Bringing Families Closer: The Super Visa, Your Gateway to Extended Family Visits in Canada

The Canadian Super Visa is a particular type of visitor visa designed for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, allowing them to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, unlike the regular visitor visa, which permits a stay of up to six months.

Most travellers need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to visit Canada, depending on their travel document, country of issuance, nationality, and travel method. A visitor visa is stamped in your passport, showing you're allowed to enter Canada, typically for up to six months per visit. If officers at the port of entry decide otherwise, they'll note the exact duration of your allowed stay in your passport or issue a visitor record with the departure date.

The Super Visa differs as it lets parents and grandparents visit their family in Canada multiple times over ten years without renewing their status for up to five years per visit. It's a stable option compared to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), as it doesn't involve a lottery, offering families more certainty.

To qualify for a Super Visa, you must be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, with your spouse or common-law partner also eligible to apply with you (but no dependents). Applicants must be admissible to Canada, meaning no significant criminal or health issues, proven by a medical exam.

Applicants must demonstrate strong ties to their home country and that their visiting child or grandchild can financially support them, meeting the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) requirements. Proof of financial support includes tax documents, employment details, bank statements, and a promise of financial support in an invitation letter from the Canadian relative, which also lists their household members and proves their Canadian status.

Additionally, applicants must have medical insurance from a Canadian company that covers at least $100,000 for one year, with evidence of full payment for the insurance.

Once all eligibility criteria and documentation are in order, applications can be submitted to the Canadian visa office serving the applicant's home country.