Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents)
Stay in Canada for up to five years per visit, with multiple entries for up to ten years, when visiting your children or grandchildren who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or registered Indians.
The super visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadians visit for up to five years at a time, with multiple entries over a period of up to ten years. It is designed for longer stays than a standard visitor visa.
You cannot add dependants to this application. If you only need to stay six months or less, consider a visitor visa instead.
Processing times depend on the visa office and whether your file is complete; IRCC publishes estimated times by country. You may need biometrics; processing estimates often exclude biometrics time.
Fees start from CAN $100 for the visa — confirm the current amount on IRCC before you pay.
Your child or grandchild in Canada must provide a letter of invitation and proof they meet minimum income (or the alternative rules IRCC describes). The calculator on this page uses the official income table from IRCC (last updated July 29, 2025). Always confirm the live table on Canada.ca before you apply.
- Application for a visitor visa (temporary resident visa)Often required
Form IMM 5257 — apply online through the IRCC portal where possible.
- Proof of relationship to your child or grandchild in CanadaOften required
Such as a birth certificate naming them as a parent.
- Letter of invitation from your host in CanadaOften required
Must include a promise of financial support and list of people in the host's household.
- Proof of private medical insurance from a Canadian or approved foreign insurerOften required
Valid for at least one year, $100,000+ coverage, emergency hospital care and repatriation.
- Immigration medical exam (IME)Often required
From a panel physician; results sent to IRCC.
- Proof the host meets minimum income (or alternative rules)Often required
Usually CRA notice of assessment and related documents — see IRCC.
- Biometrics
If required for your country of application.
- Your host in Canada must show they can support you financially for your stay. IRCC publishes minimum gross annual income amounts by family unit size (table updated July 29, 2025).
- Use the calculator on this page after entering your total family size as counted by IRCC (host, spouse, dependents, each invited parent or grandparent, and certain other people per IRCC rules).
- Alternatively, IRCC may accept proof that income in the year before application was at least 75% of the minimum, with the applicant able to contribute income to reach 100% — see the official page.
- Government fee: from CAN $100 for the visa (verify the current fee on IRCC).
2
For more than 15 people, add $8,224 per additional person to the amount for size 15 (see IRCC — Proof of financial support).
Minimum necessary income (typical rule)
$38,002
IRCC may allow your host to qualify using income from either of the two tax years before the application, or under a 75% threshold with the applicant contributing income—see the official page for full rules and acceptable documents (e.g. CRA notice of assessment).
- You are applying to visit your **child or grandchild** who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian.
- You **cannot** include dependants in a super visa application; for stays of **six months or less**, a regular visitor visa may be more appropriate.
- You must be **allowed to enter Canada** (admissibility) and intend a **genuine temporary** visit.
- Medical insurance and, when required, a medical exam are mandatory for this stream.
- Processing times **vary by country** and do not include time for biometrics.
Disclaimer
This guide is for general information only. Immigration rules change frequently. Always confirm requirements with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a regulated Canadian immigration consultant or lawyer before submitting an application.