How to get a Super Visa — full walkthrough
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If you're a Canadian citizen or PR inviting parents or grandparents to visit, you have two main options: the Super Visa or the regular Visitor Visa (TRV). The Super Visa is almost always the right choice for parents and grandparents — but not always. This guide covers when each option makes more sense.
Quick overview
- Visitor Visa (TRV) — standard temporary resident visa for Canada. Stay up to 6 months per visit. Valid up to 10 years (or passport expiry). Open to any foreign national, no family-relationship requirement. Cheaper and faster.
- Super Visa — parent/grandparent-only special TRV. Stay up to 5 years per visit. Valid up to 10 years (multi-entry). Requires medical insurance + host financial proof. More expensive but designed for long-stay family visits.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Regular Visitor Visa (TRV) | Super Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Any foreign national | Parent or grandparent of Canadian citizen/PR only |
| Stay per visit | Up to 6 months | Up to 5 years |
| Validity | Up to 10 years (multi-entry) | Up to 10 years (multi-entry) |
| In-country extension | Up to 6 months total, by applying before expiry | Can extend by 2 more years without leaving |
| Mandatory insurance | No (but recommended) | Yes, $100K for 365 days |
| Host income requirement | No formal LICO check | Yes, must meet LICO |
| Government fee | $100 CAD + $100 biometrics | $100 CAD + $100 biometrics |
| Insurance cost (365 days) | Optional | ~$1,000-$4,500/year per applicant |
| Processing time | 2-14 weeks | 2-24 weeks (by country) |
| Designed for | Short visits | Extended family visits |
When to choose Super Visa
The Super Visa is almost always better for parents/grandparents planning to spend 6+ months in Canada per visit. Specifically choose Super Visa when:
- Parents want to help with newborn grandchildren for 1-2 years
- Parents are retired and planning to spend winters in Canada
- Multi-year extended stay to support a Canadian adult child's career transition
- Post-surgery recovery or long-term medical support
- Semi-permanent relocation while waiting for Parents and Grandparents Program PR sponsorship (which can take 2-3 years)
When to choose regular Visitor Visa
A regular TRV is sometimes the right call:
- Short-stay planning (under 6 months). Specific family event, short holiday — the TRV is cheaper and faster.
- Host doesn't meet LICO. If your Canadian household income doesn't meet the MNI threshold, you can't get a Super Visa. A regular TRV has no income requirement.
- Applicant can't get insurance. Very rare, but some applicants with severe pre-existing conditions can't be insured for $100K for 365 days. Some carriers will write for 90 days (a regular TRV stay length).
- First-time trip with uncertain duration. A regular TRV is the safer first-time test before committing to Super Visa insurance costs.
- Parent wants flexibility to refuse. Some parents prefer not being committed to multi-year stays — regular TRV makes short, committed visits easier.
Total cost comparison (1-year stay scenario)
For a 65-year-old parent visiting from India for 12 months:
| Expense | Regular TRV (6 mo) + extension | Super Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application fee | $200 CAD | $200 CAD |
| Extension application (if needed) | $100 CAD | $0 (not needed) |
| Medical insurance (optional vs mandatory) | ~$1,200 (recommended) | $2,040 (12-month mandatory) |
| Medical exam | $0 (not required for under-6-month stays) | $400 (mandatory) |
| Total | $1,500 CAD | $2,640 CAD |
Super Visa costs ~$1,100 more for a 1-year stay, but locks in 5 years of future 5-year-per-visit validity. For most families, that's the better long-term deal.
Unsure which to apply for? Wings Travels' Calgary visa desk can walk through your specific family situation and recommend the right path. Call 877-767-1070 or WhatsApp +1 403 800 7110.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Super Visa better than a regular visitor visa?
For parents/grandparents visiting 6+ months, almost always yes — the 5-year-per-visit stay duration is the main reason. For short visits under 6 months, a regular visitor visa is cheaper and faster. Neither is universally better.
Can I convert a visitor visa to a Super Visa while in Canada?
No. The applicant must apply for a Super Visa from their home country. If they entered Canada on a visitor visa and want to stay longer, they can apply to extend the visitor visa, but switching to Super Visa requires leaving Canada and re-applying.
Can I apply for both a Super Visa and a regular TRV at the same time?
Technically yes, but IRCC will typically issue only one. If the Super Visa application is refused (e.g. host income doesn't meet LICO), the regular TRV is a fallback option.
Does a Super Visa lead to permanent residency?
No, the Super Visa is strictly a visitor visa. Your parents cannot work, study, or apply for PR from within Canada on a Super Visa. For PR, they must be sponsored through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), which is a separate process with lottery-style intake.
Can my parents work on either a Super Visa or visitor visa?
No. Both are visitor visas — no employment permitted. Your parents can help with household tasks and childcare for family but cannot be paid employees of any Canadian company.
About the author
Sumeet Singh Maroque
Founder of Wings Travels (Calgary, since 2015). IATA-accredited travel consultant specialising in Super Visa insurance, flights to the Indian subcontinent, and visa guidance. Has handled 5,000+ Calgary family bookings. Speaks English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu.