Canada Super Visa for Parents – A Comprehensive Guide

Last Updated on July 2, 2022 by Visa Journal

The Canadian Super Visa for parents and grand parents is a special visa grade that is tailored for elders, who are mainly parents and grandparents. This visa allows parents and grandparents to visit their children in Canada. With the Super Visa, one can stay for a period of  up to 5 years in Canada, without concerns for visa renewal.

The visa was introduced in 2012 and it opened a new window for immigrants which allowed their families to be reunited in Canada. Recently, IRCC decided on increasing the stay period form 2 years to 5 years. The success of this visa scheme is seen in the number of applications the Canadian government gets yearly. Through this program the Canadian government has shown a strong belief in family virtues with the introduction of the Canadian Super Visa.

Eligibility Criteria for the Canadian Super Visa

The following are the main eligibility criteria factors;

• You must be a parent or grand parent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident status holder.
• Your child or grandchild has provided you an invitation letter to visit Canada.
• Your child or grandchild earns at least the minimum threshold amount of money based on the family composition.
• You have bought medical insurance from an authorized  insurance company and is valid for at least one year, and have a minimum coverage of 100,000 CAD$.

* You cannot include any dependents on this application.

Required Documents for Parent Super Visa

You’ll need the following documents to apply for a parent or grandparent Super Visa, it is recommended to apply for the visa online on the IRCC website to expedite the processing:

• Your identification document (passport)
• Digital Photograph
• Proof of medical insurance from a company in Canada that covers you for at least $100,000 and is valid for one year from the date of your arrival in Canada.
• Upfront Medical Report with your online application if you took the medical exam ahead of time.
• Application for Temporary Resident Visa [IMM 5257]
• Family Information Form [IMM 5707]
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM 5409]
• Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (if applicable only)
• Birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or other documents naming you as the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent residence.
• A signed letter from your child or grandchild inviting you to visit Canada, the following items must be included in the letter;   

  -- A guarantee of financial assistance for the duration of your stay in Canada.

  -- A list of the family members of your child or grandchild (dependents including spouse, children or other relatives that are financially dependent)

  -- A copy of your child's or grandchild's Canadian citizenship or permanent resident certificate

• Applicable financial documents to show that your child or grandchild meets the above-mentioned Super Visa income threshold. If you need to add your child’s or grandchild’s spouse’s or common-law partner’s income to satisfy the minimal threshold, you’ll need to include one or more from the below documents for them as well;     

  -- A copy of their most recent federal income tax Notice of Assessment (NOA)

  -- A copy of their most recent T4 or T1 paperwork

  -- A letter from their employer detailing their job title, responsibilities, start date, and compensation.

  -- Pay stubs from their employment insurance

  -- If they are self-employed, a letter from an accountant proving annual income

Super Visa income requirements 2022 for the Child/Grand Child

There is a minimum income that your child or grandchild must meet for the Super Visa to be approved. This is called the low income cut-off (LICO) threshold. The 2022 values are provided in the following table;

To calculate the LICO for a family, please include all of the people listed below in the family size calculation:

• The sponsor (Child or Grand Child)
• Spouse or common-law partner of the sponsor
• Dependent Children of the sponsor
• Anyone who has been previously sponsored by the sponsor and whose undertaking is still active with the government.
• The parent or grandparent who is requesting a Super Visa.
• The parent’s or grandparent’s spouse or common-law partner (if included on the application)

Government Fee for Parent Super Visa

• The application fee for Canada Super Visa is 100 CAD$/person.
• Biometrics Fee is  85 CAD$/person or 170 CAD$/2 persons or family

Super Visa Application Processing time

The processing times for the application varies from country to country and it the most updated timeline can be known through IRCC link.

Between Parent Super Visa And Visitor Visa: Which One is best?

The Canadian super visa shares an ample bunch of similarities with the visitor’s visa, they are both issued to persons who seek to explore or visit Canada. However, there are tons of differences between them and this is what we will explore in this area of the article.

• To acquire the Canadian super visa one must establish a relationship that exists with a child or grandchild in Canada. Similarly, the child or grandchild must have either permanent residency or be a citizen of Canada. Furthermore, the visa allows you to stay in Canada for two years.
• On the other hand, visitor visa will allow you to stay in Canada up to 6 months in one visit, and if you intend to stay longer, you will formally apply for an extension to be granted. This makes the super visa a better option, if you are planning to stay more than 6 months with your children.

Canada Parent Super Visa Extension

Many people have wondered if the super visa can be extended. What happens where one cannot leave the country for health reasons, or possibly the fact that there is a need to prolong one’s stay in Canada? While the visa is valid for 2years, if you intend to stay longer in Canada you will need to apply for an extension.

• The best time to apply for this extension should be at least 30 days before the expiration of the current visa.
• The extension approval rate for the super visa application is over 83%, your chances of getting your extension approved are quite high. Factors such as health, funds, and the country of the applicant will determine the status of the application.

Permanent Residency for Parent or Grandparent

This is an alternative visa option that is available to persons who intend to pursue permanent immigration in Canada. The most important thing to show here is that the child or grandchild has the financial will power to support the applicant and that the applicant will not seek social assistance from the government of Canada. IRCC opens these quotas on a yearly basis and one has to enter his application in the draw pool to get benefit of parents PR.

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