If you are inviting your parents or grandparents to Canada on a Super Visa, the medical insurance requirement is the single most common place where applications go wrong. The rules are specific, they are checked carefully by IRCC officers, and a small mistake — such as submitting a quote instead of a paid policy — can delay or sink an otherwise strong application. This guide walks through every insurance requirement as it stands in 2026, plus the broader eligibility basics and a step-by-step checklist you can follow.
What is the Super Visa?
The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visa that lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents visit Canada for up to five years at a time, with the visa itself typically valid for up to ten years. Compared with a regular visitor visa, it is designed for long family stays — which is exactly why the Canadian government insists on serious medical coverage. Visitors are not covered by provincial health plans, and a single hospital stay in Canada can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Because the stakes are high, IRCC ties Super Visa approval directly to proof of private medical insurance. No valid insurance, no Super Visa — it is that simple.
What are the exact Super Visa insurance requirements in 2026?
As of 2026, the policy you submit with a Super Visa application must meet all of the following conditions:
- Minimum coverage of $100,000 in emergency medical coverage. This is the floor, not a recommendation — many families choose $150,000 or more for extra protection, but $100,000 is the legal minimum IRCC will accept.
- Valid for at least one year from the date of entry into Canada. A six-month policy will not satisfy the requirement, even if your parents only plan to stay six months.
- Issued by a Canadian insurance company, or by a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI (the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) to sell this type of coverage. Since 2022, IRCC has accepted certain foreign insurers, but only those on the OSFI-authorized list — a random policy from an overseas company will be refused. Most applicants still buy from major Canadian insurers, which keeps things simple.
- Covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation. All three elements must be present. Repatriation — the cost of returning someone to their home country for medical reasons or after death — is sometimes overlooked, but IRCC checks for it.
- Proof of full payment, or proof of an IRCC-accepted monthly payment plan. A quote or an unpaid invoice is not enough. You must show that the policy has actually been purchased in full, or that you are enrolled in an approved instalment plan. If monthly payments interest you, our guide to Super Visa insurance monthly payment plans explains exactly how they work.
What is the proof-of-insurance letter and what should it include?
When you buy a qualifying policy, the insurer (or your advisor) issues a confirmation letter designed specifically for Super Visa applications. Officers typically look for the following on that letter:
- The full name and date of birth of the insured parent or grandparent, matching their passport
- The coverage amount (at least $100,000) and the policy number
- The effective date and expiry date, showing at least one year of coverage
- Confirmation that health care, hospitalization and repatriation are covered
- Confirmation that the premium has been paid in full, or details of the approved payment plan
- The insurer's name and its Canadian or OSFI-authorized status
Most established insurers produce this letter automatically. If you work with an advisor like Aniel, the letter is checked line by line against IRCC's wording before anything is submitted, so nothing is left to interpretation.
What other Super Visa eligibility rules apply?
Insurance is only one piece of the application. As of 2026, the core eligibility requirements also include:
The host must be a child or grandchild who is a citizen or PR
The person inviting the applicant must be their child or grandchild, and must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (registered Indians under the Indian Act also qualify as hosts). The applicant must be the parent or grandparent — siblings, aunts and uncles are not eligible under this program.
The host must meet a minimum income threshold
The host needs to show income at or above the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) plus 30% for their family size, which includes the visiting parents or grandparents in the count. The exact figures are updated periodically by the government, so always check the current table before applying — or ask an advisor to confirm your family size calculation, since counting errors here are surprisingly common.
A signed letter of invitation
The host writes a letter of invitation that includes a promise of financial support for the length of the visit, details of the household, and confirmation of the family relationship. Supporting documents typically include a Notice of Assessment or employment letter, plus proof of the relationship such as a birth certificate.
Admissibility and a possible medical exam
Applicants must be admissible to Canada and may be asked to complete an immigration medical examination with a panel physician. This is separate from the insurance requirement — passing the medical exam does not replace the need for a policy.
Step-by-step Super Visa application checklist
- Confirm host eligibility. Verify citizenship or PR status and check the current LICO+30% income table for your family size.
- Gather host documents. Notice of Assessment, employment letter or pay stubs, and proof of relationship to the applicant.
- Write the invitation letter. Include the financial support commitment, household details and intended length of stay.
- Buy qualifying insurance. Compare quotes for at least $100,000 of coverage valid for one year from the planned entry date, from a Canadian insurer or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer. Our Super Visa insurance page explains coverage options in detail.
- Obtain the proof-of-insurance letter. Check that it shows full payment or an approved payment plan, and that names match passports exactly.
- Complete the IRCC application online. Upload the insurance letter, invitation letter, income proof and relationship documents.
- Complete biometrics and any requested medical exam. Then wait for a decision — processing times vary by country.
What are the common insurance-related refusal reasons?
In our experience, these are the insurance mistakes that most often lead to refusals or requests for more documents:
- Submitting a quote instead of a paid policy. This is the number one error. IRCC needs proof of purchase, not intent to purchase.
- Coverage under $100,000, or a policy term shorter than one year from the entry date.
- A foreign insurer that is not OSFI-authorized. Policies from unapproved overseas companies are rejected outright.
- Missing repatriation coverage, or a letter that fails to mention hospitalization explicitly.
- Name or date-of-birth mismatches between the policy and the passport.
- Policy dates that do not align with the intended date of entry, leaving a coverage gap.
Every one of these mistakes is preventable with a careful review before submission. It typically takes minutes to fix a letter before filing — and months to fix a refusal afterwards.
Where can you get help with Super Visa insurance?
Aniel Bharadwaj, the licensed advisor behind Champp Insurance, has helped many immigrant families across Canada arrange compliant Super Visa coverage, comparing policies from major Canadian insurers to find the right fit for each parent's age, health and budget. Consultations are available in English, Hindi and Punjabi, and there is no cost to compare quotes. If you want a second set of eyes on your insurance documents before you file, that alone can save an enormous amount of stress.