Application Process for the Super Visa | Immigrating to Canada in 2023

There are many reasons to invite your parents or grandparents to stay with you for a long time as a new Canadian permanent resident or citizen. You might want them to move in with you when they retire, when you’re having a baby or adjusting to parenthood, after death, or because you miss them.

For many newcomers, inviting parents or grandparents to Canada isn’t as easy as buying plane tickets. Parents from other countries may need a longer visitor visa to visit Canada.

The Canadian super visa program lets your parents or grandparents stay in Canada for long periods multiple times over 10 years without a new visa. This article covers parent and grandparent super visa eligibility and documentation.

Super Visa Overview

A super visa is a temporary residence visa that lets the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents stay with them in Canada for up to two years at a time. It lets them come and go as often as they want. From July 4, 2022, people with super visas will be able to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time. They will also be able to apply from within the country for a two-year extension.

Usually, a super visa is good for up to 10 years or as long as their passport is still valid. This saves you and your parents or grandparents from having to apply for a new visa every time they want to visit you.

If your parents or grandparents come to Canada on a super visa, they will be considered visitors by the law. A visitor, won’t have the same legal rights and responsibilities as you do as a permanent resident or citizen, like the right to work in Canada.

Difference between a super visa and a visitor visa

Even though both the super visa and the visitor visa give visa holders the right to visit Canada, they are not the same in many ways.

Length of stay: With a super visa, your parents or grandparents can stay in Canada for up to two years (or up to five years if they get their visa after July 5, 2022). A visitor visa, on the other hand, lets the holder stay in Canada for up to six months, although the visa officer may sometimes let the person stay for less time.
Visa validity: A super visa is usually good for up to 10 years or until your passport expires, while a visitor visa may only be good for a shorter amount of time.
Applicant eligibility: Anyone can apply for a Canadian visitor visa, but only the parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents can get a super visa.
Single or multiple entries: Super visas allow multiple entries into Canada. A visitor visa can be used once or multiple times. A visitor visa applicant chooses a single- or multiple-entry visa from the visa officer.

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Eligibility criteria for a super visa for Canada

Your parent or grandparent must apply for a super visa themselves or through a representative or an authorized immigration consultant. You can’t apply for a super visa for someone else unless you are their agent.

In order to get a Canadian super visa, a person must:

Be the parent or grandparent of someone who lives in Canada permanently or is a citizen of Canada.
Apply outside of Canada.
Have a letter signed by the child or grandchild they are going to visit in Canada. (See the next section for more information).
Have health insurance from a Canadian company for at least one year and worth at least $100,000 CAD.
Meet other requirements to get in, like passing a medical exam. The Canadian government may also look at the applicant’s ties to their home country, the reason for their trip, the economic and political stability of their home country, and more when reviewing super visa applications.

How to write a super visa invitation letter

If you want your parents or grandparents to stay with you in Canada for a long time, you will need to write them a letter of invitation. They will need this letter to apply for a super visa.

In a letter of invitation, you promise in writing to take care of the parent or grandparent you invite financially for as long as they stay in Canada. The following information must also be on it:

About the person or persons you want to invite:

Their full name and the date they were born.
Their home country’s address and phone number.
What they have to do with you.
Why they are going to Canada and how long they plan to stay (dates are best).
Where they’ll stay and how they’ll pay for things (e.g., if you’ll pay for everything or if they’ll pay a portion based on how much money they bring).

About you (the invitee):

Your full name and the date you were born.
Your phone number and address in Canada.
Your legal status in Canada (whether you are a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen) and a copy of your PR card, Canadian citizenship card, or Canadian birth certificate.
Your job title.
The number of people who live in your home, including you, your spouse, your children, and anyone else you’ve sponsored
Information about your family, such as the names and birth dates of your spouse, children, and any other people who depend on you.
Proof that your household income exceeds the LICO for the number of people, including the parent or grandparent who wants to come. Attach copies of your pay stubs, bank statements, letter of employment, employment insurance stubs, Notice of Assessment (NOA), or T1/T4 from the previous tax year to prove you are able to assist your family and parents or grandparents.
A written promise that you will help your parent or grandparent financially while they are in Canada.

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How to apply for a Canadian super visa

Canada accepts super visa applications year-round. Super visas can be granted to any number of applicants per year. Your parents/grandparents’ super visa application will likely be approved if you can prove eligibility with documents. Application instructions:

1. You can fill out an application online or on paper.

When someone wants a super visa, they must be outside of Canada. They can send in their application online or on paper, but online applications are better. By applying for a super visa online, people can avoid processing delays and courier fees. They can also check on the status of their application online.

2. Gather essential documents

Your parent or grandparent should review the application checklist and gather all necessary documents. These will usually include their passports, birth and marriage certificates, travel dates (flight tickets or an itinerary), proof of medical insurance, letter of invitation, and your Canadian status and financial documents.

They must also submit financial documents (bank statements, tax returns, property documents, investments, etc.) or employment letters to prove they have strong ties to their home country and will only be in Canada for a short time.

Application documents vary by country. For instance, your parents or grandparents may require a notarized letter of invitation.

3. Fill out the Super Visa application and submit it.

After gathering the necessary documents, the super visa applicant can apply. They must pay the processing and biometrics fees online with a debit or credit card before applying. Keep the receipt if you submit a paper application. Biometrics requires paper applications at the local visa application center.

4. Submit additional documents as needed

Your parents or grandparents may be asked to send more documents while their super visa is being processed. Depending on which country they are applying from, they may need to send a photo and fingerprints, have a medical exam, and send a police certificate. In some cases, applicants may also have to go to an interview at the visa office in their home country.

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5. Get the super visa, and you’re ready to go.

Your parents or grandparents will need passports to get super visas after the application is processed. Your parents or grandparents can visit Canada as often as they want until the super visa expires.

The border officer will request their passport, visa, and health insurance before their trip.

If you’re from a country that doesn’t need visas, can you still apply for a super visa?

People from visa-free countries who want to stay in Canada for more than six months can apply for a “super visa.” The application process is different for non-visa holders, and you won’t get a passport sticker. Instead, you’ll get an approval letter to show the border guard when you arrive.

How much does it cost to process a super visa for a parent or grandparent?

Parent or grandparent super visa applications cost $100 CAD. If needed, applicants must pay $85 CAD for biometric processing and $200–300 CAD for a medical exam. These fees do not cover travel, mandatory health insurance, courier fees, or stay in Canada.

How long does it take to process a “super visa”?

Super visa processing times vary by country. Indian applicants wait 135 days on average. This excludes biometric submission time.

If the government has many applications to process, your application is incomplete, or it’s hard to verify your information, it will take longer to process. Check the government website for processing times before applying.

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August 10, 2023

Eric Appiah

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Application Process for the Super Visa | Immigrating to Canada in 2023