supervisa

The Super Visa is a Canadian government program administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit Canada for extended periods. Introduced in 2011, it is a long-term, multi-entry visa.

Through a Super Visa, eligible applicants can visit Canada multiple times over a period of up to 10 years, with each stay lasting as long as two years at a time. It is designed to simplify re-entry for family visitors and reduce the need for renewing status on repeated visits.

Eligibility requires: the applicant must be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; the applicant must be admissible to Canada; must obtain a letter of invitation from the child or grandchild residing in Canada; must demonstrate sufficient financial support from that child or grandchild; and must have medical insurance from a Canadian insurer valid for at least one year with minimum coverage of CAD 100,000 for emergency medical, hospital, and repatriation services. Many applicants also require a medical examination, depending on country of residence.

Application is made outside Canada, usually via a paper or online visa application, including biometrics. In addition to the documents above, applicants may be asked for proof of relationship and proof of health and ties to home country.

Advantages include longer stays without visa renewal; multiple entries; and flexibility for family visits. Limitations include medical insurance costs, the need for a Canadian sponsor, and no guarantee of approval.