Super Visa invitation
letter template.

The invitation letter is the Canadian host's written commitment to support the visiting parent or grandparent. IRCC uses it alongside your Notice of Assessment to confirm the financial and logistical plan for the visit.

Most invitation letters get written too short. IRCC wants specifics: who you are, what your income is, where the parents will stay, for how long, and who's paying for what. Vague "you're welcome to visit anytime" letters get flagged. Below is the template we use with Wings Travels' Super Visa clients.

Why the letter matters

The invitation letter is one of the most-scrutinised documents in a Super Visa application because it:

• Confirms the Canadian host's relationship to the applicant
• Declares the host's income and financial commitment
• States the purpose, duration, and accommodation plan for the visit
• Demonstrates that the applicant will return home after the visit

Well-written letters don't guarantee approval, but poorly-written ones frequently cause processing delays or refusals because the visa officer has to request missing information.

What must be included (IRCC checklist)

• Host's full name, address, phone, email
• Host's status in Canada (citizen, permanent resident) with proof reference
• Host's date of birth
• Host's occupation and employer
• Host's annual income (gross, aligned with LICO — details)
• Household composition (spouse, children, other dependents)
• Applicant's full name, date of birth, relationship to host
• Applicant's passport number and country
• Purpose of visit (family visit, help with grandchildren, significant family event, etc.)
• Duration and dates of visit
• Accommodation (address where they'll stay, typically the host's home)
• Financial responsibility statement (who pays for flights, insurance, living costs)
• Declaration that applicant will return home after the visit
• Host's signature and date

Full template — copy and customise

[Your Full Name]
[Your Street Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code, Canada]
[Phone]
[Email]

[Date]

To: The Visa Officer
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
(or the Canadian Visa Office in [applicant's country])

Subject: Letter of invitation for Super Visa — [Applicant's Full Name]

Dear Visa Officer,

I, [Your Full Name], born [DOB], a [Canadian citizen / permanent resident] residing at [address] and employed as [Occupation] at [Employer], am writing to invite my [mother / father / grandmother / grandfather], [Applicant's Full Name], born [Applicant DOB], passport number [Passport #], currently residing in [Applicant country], to visit me in Canada under the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa program.

My household and income
My household consists of myself, [spouse's name if applicable], and [children's names and ages if applicable] — total [N] people. My gross annual income for 2025 was approximately $[amount] CAD, as evidenced by my Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment for tax years 2023, 2024, and 2025 (attached). With the addition of [applicant count] visiting parent(s), my household size for Low Income Cut-Off purposes would be [N+1 or N+2], which my income exceeds.

Purpose and duration of visit
I am inviting [him/her/them] to visit for a period of approximately [X] months / [Y] years, from [planned start date] to [planned end date]. The purpose of the visit is [family reunion, helping with grandchildren, recovering from medical treatment, attending a significant family event, etc.]. During the stay, [applicant] will reside with me at my address above, at no cost to the Government of Canada.

Financial responsibility
I confirm that I will be financially responsible for all costs associated with [applicant's] visit, including accommodation, food, local transportation, and any non-covered medical or personal expenses during their stay. [Applicant / I] has / have already purchased Super Visa medical insurance from [Insurance Company Name] providing $100,000 CAD coverage for 365 days, as required by IRCC. A copy of the Certificate of Insurance is attached.

Return to home country
[Applicant] has strong ties to [home country], including [property ownership / employment / dependent family members / business interests]. [He/She/They] intend(s) to return to [home country] at the end of the authorised stay.

Please find all supporting documents enclosed. Should you require any additional information, I can be reached at [phone] or [email] at any time.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
[Date]

Common mistakes that trigger refusals

• Omitting the financial declaration. Visa officers want to see the explicit commitment that the host will cover costs, not just a vague welcome.
• Vague duration. "An extended visit" isn't enough. State the planned months or years, even if approximate.
• Missing return-to-home-country statement. Without this, the visa officer may assume the applicant intends to overstay.
• Insurance referenced but not attached. IRCC requires seeing the Certificate of Insurance, not just a mention of it.
• Wrong household count. Include the visiting parents when calculating household size for LICO. Under-stating household size is a common self-inflicted refusal.
• No mention of relationship proof. State clearly that birth/marriage certificates are attached showing the parent-child or grandparent-grandchild relationship.

Need a Calgary-specific review of your letter before submitting? Wings Travels reviews invitation letters free when you buy Super Visa insurance through us.

Frequently asked questions