Canada Super Visa Guide: Eligibility, Benefits, and Application Process

Posted on: Jan 8, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Canada Super Visa Guide: Eligibility, Benefits, and Application Process

The sheer feeling of having your parents or grandparents with you in another country can be quite wonderful. Having your parents or grandparents stay with you during a medical emergency while you are expecting a child or new to parenthood or want them to spend their time in their retirement means a lot for a lot of individuals. If you are planning to have your parents or grandparents visit you for extended durations, the Canada super visa for parents is ideal. Here is all that you need to know about it.

What is a Canadian super visa?

The Canadian super visa is a special type of visa for parents and grandparents that offers multiple entry to the country and allows them to live up to a maximum of 2 years per visit. The visa is only allotted to grandparents and parents of citizens of Canada or permanent residents. In the year 2022, an amendment was made to the visa rules, which now allows the visa holders to live up to 5 years per visit. They have the option to apply for an extension of the visa for two years during their stay in Canada.

Normally, a super visa is valid for a duration of 10 years or as long as the passport has validity. This ensures that the resident and the applicant do not have to undergo the stress of applying for a Canada visa and reapplying it again and again. It is important to note that even though they have stayed for a longer duration, their status remains that of a visitor. In other words, they do not have all the rights that you do, such as working from Canada.

What is the difference between a visitor visa and a super visa?

Though a super visa and a visitor visa might seem similar, there is still a fair bit of difference between both visa types. Here are the major differences between the visa types.

1. Number of Entries

A visitor Canada visa is always a single entry visa. You can visit Canada only once for a specific duration, and once you are out of the country, you will need to apply for another visa to enter Canada. On the contrary, a super visa for Canada offers multiple visits over the duration of the visa. This means your parents and grandparents can visit you as many times as possible without having to apply for a new visa.

2. Visa validity

Visitor validity is usually issued for a shorter period. A super visa is usually issued for a duration of 10 years.

3. Permitted stay duration

Usually, visa officers issue visitor visas for up to 6 months and in some cases, even shorter duration. A super visa, on the other hand, lets your parents or grandparents stay for up to 2 years at a go. Individuals who have been issued with a super visa post 2022 can stay for up to 5 years.

4. Eligibility

A visitor visa is available for anyone to apply, while a super visa is only available for Canadian citizens or permanent residents to apply.

Eligibility criteria for a super visa for Canada

An applicant must meet the following criteria to qualify for a Canadian super visa.

1. The applicant must be a grandparent or parent of an individual who is a permanent resident of Canada or a Canadian citizen.

2. The visa must be applied from outside of Canada.

3. The applicant must have medical insurance of a minimum of $100,000 CAD, which should be valid for a duration of at least one year, and it must be from an insurance provider from Canada.

4. The applicant must have a letter of invitation from their grandchild or child.

5. The applicant must also meet a few other requirements, such as clearing the medical exam, providing the purpose of the visit, provide information about the political and economic stability of the home country.

Tips to write a letter of invitation for a super visa

You will need to send a letter of invitation for a super visa for your parent or grandparent. The letter invites the applicant and mentions that you will be financially responsible for them for the duration of the stay. The letter must include the following information.

1. Name and date of birth of the visa applicant.

2. Purpose of visit and duration of stay.

3. Address and phone number in native country.

4. Address of where they will stay.

How to apply for a Canadian super visa?

Now that you are aware of what is a Canadian super visa, here are all the steps that you will need to follow to apply for one.

1. Select whether you want to apply for the visa online or offline.

2. The applicant will need to gather all the essential documents for the visa application. The usual documents include a passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, medical insurance proof, and letter of invitation.

3. The next step is to fill out and submit the super visa application form.

Once approved, the applicants will receive the visa, and they can travel with to children or grandchildren. It is highly recommended that you opt for international travel insurance to avoid any hassles during your travels. Any delay in travel, loss of baggage, cancellations and more can be easily avoided with international travel insurance.

What is the processing fee for a parent or grandparent super visa?

If you want to apply for a Canada super visa for your parents, the following are all the processing fees that you will need to pay.

1. Application processing fee of $100 CAD.

2. Biometrics processing fee of $185 CAD.

3. Medical exam fee between $200 CAD and $300 CAD.

Visa processing time of Super visa

The duration of the Canada super visa process for parents usually depends on the country from which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for a visa from India, the average processing duration is about 135 days.

Are you allowed to work in Canada on a super visa?

The short answer is no. The super visa only grants visitor status to the applicants, albeit a longer duration of stay. However, it does not offer any additional rights, such as the ability to work. To be able to work, they will need a work permit and first find a job.

Conclusion

Citizens of Canada or permanent residents can invite their parents or grandparents to stay with them for longer durations. This is possible via the Canada super visa. Above is everything that you need to know about the visa and how to apply for the same. Choosing travel insurance in Canada will ensure that your parents or grandparents have a hassle-free travel.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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