Super visa insurance requirements in Canada: a plain guide

To get a super visa, your parent or grandparent needs private medical insurance from a qualifying company. IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) lists a minimum of $100,000 in emergency coverage, valid at least one year from the date of entry. It must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and the policy must be paid, not just quoted.

Key takeaways

• The super visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians. Insurance is one of several requirements.
• IRCC lists a minimum of $100,000 in emergency coverage, valid at least one year from the date of entry.
• The policy must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
• The insurer must be a Canadian insurance company, or a foreign one that meets IRCC's conditions.
• A quote is not proof. IRCC wants a policy paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit.

What IRCC requires

The super visa lets parents and grandparents visit family in Canada for longer than a regular visitor visa usually allows. The host must be the applicant's child or grandchild, at least 18, living in Canada, and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. The host also writes an invitation letter and must meet a minimum income. The applicant must take an immigration medical exam and apply from outside Canada.

On top of that, the applicant must show proof of private health insurance. Here is what the IRCC forms and documents page says the policy should do, as we read it in October 2026.

Repatriation means the cost of sending a patient, or in the worst case remains, back to the home country. It is separate from ordinary treatment, so check that it is included in writing.

Rules change. Before you buy, read the current IRCC page yourself, or ask a broker to confirm it.

Who can issue the policy

IRCC says the insurer must be a Canadian insurance company. A company outside Canada can also qualify, but only if it meets all of IRCC's conditions. In short, OSFI (the federal regulator of financial institutions) must authorize it to provide accident and sickness insurance in Canada, and it must have issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada. A policy from a foreign insurer must say so.

Brokers and claims administrators are not insurance companies, so they will not appear on OSFI's list. That is normal. A broker sells and explains policies, and the insurer behind it is the company IRCC cares about. Ask your broker for the insurer's legal name and make sure it is printed on the policy.

PolicyKind is not a broker or an insurer. This guide explains the rule so you can ask better questions of a broker.

Proof you will need

• The policy document. It should name the insurer, show the dates, and show the coverage for health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
• Proof of payment. A receipt or confirmation that the policy is paid in full, or paid in instalments with a deposit. A quote does not count.
• Proof for each entry. IRCC says you must have proof of a health insurance policy on each entry to Canada. Your parent should carry a printed copy and keep a digital copy on a phone.
• A copy with the host. Keep your own copy, so you can send the policy again if a paper copy is lost.

The policy is only one part of the application. You will also need the host's proof of status, proof of the family relationship, the invitation letter, and the host's income documents. The IRCC page lists these.

Refunds, cancellation and renewal

The IRCC page we read does not address refunds or cancellation. That means the rules come from the insurer and the policy wording, and they vary.

Think about these situations before you pay:

• The visa is refused. Some policies refund the premium in this case, often with conditions or a fee. Others do not. Ask, and get the answer in writing.
• The trip is delayed or shortened. Ask whether the unused part of the premium comes back, and what proof the insurer needs.
• Your parent returns home early. Ask how a cancellation is calculated.
• The stay runs longer than the policy. IRCC says that if the policy will expire before the visitor leaves, you should renew it to keep coverage during the stay. Ask how renewal works and whether health changes affect it.

The policy normally begins when your parent arrives in Canada, but the start date is set by the insurer. Ask for the exact dates.

What affects the price

IRCC sets the minimum, not the price. Insurers decide what to charge, and the quotes you see can differ a lot. We will not give figures here, because prices change and depend on the person. These factors usually matter:

• Age. Older travellers usually pay more, because medical costs tend to rise with age.
• Health. Insurers ask about medical history and may limit or exclude cover for conditions that already exist.
• Coverage limit. A higher limit than the $100,000 minimum usually costs more.
• Deductible. A higher deductible, the amount paid before the insurer pays, usually lowers the premium but leaves you with more risk.
• Payment method. Paying in full may cost less than instalments, or the other way round. Ask for both.
• Policy rules. Some policies pay the hospital directly, and others reimburse you later. Ask how it works.

The cheapest policy is not always the best one. If a claim is refused because of an exclusion you did not read, the savings disappear fast. Compare the wording on pre-existing conditions, exclusions and claims, then compare the price.

What to ask your broker

A good broker will explain the policy plainly. Bring the questions below.

• Does this policy meet IRCC's current requirements: $100,000 minimum, one year, health care, hospitalization and repatriation?
• Which company is the insurer, and is it a Canadian insurance company or a qualifying foreign one?
• How are pre-existing conditions handled? Is there a stability period, a limit, or an exclusion? Ask for the wording in writing.
• Is there a deductible, and who pays it?
• Can I pay in instalments? What deposit is needed, and what happens if a payment is missed?
• What documents will I receive, and in what form, so I have proof ready for the application and the border?
• What is the refund rule if the visa is refused, or the trip changes?
• What does the policy not cover, and how do claims work from the hospital to reimbursement?
• Can the limit be higher than $100,000, and how does that change the price?

Your parent will not have OHIP while visiting, so private insurance is the main protection. Our guide to travel medical insurance and OHIP abroad shows why public plans usually pay little outside their own province. You can also read about travel insurance on our product page.

Before you act

• Read the current IRCC forms and documents page and keep a copy of the checklist.
• Confirm your parent's health and travel dates, since both can affect cover and price.
• Ask at least two brokers to compare wording, not just price.
• Pay the policy before you submit the application and save the receipt.
• Put the policy and receipt in one folder, with copies for your parent.
• Set a reminder before the policy expires if the visit may run long.
• Write down the insurer's claims phone number and keep it with your parent's passport, so help is easy to reach in an emergency.
• Tell your parent what the policy covers and what it does not, so they know when to call before seeking care.

If you are new to Ontario yourself, our guide on car insurance for newcomers to Ontario covers another cost of settling in. If you would like to talk it through, our team can connect you with a broker.

This article is general information, not advice. Immigration and insurance rules change, so confirm every detail with IRCC and a broker before you decide. Reviewed October 2026.