Super Visa in 2026: Eligibility, Income and Insurance

Last updated: October 23, 2026

The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa is a multiple-entry temporary resident visa for eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and registered Indians. A visa may be issued for up to 10 years, but its actual expiry may be earlier based on passport or biometric expiry or an officer's decision. The time a person may stay at each entry depends in part on when the application was submitted and, for some earlier applications, when the person entered Canada. ^{Official sources: [1] [2] [3]}

Who may qualify?

The host must be the applicant's child or grandchild, be at least 18 years old, live in Canada, and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian. The host must provide an invitation and meet the minimum necessary income requirement; a spouse or common-law partner may co-sign where allowed. ^{Official sources: [1] [4]}

The applicant must apply from outside Canada, meet the requirements for a temporary resident, be admissible, complete an immigration medical examination, and provide the required health-insurance evidence. A person who is visa-exempt may still apply for a Super Visa; if approved, IRCC provides a letter for the applicant to show at the border. A separate eTA may also be needed for air travel. ^{Official sources: [1] [9]}

Health insurance requirements

IRCC requires at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage per applicant, covering health care, hospitalization, and repatriation. The policy must be valid for at least one year from entry and for each entry to Canada. Check current IRCC documents and policy requirements before buying coverage. ^{Official sources: [1] [9]}

A foreign insurer may be used only if it meets IRCC's stated test: it must be authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to provide accident and sickness insurance, appear on OSFI's list of federally regulated financial institutions, and issue the policy under its insurance business in Canada. Check OSFI's current list and the wording of the specific policy. ^{Official sources: [7] [8] [9]}

Income rules effective March 31, 2026

IRCC provides two ways to meet the minimum necessary income (MNI): ^{Official sources: [4] [5] [6]}

1. Use either of the two preceding tax years. The host's income, including an eligible co-signer's income, must meet or exceed the MNI for the family size in either of the two taxation years immediately before the application.
2. Use the host's income plus applicant income. The host and eligible co-signer must meet at least 75% of the MNI using income from the most recent taxation year or qualifying evidence of Canadian income for the 12 months before the application. The visiting parent or grandparent's income earned during the 12 months before filing may cover the remaining amount. If applicant income is used, IRCC requires proof that the applicant will continue to earn that income while in Canada; the supporting document must show the currency of payment. ^{Official sources: [4] [6]}

MNI amounts currently posted by IRCC

The IRCC table checked on October 23, 2026, lists the amounts below. The table itself is labelled updated July 29, 2025. No separate 2026 table was located in the official sources checked. Recheck IRCC's live page before using these figures for an application. ^{Official sources: [6]}

Family size includes the host, the host's spouse or common-law partner, dependent children of the host and spouse or partner (including children who meet IRCC's dependent-child definition regardless of custody or child-support arrangements), the Super Visa applicant(s), certain previously approved Super Visa holders still covered by an applicable invitation, and previously sponsored people for whom the sponsorship undertaking remains in effect. Use IRCC's current instructions to calculate the count. ^{Official sources: [6]}

How the five-year stay rules work

• Application submitted on or after June 22, 2023: IRCC says the holder is eligible to stay for up to five years at a time.
• Application submitted before June 22, 2023, but entry on or after June 22, 2023: the holder is eligible to stay for up to five years at a time after entry.
• Both application and entry before June 22, 2023: the authorized stay is the period the border officer granted on entry. A border officer may grant up to five years if the person still meets all Super Visa eligibility requirements. A person granted a shorter period may apply to extend their stay for up to two years, subject to approval, or leave and re-enter before the authorized stay expires. ^{Official sources: [10]}

A Super Visa does not guarantee admission to Canada or a particular stay. Keep visitor status, passport, and health insurance valid, and confirm the applicable dates for your own case. ^{Official sources: [1] [10]}

For a case-specific review, Contact Karim Immigration to discuss a consultation. This article is general information, not legal advice, and no visa, entry, or stay outcome is guaranteed.

Official sources

1. IRCC: Super Visa eligibility — Current page checked October 23, 2026
2. IRCC: Super Visa program overview — Current page checked October 23, 2026
3. IRCC Help Centre: multiple-entry visa validity — Current page checked October 23, 2026
4. IRCC: 2026 Ministerial Instructions regarding the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa — Effective March 31, 2026
5. IRCC: Changes to how Super Visa income is calculated — March 20, 2026
6. IRCC: Super Visa proof of financial support and MNI table — Page modified July 6, 2026; table labelled updated July 29, 2025
7. IRCC: Change to health-insurance requirement for Super Visa — January 28, 2025
8. OSFI: Who we regulate — Official regulator listing checked October 23, 2026
9. IRCC operational guidance: Super Visa — Current officer guidance checked October 23, 2026
10. IRCC: Super Visa length of stay — Current transition guidance checked October 23, 2026