Canada Super Visa: Get Expert Legal Help to Bring Your Parents Home
Are you a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident? You may be eligible for a Super Visa to visit family in Canada for up to five years at a time (and a total of up to 10 years via multiple entries).
With the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP Program) under family sponsorship paused in July 2026, a Super visa provides you with the opportunity to visit your children and grandchildren settled in Canada. To understand the visa requirements or to get expert advice and legal help with your Super Visa application, call our Canda immigration lawyers on +1 844 312 4979 today or message us online to get a callback.
Page Contents
- What is the Canada Super Visa?
- Super Visa vs the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program in 2026
- What Are the Eligibility Requirements for a Super Visa?
- Super Visa Income Requirement: Minimum Income (LICO)
- March 2026 Super Visa Income Rule Changes
- Letter of Invitation for a Super Visa Application
- How to Apply for a Super Visa
- What Are the Fees and Processing Times?
- How Long Can I Stay in Canada with a Super Visa?
- What to Expect After You Apply for a Super Visa
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Canada Super Visa? (2026 Overview)
The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa allows eligible parents and grandparents to visit family in Canada for up to five years at a time. It is a longer-term alternative to the regular Visitor Visa, which only allows visits for up to six months at a time.
The Super Visa is a multiple entry visa, meaning that the holder can freely enter and leave Canada for a period of up to 10 years.
The Super Visa generally costs $CAN 100 to process. There may also be an additional fee of $CAN 85 on top of that if you are required to give your biometric information as part of your application. Visa-exempt nationals won’t have to pay either.
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Super Visa vs the Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
On July 15, 2026, the Government of Canada has paused the Parents and Grandparents Program while it works through the PGP Program’s backlog. If you have already applied before the pause date, then your application will continue to be processed, with the government planning to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP Program.
If you were hoping to move in with your family through the PGP program, but haven’t applied yet, then you’ll want to consider the Super Visa instead. The Super Visa will allow you to reunite with your family on a long-term basis while you wait for the PGP Program to resume.
The Super Visa may also be a more attractive visa solution for your specific situation. For example, if you want to move in with your daughter as she’s expecting her first child, the Super Visa is more accessible, as you and your child can begin your application straight away. This is because the PGP Program, even once it’s resumed, is a lottery. Your child or grandchild must first send in an Interest to Sponsor application and receive an invitation to apply back from the government.
What’s the Difference Between the PGP Program and Super Visa?
While both the Super Visa and the PGP Program allow Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians to sponsor their parents or grandparents, there are a few key differences:
| Visa Type | Super Visa | Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program |
| Length of Stay | Multiple-entry visa, allows entry for up to five years at a time, totaling up to 10 years | Sponsorship residency visa. |
| Sponsorship Requirements | Must meet the minimum necessary income. | Sponsor must sign an undertaking agreeing to be financially responsible for you for 10 years if in Quebec or 20 years in the rest of Canada and prove they meet the minimum necessary income. |
| Who Can Be a Sponsor | Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or Registered Indians over the age of 18 who are your biological or adopted child. | |
| Permanent Residency | Not available on this visa. | Included with sponsorship. |
| Right to Work | No. | Yes. |
| Healthcare | Must have personal medical insurance. | Access to public health services included. Sponsors must cover dental, eye, and other health needs not covered by public health services. |
| Financial Requirements | Minimum income depends on family size and changes yearly. Please refer to the latest minimum income guidance. | |
| Application Process | The parent/grandparent must apply from outside of Canada. | Sponsor must first send an Interest to Sponsor form and receive an invitation to apply. |
| Income Requirement Proof | Must prove you’ve met or exceeded the income requirement in either the last tax year, or the year before. | Must prove you’ve met the income requirement for the past 1 year in Quebec and 3 years in the rest of Canada. |
| Parent/Grandparent Income | Can be used to cover 25% of the income requirement. | Not accepted. |
| Fees | $CAN 660 | $CAN 660 Processing fee |
| Currently Active | Yes. | No. |
| IRCC Processing Times | Average of 1 to 3 months. You can check the current processing times here. | Not open. Estimated processing times for current applications is upwards of 63 months inside Quebec and 28 months in the rest of Canada |
Super Visa Eligibility Requirements 2026: Who Can Apply
To be eligible for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, you must:
- Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered under the Indian Act, aged 18 or over
- Have a signed letter from your child or grandchild who invites you to Canada
- Have medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company, or an OSFI-listed foreign insurer approved to do business in Canada, that:
- Is valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
- Has at least $100,000 coverage
- And have proof that the medical insurance has been paid (quotes aren’t accepted)
In addition to these requirements, you must also:
- Apply for a Super Visa from outside of Canada
- Meet Canada’s admissibility requirements and satisfy IRCC that you are a genuine visitor who will leave Canada at the end of your authorised stay.
- Take an immigration medical exam
- Meet certain other conditions
Dependants cannot be included in your application for a Super Visa. However, they can still visit Canada for up to 6 months using an alternative visa, such as an Electronic Travel Authorization or Temporary Resident Visa.
Super Visa Income Requirement: Minimum Income (LICO)
The host must meet the minimum income requirement, with qualifying income from the visiting parent or grandparent potentially included under the 2026 rules.
This is because they must promise and show that they are able to financially support you for the length of your visit. The following documents are examples of what can be used to demonstrate proof of funds:
- Notice of Assessment (NOA) showing the required income in either of the two taxation years before applying
- Employment Insurance stubs
- Employment letter, including salary and date of hiring
- Pay stubs
- Bank statements
There are other factors that the Canadian government will also take into account when considering your application for a Super Visa.
For example, you must be a genuine visitor to Canada who intends on leaving by choice at the end of your visit. The Canadian government will also consider the following when issuing Super Visas:
- Your ties to your home country
- The purpose of your visit
- Your family and finances
- The overall economic and political stability of your home country
March 2026 Super Visa Income Rule Changes: What’s New
The Super Visa has been updated, making it easier than before to apply for and receive a Super Visa for long-term stays with your family.
Extended Income Assessment Period
Previously, sponsors and their co-signers (if any) had to prove that they met or exceeded the minimum income based on their family size in the last tax year. Now, they must only prove they’ve met that minimum income amount in one of the last two tax years.
For example, if the sponsor and their co-signer, such as their spouse, met the minimum income requirement in 2024, but not in 2025, their 2024 tax returns will be considered.
Parent/Grandparent Income Can Now Contribute to the Minimum Income Threshold
You, as the parent or grandparent, can now put forward your own income towards a certain percentage of the minimum income requirement so long as the sponsor can make up the rest. Currently, your income can contribute to a maximum of 25% of the total income requirement.
| 2026 Example | Total Income Requirement | Sponsor Income: 75% | Parent/Grandparent Income: 25% |
| Family of 4 + 1 sponsored grandparent | $64,336 | $48,252 | $16,084 (25%) |
Proof of income for parents or grandparents can include:
- Pension statements
- Rental income
- Pay stubs
- Investments
2026 Example
Your income can now contribute from 1% to 25% of the minimum income requirement. For example, if your sponsor needs a minimum income of $64,336 to sponsor you, but currently only makes $50,000 per year, your income can be used to fulfill the remaining amount as it’s under 25%.
Letter of Invitation for a Super Visa: What It Must Include
One of the things you must have to be eligible for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa is a letter of invitation from your child or grandchild.
The letter from your child or grandchild must be written in good faith and be truthful. They must also intend to keep the promises made in it.
The following information must be included about you (the person who is being invited to Canada):
- Complete name
- Date of birth
- Address and telephone number
- Your relationship to the person
- The purpose of the trip
- How long you plan to stay in Canada
- Where you will stay, and how you will pay for things
- When you plan to leave Canada
The letter must also include the following information about your child or grandchild (the person who is inviting you to Canada):
- Complete name
- Date of birth
- Address and telephone number in Canada
- Job title
- Whether they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- A photocopy of a document proving their status in Canada, such as:
- a Canadian birth certificate, if they were born in Canada
- a Canadian citizenship card, if they are a naturalized citizen, or
- a copy of their PR card or your IMM 1000 proof of landing, if they are a permanent resident
- Details of their family, such as names and dates of birth of their spouse and dependants
- The total number of people living in their household, including people they sponsored whose sponsorship is still in effect
The person inviting you to Canada must also provide the following:
- A written and signed promise of their financial support for you for your entire stay in Canada
- Proof that their income meets or is above the low-income cut-off (LICO) for the total number of people, including the visiting parents or grandparents
Some visa offices may require the letter to be notarized by a public notary before the letter is sent.
Once the letter is written, it must be sent to you by your child or grandchild. You must then send this letter to the Canadian embassy or consulate outside of Canada alongside your other documents when you apply for your Super Visa.
How to Apply for a Super Visa in 2026: Step-by-Step
You can apply for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa either online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website or by paper.
After you submit your application for a Super Visa, you will likely have to supply biometrics information if you are aged between 14 and 79 years old. You only need to supply biometrics to the Canadian government once every 10 years.
You will usually need to give your biometrics after you have submitted your visa application and paid the biometrics fee of $CAN 85. You must pay the biometrics fee when you submit your application, or your application may be delayed.
You will normally have to make an appointment at a local visa office, called a Visa Application Centre (VAC). There are several visa application centres located internationally.
During your appointment, they will typically collect the following information from you:
- Name, date of birth, and other personal details as listed on the biographic data page of your passport or travel document
- Your fingerprints, captured electronically during the biometrics collection session, using an electronic fingerprint-capture device
- A digital photograph of you
Super Visa Fees & Processing Time 2026: What You'll Pay and How Long It Takes
The application fee for the Canada Super Visa is $CAN 100. In addition to this, you may have to pay an additional $CAN 85 if you have to give your biometrics information as part of your application.
If you are a visa-exempt national for Canada, you will not have to pay either of the above. Once your Super visa application is approved, you may have to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA), if you need one.
Note that there may also be additional costs involved in the application process, such as if you have to pay to have your documents translated, or if you have to pay to travel to your nearest visa application centre.
The processing time for a Super Visa will vary based on which country you’re applying from.
As of 2026, IRCC’s service standard for a Super Visa is about 112 days (roughly 4 months), though actual times vary by visa office. Check the current figure using IRCC’s processing time tool.
Note that processing time estimates given by IRCC do not include the time it takes to send an application between a visa application centre and their offices, or the time you need to give your biometrics.
How Long Can You Stay in Canada on a Super Visa?
How long you’ll be able to stay in Canada depends on either when you applied for your Super Visa, or when you entered Canada with your approved visa..
If you applied for your visa on or after June 22, 2023, you’ll be able to stay in Canada for up to 5 years.
You’ll also be able to stay in Canada for up to 5 years if either:
- You entered Canada on or after June 22, 2023
- Your application was approved before June 22, 2023 but you entered Canada on or after this date
If you entered Canada with a valid super visa before June 22, 2023, you’ll only be able to stay in Canada the length of time that was granted to you by the border services officer upon entry.
In most cases, this will be up to 2 years.
However, you may be able to stay for up to 5 years if you leave Canada before the end of your authorized stay and re-enter Canada on or after June 22, 2023. The border services officer may grant you a length of stay of up to 5 years if you still meet all the eligibility requirements for a Super Visa.
What Happens After You Submit Your Super Visa Application
After you have given your biometrics, your application will be processed. During this time, the Canadian government may also ask you to do the following:
- Attend an interview with Canadian officials in your country
- Send more information
- Get a medical exam
- Get a police certificate
The Canadian government will then decide whether to approve or refuse your visa application for visiting Canada.
If they approve it, they will stamp the Super Visa in your passport. You can travel to Canada as soon as you have your passport and valid Visa returned to you.
ArriveCAN is no longer mandatory, but you can use it (or the Advance CBSA Declaration) to submit your customs and immigration information up to 72 hours before flying into a participating Canadian airport. Per CBSA entry requirements, you must be ready to show your passport, valid visa and supporting documents (such as proof of medical insurance) to airline staff and border services officers at ports of entry.
It’s important to note that you can only enter Canada if you pass all necessary identity checks and meet entry requirements at ports of entry. Possession of a valid Visa alone does not guarantee entry.
If you pass the identity check and meet the entry requirements at the port of entry, the border services officer may stamp your passport or let you know how long you can stay in Canada. They may also limit or extend the valid period of your stay to cover the planned purpose of your visit.
How Total Law Immigration Lawyers Can Help with Your Super Visa?
The Canadian immigration rules can be quite complex to navigate, especially for longer-term visas such as the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.
If you require assistance with your visa application or any other aspect of your trip to Canada, Total Law is here to help.
We are experts on all aspects of the Canadian immigration system. You can increase your chances of receiving a positive visa decision with our professional immigration advisors.
Whether you need assistance through our Application Package to help take the stress off completing your visa application, need extra peace of mind in ensuring that your documents fulfil requirements, or any other issue you might have, we can help.
For more information about how we can assist you with your Super visa or any other Canada visa application, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on +1 844 312 4979 or contact us online.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your child or grandchild must meet the low-income cut-off (LICO) threshold to have your Visa application approved. The threshold will vary based on how big your child or grandchild’s family unit is.
All of the people listed below should be included when calculating the size of the family unit:
- The child or grandchild inviting you
- The spouse of the child or grandchild inviting you
- The dependants of the child or grandchild inviting you
- Any dependants travelling with you
- Any other person whom the child or grandchild inviting you is currently sponsoring or co-signing for
- Yourself
According to IRCC’s current Super Visa income table (updated July 2025), your host’s minimum necessary income depends on family size, as shown below:
| Number of family members | Minimum income the host needs (CAD) |
| 1 person (your child or grandchild) | $30,526 |
| 2 persons | $38,002 |
| 3 persons | $46,720 |
| 4 persons | $56,724 |
| 5 persons | $64,336 |
| 6 persons | $72,560 |
| 7 persons | $80,784 |
| each additional person: | $8,224 |
The time it takes for your application to be processed will vary depending on what country you live in. Generally speaking, the processing time may vary from a few weeks to a few months.
You can check what the estimated processing time is for your country using the Canadian government’s online processing time checker here.
If you come to Canada with a Super visa, you must know that the Government of Canada has specific rules that guide the duration of stay in the country with this and every other visa.
If you need to stay past the approved time as per the immigration rules, you must apply for a visitor record.
A visitor record is different from a super or visitor visa; it is a document that gives you visitor status and allows you to stay longer than your original approved time. Also, you get a new date on which you must leave Canada.
To prevent issues with Canadian authorities, visitors to Canada must apply for a visitor record before their current visa or entry approval expires. For assistance or more information on how to extend your Super visa, please call us today on +1 844 312 4979.
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