can I really pay monthly?
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Yes. Several insurers offer monthly Super Visa plans, and IRCC accepts a policy on a monthly plan as long as the first payment or deposit has been made. It spreads the cost instead of paying the full year up front. My online quote shows which insurers offer monthly payments and what the first and following payments would be.
What if the Super Visa is refused?
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Most policies refund your premium (minus a small administrative fee) if the application is denied, provided coverage hasn't started. I'll point you to plans with the most favourable refund terms.
Does it cover pre-existing conditions?
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Some plans include stable pre-existing conditions; terms vary by age and insurer. This is an important detail to get right, and I'll match you to a policy with suitable coverage.
How long can my parents stay on a Super Visa?
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Up to five years at a time on each entry, and they can apply to extend while in Canada. Their insurance only needs to be valid for one year for the application, but they must stay insured for the whole visit, so plan to renew.
Do both parents need separate coverage?
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Each person needs their own $100,000 of coverage, but most insurers let you buy both on one policy, sometimes with a couple discount. My quote tool prices both travellers together.
Can I get a refund if my parents go home early?
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Many insurers refund the unused portion of the premium if there have been no claims, less an administration fee. Rules differ between insurers and between monthly and annual plans, so it is worth checking before you buy.
What deductible should I choose?
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A higher deductible lowers the premium but means you pay more of each claim yourself. For a healthy parent a $1,000 deductible often saves a meaningful amount; for a parent with ongoing conditions a lower one can make more sense.
Does buying insurance guarantee the Super Visa is approved?
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No. IRCC decides the visa based on the whole application, including the income requirement for the child or grandchild in Canada. The insurance is one required document, which is why refund-on-refusal terms matter.
Why does the price change so much with age?
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Insurers price in age bands, and the price rises when your parent moves into the next band. Because a Super Visa policy runs a full year, the age at the start date sets the price, and starting a little earlier or later can change it.
Government figures, contribution limits and eligibility rules on this page were last reviewed in October 2026. These are indexed and change periodically — always confirm current figures with Canada.ca or the CRA before acting.
The sequence that avoids most Super Visa refusals
Most refusals I hear about trace back to a handful of avoidable errors, and nearly all of them come from doing things in the wrong order.
- Check the income requirement first — for the right household size. As the host you must meet the Low Income Cut-Off, and the visiting parents count in your household number. A couple with two children inviting both parents is a household of six, not four. This is the step families most often get wrong, and there is no sense arranging insurance for an application that will not clear this hurdle.
- Gather the financial documentation. Notice of Assessment, T4s, an employment letter, recent pay stubs. Self-employed hosts should expect to provide more.
- Get quotes early, disclosing full health history. Comparing pre-existing condition wording across insurers is not a same-day task if you want it done properly.
- Check the stability window before any medication changes. If a parent has a managed condition, this determines whether it is covered at all.
- Buy and pay for the policy. Confirm in writing that it provides at least $100,000, runs a full 365 days from entry, and includes health care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
- Submit with proof of paid, active coverage attached. A quote is treated as no insurance.
The four requirements, restated plainly
| Requirement | Detail | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage amount | At least $100,000 emergency medical, per person | Choosing a lower-limit visitor plan |
| Duration | At least 365 days from the date of entry | Buying a 6-month policy for a 6-month visit |
| Scope | Health care, hospitalisation AND repatriation | Cheap plans that exclude repatriation |
| Insurer | Canadian insurer, or an OSFI-authorised foreign insurer | A policy bought in the home country from a non-approved insurer |
Always confirm current requirements against IRCC directly: Super Visa for parents and grandparents. Rules change, and this page is not a substitute for the official source.
I arrange the insurance and I will tell you honestly if it looks like the income requirement, rather than the insurance, is your actual obstacle. I do not process visa applications — if your situation is complicated, a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer is worth the fee. There is no sense buying a year of coverage for an application that is not ready.
Super Visa insurance rates by age
Lowest available rates across the insurers I work with. Age is the single biggest factor, and the steps between bands are steeper than most families expect — particularly at 70.
| Age | $100 deductible | $1,000 deductible | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per day | Per year | Per day | Per year | |
| 0–25 | from $2.17 | from $792 | from $1.78 | from $650 |
| 26–40 | from $2.52 | from $920 | from $2.12 | from $774 |
| 41–54 | from $2.92 | from $1,066 | from $2.36 | from $861 |
| 55–60 | from $2.92 | from $1,066 | from $2.45 | from $894 |
| 61–64 | from $3.46 | from $1,263 | from $2.91 | from $1,062 |
| 65–69 | from $4.22 | from $1,540 | from $3.55 | from $1,296 |
| 70–74 | from $6.54 | from $2,387 | from $5.51 | from $2,011 |
| 75–79 | from $7.60 | from $2,774 | from $6.40 | from $2,336 |
| 80–84 | from $10.90 | from $3,978 | from $9.18 | from $3,351 |
| 85–89 | from $13.10 | from $4,782 | from $10.48 | from $3,825 |
Get your exact quote from 12 insurers
For general information only — this is not a quote.
These are the lowest rates available from the insurers I work with as at 1 July 2026, for $100,000 of emergency medical coverage. They are a starting point, not a price you have been offered.
Your premium will very likely be higher. The lowest available rates generally apply where no pre-existing medical conditions need covering. Where pre-existing conditions are included, premiums are higher, and individual medical underwriting may increase the premium further, apply exclusions, or result in an application being declined. Not every applicant qualifies for every plan.
Your actual premium depends on age, full medical history, the stability of any existing conditions, the coverage amount, the deductible, length of stay and each insurer’s own assessment. Rates change without notice and may have changed since the date shown.
No coverage exists until an application is approved and the premium is paid.
Two things stand out. The jump at 70 is the sharpest in the table: cover for a 70-year-old costs roughly 55% more than for a 69-year-old, for identical coverage. If a parent is close to a band boundary, the policy start date genuinely matters.
The second is the deductible. Moving from $100 to $1,000 saves roughly 15–20% throughout. That is the most sensible place to economise — provided your family could actually pay the deductible if a claim happened. What I would not do is drop below the $100,000 minimum or shorten the term to save money, because a policy that fails the IRCC requirement is a refused application, not a saving.
Super Visa insurance pricing, and why quotes vary so much
Families are often surprised by how widely quotes differ for what looks like identical coverage. That variation is real, and understanding it is how you avoid overpaying.
| Age | Illustrative annual range | Monthly equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55–59 | $900 – $1,400 | $75 – $117 | The most affordable band |
| 60–64 | $1,000 – $1,600 | $83 – $133 | Still modest for most families |
| 65–69 | $1,400 – $2,600 | $117 – $217 | First significant step up; the most common applicant age |
| 70–74 | $1,700 – $3,400 | $142 – $283 | Age 70 is a pricing inflection point |
| 75–79 | $2,500 – $4,500 | $208 – $375 | More insurers add medical questionnaires |
| 80+ | $3,000 – $6,000+ | $250 – $500+ | Fewer insurers participate; underwriting tightens |
Compiled from several published Canadian Super Visa comparison tables current in 2026. These are not quotes. Your premium depends on age, health history, coverage amount, deductible and the individual insurer.
Why two quotes for the same parent differ by hundreds of dollars
Published comparisons routinely show a spread of 20–30% between insurers for identical age and coverage. That is not an error in the quotes — it reflects genuinely different underwriting appetites.
The largest driver is how each insurer treats pre-existing conditions. Adding stable pre-existing coverage typically increases the premium by roughly 20–50%, but insurers differ substantially in what they consider stable and how they price it. A parent with well-managed hypertension might be modestly rated by one company and considerably more by another.
This is precisely why I quote several insurers rather than one, and why the cheapest headline number is not automatically the right policy.
What actually moves your premium
| Factor | Effect | Can you influence it? |
|---|---|---|
| Age | The dominant factor; pricing steps up at bands rather than smoothly | If a parent is near a band boundary, the start date can matter |
| Pre-existing conditions | Typically adds 20–50% when covered | Timing around the stability window is within your control |
| Coverage amount | $150,000 costs more than $100,000, but proportionally less than the added protection | Yes — and higher is usually the better value |
| Deductible | A higher deductible meaningfully lowers the premium | Yes — the most sensible place to economise |
| Payment structure | Monthly plans usually total slightly more than paying annually | Yes — but see both figures before choosing |
Do take a higher deductible, if your family could genuinely pay it. Do not drop to the bare $100,000 minimum to save a little — a serious cardiac event or extended hospital stay for someone with no provincial coverage can exceed it, and the premium difference is proportionally much smaller than the exposure. And never choose a policy that fails the requirement: under $100,000, under 365 days, or missing repatriation is not a cheaper policy, it is a refused application.
Pre-existing conditions and the stability period
More denied claims trace back to this single provision than to anything else. It is also the part families understand least.
Coverage for a condition your parent or grandparent already has generally requires that condition to have been stable for a defined window before the policy takes effect — commonly 90 or 180 days, and sometimes longer for older applicants or specific conditions.
What “stable” usually means
Definitions vary by insurer, but typically, during the stability window, there has been:
- No new diagnosis relating to that condition
- No new symptoms, and no worsening or increased frequency of existing symptoms
- No change in medication — including a change in type, dosage or frequency
- No new treatment, and no treatment stopped
- No hospitalisation for that condition
- No test results pending or awaiting review for that condition
A routine dosage adjustment weeks before travel — even a reduction, even one the doctor considers minor — can breach stability for that condition. The policy still exists; that condition and anything related to it may simply not be covered.
If your parent or grandparent has a managed condition, ask their doctor whether an upcoming change can reasonably wait until after the trip, or plan the policy start date around the window. This single step prevents most denied claims of this kind.
Why insurers differ so much here
One company may treat a dosage adjustment as breaching stability while another does not. One may use 90 days for a condition where another uses 180. For a parent with common, well-managed conditions — hypertension and type 2 diabetes are the usual ones — matching them to the right insurer is the difference between a claim being paid and a claim being refused.
That matching is the actual work in arranging this coverage, and it is not something a price-comparison page handles well. Reading the wording is the job.
Be completely honest on the application
Understating health history to obtain a lower premium is the most reliable way to have a large claim denied. The condition you leave off is, by definition, the one most likely to generate a claim — and the claim will be assessed against what was declared.
Disclose everything, including things that seem minor. If a condition is disclosed, the insurer either covers it, excludes it explicitly, or charges more — and you know exactly where you stand before anyone gets on a plane.
What Super Visa insurance covers — and what it does not
This is emergency coverage. Understanding the boundary before anyone travels prevents the most common disappointment.
| Generally covered | Generally NOT covered |
|---|---|
| Emergency hospitalisation and emergency surgery | Routine check-ups and physicals |
| Ambulance transport | Prescription refills for existing conditions |
| Physician visits connected to an emergency | Dental cleanings and routine dental work |
| Diagnostic tests needed for an emergency | Vision care, eye exams and glasses |
| Prescription drugs administered during emergency treatment | Elective or scheduled procedures |
| Emergency dental following an accident | Ongoing management of a chronic condition |
| Repatriation where medically necessary | Anything arising before coverage began |
| Stable pre-existing conditions, where the plan includes them | Unstable pre-existing conditions |
The distinction that matters
The test is not “is this medical?” but “was this unforeseen and urgent?” A chest pain at 3am is an emergency. A follow-up appointment scheduled last month is not, even though both involve a doctor.
This is why medication supply matters so much. If a parent takes daily medication, bring enough for the whole visit or plan to pay for it — refilling an existing prescription is not an emergency and will not be covered.
Deductibles, and choosing one sensibly
The deductible is what you pay before coverage responds. Choosing a higher one meaningfully reduces the premium, and it is the most sensible place to economise — provided the family could genuinely pay it.
A $1,000 deductible you could cover tomorrow is a good trade. A $5,000 deductible you could not pay leaves you effectively uninsured for anything smaller, which defeats the purpose.
Visits and trips run long more often than people expect. Most policies can be extended, but usually only if you request it before the current policy expires and there have been no claims or new medical issues. Extending is far simpler than buying a fresh policy mid-visit, which may bring a new waiting period and new exclusions.
What families ask before they buy
The same questions come up every time, and they deserve direct answers.
It’s so expensive — can we skip it?”
For a Super Visa, no — qualifying insurance is a legal requirement and the application will not succeed without proof of a paid policy. For an ordinary visitor visa it is not required, but going without means every medical cost is yours.
What you can do is control the cost sensibly: take a higher deductible if your family could pay it, compare several insurers rather than accepting the first quote, and consider monthly payment if the annual amount is difficult. What you should not do is buy a policy that fails the requirement to save money — that is a refused application, not a saving.
My parents are healthy — do we need pre-existing coverage?”
If there is genuinely no condition and no medication, standard coverage may be sufficient. But “healthy” often means “well managed” rather than “nothing at all” — blood pressure medication, cholesterol medication and managed diabetes are extremely common in this age group and all count as pre-existing conditions.
If any medication is being taken regularly, that is a pre-existing condition for insurance purposes and should be disclosed. Whether to pay for the coverage is then a real decision; whether to disclose it is not.
What if the visa is refused after we’ve paid?”
Most Super Visa policies refund the premium, less a modest administrative fee, where the visa is refused and coverage has not started. Terms differ between insurers, so confirm the refund provisions before purchase — particularly if there is any uncertainty about the application.
With a monthly plan you have paid less up front, so there is less to recover, which is arguably an advantage where refusal is a real possibility.
Can we just buy it after they arrive?”
Not for a Super Visa. Proof of paid, active coverage forms part of the application, and the application is made from outside Canada.
For an ordinary visitor visa, coverage can usually still be arranged after arrival — but a waiting period of several days typically applies before illness is covered, and anything that has already begun will not be covered at all. Buying before departure is cheaper, broader, and lets you time the purchase around the stability window.
Super Visa processing times right now
Current IRCC estimates for the countries our clients most often apply from. Insurance is only one part of the timeline — knowing the processing window helps you decide when to apply and how long a policy needs to run.
Current estimate
Verified 2026-08-27 · updating…| Applying from | Super Visa processing time |
|---|---|
| India | 61 days |
| Pakistan | 162 days |
| Bangladesh | 48 days |
| Sri Lanka | 35 days |
| Nepal | 99 days |
| Philippines | 104 days |
These are IRCC estimates covering 80% of applications — not a maximum or a guarantee. Your own application may take longer. Always confirm against the official IRCC processing times tool.
What the visa itself covers
The insurance and the visa are separate pieces. Here is how the temporary resident visa works, so the two line up properly.
Government fees
IRCC fees, in Canadian dollars| Application | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa / TRV | $100 per person | Family of 5 or more applying together: $500 maximum |
| Biometrics | $85 per person | Family of 2 or more applying together: $170 maximum |
| Visitor record (extension from inside Canada) | $100 per person | Apply at least 30 days before status expires |
| Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) | $7 | For visa-exempt travellers only — not an alternative to a TRV |
Government fees only — visa application centres charge a separate service fee, and fees are subject to change. Confirm current amounts on the IRCC website before applying.
Who needs one
Citizens of visa-required countries need a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada. Visa-exempt travellers arriving by air need an eTA instead. A Super Visa is a special multiple-entry TRV for parents and grandparents.
How long the visa lasts
Most TRVs are issued as multiple-entry visas valid up to 10 years, or until the passport expires — whichever comes first. Single-entry visas are less common and typically valid about 6 months.
How long you can stay per visit
A standard visitor is normally admitted for up to 6 months per entry, at the border officer's discretion. A Super Visa holder can be admitted for up to 5 years per entry — the key practical difference.
Biometrics
Most applicants aged 14 to 79 must give fingerprints and a photo. They stay valid for 10 years across temporary-residence applications, so a repeat trip within that window usually doesn't need them again.
When the clock starts
IRCC counts processing time from when it receives your biometrics, not from when you submitted online. Booking that appointment promptly is the easiest way to avoid adding weeks to your wait.
Extending a stay
Apply for a visitor record from inside Canada at least 30 days before your current status expires. Applying on time generally lets you remain under implied status while the decision is pending.
A 10-year passport does not guarantee a 10-year visa. If your biometrics expire sooner, the visa is capped at the biometrics expiry date — which is a common reason a visa comes back shorter than expected. It is worth checking biometric validity before applying.
How busy IRCC actually is
Your parents’ application joins a queue. These are IRCC’s own monthly figures from the countries our clients most often apply from — useful context for deciding when to apply and how long the policy needs to run.
Monthly volumes by country
January 2026 – June 2026 · IRCC Open Data| Country | Jan 26 | Feb 26 | Mar 26 | Apr 26 | May 26 | Jun 26 | 6-month total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recd | Appr | Recd | Appr | Recd | Appr | Recd | Appr | Recd | Appr | Recd | Appr | Recd | Appr | |
| INIndia | 93,210 | 27,225 | 92,125 | 33,015 | 105,220 | 30,065 | 104,820 | 33,365 | 122,805 | 32,655 | 110,155 | 34,255 | 628,335 | 190,580 |
| PKPakistan | 9,995 | 1,825 | 10,160 | 1,890 | 10,205 | 1,895 | 12,340 | 2,350 | 13,300 | 2,980 | 14,260 | 2,865 | 70,260 | 13,805 |
| BDBangladesh | 6,965 | 935 | 6,270 | 1,135 | 7,060 | 1,150 | 8,285 | 1,385 | 10,700 | 1,260 | 9,120 | 1,360 | 48,400 | 7,225 |
| LKSri Lanka | 2,980 | 635 | 3,045 | 650 | 3,495 | 935 | 3,345 | 920 | 3,835 | 790 | 3,670 | 920 | 20,370 | 4,850 |
| NPNepal | 3,710 | 740 | 3,280 | 1,165 | 3,780 | 1,365 | 3,535 | 1,355 | 4,640 | 1,220 | 3,945 | 1,360 | 22,890 | 7,205 |
| PHPhilippines | 13,340 | 1,205 | 11,975 | 1,660 | 14,310 | 2,210 | 12,635 | 2,210 | 14,820 | 2,430 | 12,875 | 2,230 | 79,955 | 11,945 |
Recd = new applications and extensions received for all temporary residence (visitor, study and work). Appr = visitor visas approved (V-1 counterfoil), which includes super visas — IRCC does not publish super-visa-only volumes. The two columns cover different application types, so they are not a decision rate, and approvals in a month largely relate to applications filed earlier. Counts are rounded by IRCC to the nearest 5. Source: IRCC monthly open data, Open Government Licence – Canada.
Volumes drive processing times. When intake climbs faster than decisions, queues lengthen — which is exactly when a policy that only just covers the intended visit becomes a risk.
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