How to apply for a super visa for parents and grandparents is a question that many parents of young students preparing for their first semester in Canada ask themselves. In reality, the question seems difficult and somewhat emotional. In practice, getting a super visa is simple and straightforward.
When talking about a super visa, there are several important factors to consider on the way to getting one. First, you will need to meet all the eligibility requirements. Second, you will need to go through the application process one step at a time. Third, after your visa has been approved, you will need to board the plane and enjoy knowing that you will see your loved ones in a matter of hours.
What Is a Canadian Super Visa?
The Canadian super visa is a document that grants you access to Canada in these situations. With a maximum validity of up to 10 years, the ability to get it in any Canada visa application center around the world, and a maximum stay of up to five years at a time, this is the perfect solution for bringing families closer.
The visa can be issued to anyone – for as long as the eligibility requirements are met. This is a multi-entry visa and it even allows you to extend your stay for up to two years – awarding 7 total years in one trip. Effectively, this is the best visa parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can get.
Applying for a Canadian Super Visa for Parents
When it comes to applying for this visa, the process is simple and similar to applying for the TRV – Temporary Resident Visa. When applying, the application is submitted through the IRCC (Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada) platform. However, you will need to prove that you will be supported for the duration of your stay and you will need no support from the Canadian welfare services.
At the same time, you will also need to show that you have health insurance in the amount of CAD100,000 from a Canadian insurance company. For the support funds, you may simply show a letter from your child or grandchild promising financial support to you during your stay in Canada. Alternatively, you may present your own funds. With these two, you have settled most of your issues and will be able to proceed.
On the Canadian side, your child will have to prove their ties to Canada – using their documents confirming their citizenship or permanent residency. All the people living in their Canadian household should be included as well. On the other side, you will have to prepare as well and start gathering all the necessary documents as early as possible.
1. Prepare Your Documents
As with all other visa types, you need certain documents. These are discussed below, but it is always useful to know that you will need a document checklist to let you know what exact documents you need. Do not simply search online, as the documents may be different depending on your country of origin. Rather what you should do is go to the IRCC website and download all the necessary documents there.
2. Pass Your Application
When you apply, you have to do so through the IRCC portal, and you have to apply from outside of Canada. To apply, you create an account and log in. Then, you complete the online form and upload your documents, and you will need to pay with your credit card. Your Visa will cost CAD100.
Eligibility Criteria for Super Visa
To apply for this visa, you must be eligible to be accepted into the country. To be eligible, you must:
- have a child or a grandchild in Canada
- be invited by them to visit
- they must meet the minimum income threshold
- you must have Canadian medical insurance for a year
- you need to undergo an immigration medical exam
In addition to these, you may also need supporting documents to prove connections to your home country. The purpose of the visit and the family and financial situation back at home are also to be considered and if possible proven to the visa officer.
What Documents Are Required for a Super Visa?
There are many types of Canadian visas, each of which has a separate set of documents needed for the application process. Super visa Canada has its own set, which may be a bit different from the rest, as the nature of the visit is different as well:
- have a letter of invitation from your child or grandchild, with a promise of financial support, the list of people living with them in the same household, and a copy of their citizenship or residence document
- proof that they meet the minimum necessary income (MNI, or Minimum Income Threshold (MIT))
- proof of medical insurance from an approved medical company, which provides at least CAD100,000 in coverage and is valid for a year after your date of entry, and proof that you took the medical exam and passed
- have a valid passport
- be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident ( a birth certificate is enough to prove this, as it should have the parent’s name)
- have a signed invitation letter from them
- have a clear police certification (police clearance)
Super Visa Canada Requirements
Family Class Immigration Canada has some specificities in comparison to the rest of the immigration program. When it comes to the proof of funds, there are some prerequisites, as family class immigration and family sponsorship mean that more than one person will be moving or that one person will be financially supporting those coming to the country.
For this reason, a person in Canada needs to have a Permanent Residency or even citizenship (and a Canadian passport). They also need to show that they have sufficient funds to support the arriving family members. When these funds are calculated, it is necessary to understand that the person in Canada will need to support themselves, all their family members, and those arriving in Canada. Here is a breakdown of how much income is required for super visa in a household:
| Family Size | Minimum Income Threshold in CAD |
| 1 | 26,620 |
| 2 | 33,140 |
| 3 | 40,743 |
| 4 | 49,466 |
| 5 | 56,104 |
| 6 | 63,276 |
| 7 | 70,449 |
| per Additional Family Member | 7,172 |
TRV processing time is currently around 30 days if you are applying for Canada. For this reason, it could be best to apply for the TRV if you are in a hurry to see your child or grandchild. The Super Visa processing time is much longer, around 146 days from the US. For this reason, with Super Visa, it is important to be able to plan ahead and act accordingly.
How To Show Proof of Income?
There are several ways that the person inviting you to Canada can show their income. In general, they can submit the following document to show that they have enough money to support you during your stay:
- Notice of Assessment
- T4/T1 for the most recent tax year
- employment insurance benefit statement
- employment letter including salary, job title, description, and hire date
- bank statements
- pay stubs
How Much Does a Super Visa Cost?
When it comes to the expenses for a Super Visa, there will be quite a few of them. In fact, it is necessary to list them all, so that you can have a clear overview of how much money you will actually need. And while the Super Visa does not cost much (CAD100 per person), you will still incur other expenses:
| Type of Expense/Fee | Amount in CAD |
| Super Visa | 100 |
| Biometrics Fee | 85 |
| Biometrics Fee for a Family | 170 |
| eTA (electronic Travel Authorization) per Person | 7 |
| Health Insurance per Person | 800+ |
| Other Expenses | Documents needed for the application process will each cost a different amount |
Do You Require Both an eTA and a Super Visa?
Even if you come from a visa-exempt country, you will need to apply for a Super Visa if you plan on staying in Canada for a longer time. You will also need to apply for an eTA if you plan to fly to Canada (from most of the world, US citizens can use border crossings), and you will need to travel with the passport that your eTA is linked to and you will always need to show the passport in person. If you take out a fresh passport, you should bring both the current passport and the previous passport if you still have your eTA connected to it.
Which Do You Need: A Super Visa or a Regular Visitor Visa?
Whether you need a Super Visa or a regular visitor visa (TRV) depends mostly on how long you plan to stay in Canada. With a Super Visa, you can stay in Canada for up to five years with a possible extension of an additional two. This is per trip. With a visitor visa, you can stay for up to six months.
And while Super Visa is always recommended, if you are a parent of a college or University student, or are otherwise very busy, you can stay in Canada with the TRV. If you need a visa to accompany a younger child, then Super Visa is a much better solution.
Super Visa vs Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship: How Do They Differ?
There is a vast difference between a super visa and parent/grandparent sponsorship. Firstly, Super Visa allows your parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for a long period of time – 5 to 7 years, but not indefinitely. During this time, they cannot work, and they do not have any other rights besides staying in Canada. They will also have to pay for their own health insurance. They are considered TEMPORARY visitors/residents.
On the other hand, a family sponsorship for parents or grandparents grants them PERMANENT resident status. This means that they can work and enjoy the benefits of provincial healthcare insurance. When it comes to their stay, they can stay in Canada indefinitely.
How To Extend a Super Visa?
We’ve mentioned before that you can extend your Super Visa. This is to say that you will be able to stay for up to seven years on a single entry to Canada. However, there is also an option to extend your stay and you can do this by applying for a visitor record. Visitor records cost about CAD100 and you should apply at least 30 days before the expiry of the maximum period of 5 years.
How Can Parents and Grandparents Apply for Immigration?
If they would like to stay even longer, and possibly even immigrate to Canada permanently, there is the PGP program – which allows family sponsorship to parents and grandparents. This program offers draws once a year, accepts up to 30,000 people per year, and has a definite application window – usually once a year for a period of 2 weeks. You can check the next application window on the IRCC website.
Check Out Canadian Super Visa – Bring Your Parents and Grandparents to Canada:
FAQs
Can My Sister Sponsor My Brother to Canada?
Yes, a sister can sponsor her brother’s arrival to Canada. At the same time, she should be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and should fulfill all the prerequisites to be able to sponsor her brother – these are simple and mostly relate to her being able to financially support the brother’s arrival.
Can I Apply for A Super Visa for My Mother-In-Law?
No, you cannot. However, your spouse can do that. Then, you can co-sign the invitation to apply as a sponsor, and you can make your funds available and be taken into consideration by the Canadian immigration consultant that way.
Can I Bring My Mom with Me to Canada?
Yes, you can. There are two basic options that you can use: you can sponsor their arrival through a permanent residence (you must be a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen), or they can apply for a Super Visa and you can apply as a sponsor. When it comes to the first option, there are immigration pathway programs that enable families to come together or join each other in Canada. When it comes to the latter option, a multiple-entry visa is issued and is valid for a set period of up to 10 years.
When Can I Sponsor My Parents to Canada?
There is a fixed period of time for the application to sponsor parents and grandparents. Usually, this period falls between October 12th and 20th each year. During your application, your parents should also make their application. The application will be successful only if both applications pass the revision by the visa office.
Final Thoughts
The Super Visa allows you to visit your children or grandchildren in Canada. With a maximum validity period of 10 years and up to 5 years of single stay time, this visa is perfect for all who want a multiple-entry visa but would like to keep their residence outside of Canada. This guide is supposed to make the application process easier for you, but always remember to track information on the IRCC website, as requirements and fees may change periodically.
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