Super Visa Parental Super Visa

Super Visa

A Super Visa is a type of Temporary Resident Visa that is specifically reserved for parents and grandparents of Canadian Permanent residents or Citizens. It can be valid for up to ten years at a time, which is substantially greater than the traditional Temporary Resident Visa.

The Super Visa became popular with the closing of the parental sponsorship application. Now, Canadian Citizens and permanent residents have the option to invite their parents and grandparents for this extended period of time.

Those who are successful in obtaining their Super Visa will still need to renew their visa every three years, if they remain in Canada consecutively, but the duration of its validity can be as long as ten years.

What is the difference between the Super Visa and Regular Visa?

A Super Visa is geared specifically to Grandparents and Parents of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents while a regular visa or Visitor Visa is open to anyone who requires it to enter Canada temporarily.

Currently, most visitors to Canada may visit for up to six months when they first enter Canada. Visitors who wish to stay longer must apply for an extension, and pay a new fee.

With the Super Visa, parents and grandparents can visit family in Canada for up to two years without the need to renew their status. Also, the Super Visa can be granted for up to ten (10) years. This means that your parent or grandparent can remain in Canada for this extended period of time with only the need to renew their Super Visa every two years as oppose to six months.

Further, the Super Visa is also a Multiple-Entry visa and therefore allows your parent or grandparent to enter and exit Canada at their convenience for the duration of their Super Visa.

Qualify for the Super Visa

The Super Visa is strictly for parents and grandparents of Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents, as such, you must:

  • Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada;
  • Provide a written statement from the child or grandchild in Canada that they will give you financial support
  • Have valid Canadian Medical Insurance Coverage for at least one year
  • Have an immigration Medical Exam

Part of the Super Visa Application is also demonstrating that you have the necessary funds available to support your parents’ or grandparents’ stay in Canada. As such, you will need to meet the minimum necessary income as per the Low Income Cut Off:

Super Visa Income Table

Effective from January 1 to December 31, 2015

Your child or grandchild may use the following income scale to assess their ability to meet the income requirements.

Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) 2015 for Super Visa 

Size of Family Unit Minimum necessary income
1 person (your child or grandchild) $23,861
2 persons $29,706
3 persons $36,520
4 persons $44,340
5 persons $50,290
6 persons $56,718
7 persons $63,147
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add $6,429

How to Determine your Income Requirement

This chart outlines the income that your Canadian Host needs as per their family size. In order to accurately assess their family size your child or grandchild counts:

  • Them self
  • Their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable,
  • Their dependent children, if applicable,
  • Any person they may have sponsored previously and for whom the sponsorship agreement and undertaking are still in effect.

They then count the number of people they will be supporting:

  • You, and
  • Your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.

These numbers are then added together and represent their family size. Depending on your family size, the income requirement applies.

Factors to Consider…

When processing your Super Visa application, an Immigration Officer will assess several different factors before they make a decision. These factors should be adequately demonstrated in your application and supporting documentation if you hope to be successful in your application. An Immigration Officer will look at such things as:

  • Your ties to your home country;
  • The purpose of your visit;
  • Your family ties in Canada
  • Your financial stability
  • The overall economic and political stability in your home country; and
  • An invitation from a Canadian host

Other Requirements

In your Super Visa application, you will also need to prove that:

  • Your child in Canada meets the Minimum Income Threshold
  • Provide proof that your child has the ability to provide you with financial support while you are in Canada
  • You have valid medical insurance coverage in Canada for at least one (1) year
  • You have completed a Medical Exam conducted by a Panel Physician

What You will Need

In order to be successful in applying for the Super Visa application, in addition to the above, you will also need to demonstrate the fact that you are also a bona fide Temporary Resident. This means also demonstrating the following:

  • You will leave Canada at the end of your stay,
  • You Have enough money or financial support to maintain yourself and your spouse or common law partner (should they be accompanying you) while you are in Canada,
  • That you have sufficient funds to return home,
  • The reason for your visit,
  • you are law-abiding and have no record of criminal activity,
  • be in good health

How We Can Help

If you are interested in applying for a Super Visa, we will work with you and your family to ensure the application is done right. Ensuring that you demonstrate your familial connection, availability of funds and your status to be that of a Temporary Resident is essential. A Super Visa may be issued for up to ten years, but that does not mean it will automatically be granted as such. Submitting a strong case means the Super Visa has a high chance for success and will be granted for the longest possible amount of time.

We will assist you:

  • Draft the necessary forms;
  • Draft appropriate supporting documentation like employment reference letters, invitation letters, personal statements and purpose of travel letters;
  • Assist you with gathering important documents like medical insurance and proof of familial connection;
  • Help demonstrate how you meet the conditions of a Temporary Resident;
  • Compile the strongest possible case as per your unique situation;
  • Prepare you for making an application at a Port of Entry; and
  • Of course, be with you every step of the way.

For more information on the Super Visa, feel free to browse our vast collection of information on the subject or contact us directly at 1-877-622-8182 or 416 477 2570. You can also email at Info@ToImmigrate.com.

If you are interested in applying for a Super Visa, you are the Parent or Grandparent of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident. You will need to meet certain requirements; in addition, your prospective Canadian Host will also need to meet certain requirements.

As the applicant, in order to be successful in your application for a Super Visa you will need to provide:

  • evidence of your relationship to the Canadian citizen or permanent resident you wish to visit
  • a letter of invitation from your child or grandchild,
  • proof from your child or grandchild that he meets the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) or Minimum Necessary Income
  • proof that you have private medical insurance valid for a minimum of one year from a Canadian insurance company.

This Medical Insurance is typically acquired on your own through a private insurance company. Many insurance companies are well aware of the Super Visa application and have specific programs for you.

You need to be certain that your medical insurance in Canada:

  • covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation,
  • provides a minimum coverage of $100 000, and
  • is valid for each entry to Canada and be available for review by an Immigration Officer

Income Requirement

In order to qualify for the Super Visa, your Canadian host (child or grandchild) will need to meet certain income requirements as per the ‘Low Income-Cut Off,’ or LICO. The Low Income Cut-Off is essentially the Minimum Income your Canadian Host must have, depending on his family size, in order to be eligible to invite you to visit Canada through the Super Visa category.

The Low Income Cut-Off is a regularly updated statistic that takes into account the current economic situation in Canada. Depending on your host’s family size, they will must have the following incomes as per the Low Income Cut-Off:

Size of Family Unit

Minimum necessary income

1 person (your child or grandchild)

$23,647

2 persons

$29,440

3 persons

$36,193

4 persons

$43,942

5 persons

$49,839

6 persons

$56,209

7 persons

$62,581

More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add

$6,362

This chart outlines the income that your Canadian Host needs as per their family size. In order to accurately assess their family size your child or grandchild counts:

  • Them self
  • Their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable,
  • Their dependent children, if applicable,
  • Any person they may have sponsored previously and for whom the sponsorship agreement and undertaking are still in effect.

They then count the number of people they will be supporting :

  • You, and
  • Your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.

These numbers are then added together and represent their family size.

As a Parent or Grandparent you often find yourself in a situation where your child or grandchild is not living with you. Your children or grandchildren will have grown up and established lives of their own. In many cases, children and grandchildren end up in a different country than you to pursue various different opportunities for themselves and the families they create. If this is the case, you will likely want to visit your child and grandchild and spend some time with them if given the chance.

If your child or grandchild is in Canada, then depending on your own country of citizenship, you may be required to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa to enter and stay in Canada temporarily. A bonus for you, as a Parent or Grandparents, if you require a Visitor Visa, you do not only have the option of the regular Temporary Resident Visa category. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has added a bit more flexibility to Parents and Grandparents who want to visit their children or grandchildren in Canada. They have done this by establishing the Super Visa program.

However, in order to be eligible to apply under the Super Visa category:

  • You must be a Parent or Grandparent of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada
  • Be allowed to enter Canada, and
  • Meet certain other conditions.

One of the certain other conditions that your application must address is the Minimum Income Threshold necessary for the Super Visa application.

Minimum Income Threshold For Your Child Or Grandchild

As a requirement for the Super Visa application, you must prove that your Child or Grandchild in Canada meets the Minimum Income Threshold for the Super Visa category.

Effective from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, your Child or Grandchild will be assessed using the following Low Income Cut-Off Scale to assess their ability to meet the income requirements for the Super Visa application:

Size of Family Unit

Minimum Income Necessary

1 person (your child or grandchild)

$23,647

2 persons

$29,440

3 persons

$36,193

4 persons

$43,942

5 persons

$49,839

6 persons

$56,209

7 persons

$62,581

More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add

$6,362

At Akrami & Associates, our team of legal professionals has the skills, knowledge and expertise to put together a strong Super Visa application for you that will take into consideration all the factors that an immigration officer will look at when assessing your application.

Page 2 of 2