Super Visa Medical Insurance — The Rules and What to Actually Buy

The Super Visa is the most-used non-PR family pathway for parents and grandparents. It's a 10-year multi-entry temporary resident visa allowing stays of up to 5 consecutive years per visit (extended from 2 years in 2022). For most Pakistani, Indian, UAE-based, and Saudi-based families, the Super Visa is the practical bridge while a Parents and Grandparents Program sponsorship works through the multi-year IRCC queue.

The single most-common refusal driver — and the most-confusing requirement — is the medical insurance. This post breaks down the 2026 rules and what to actually buy.

1. The IRCC requirement

To be eligible for a Super Visa, your parent or grandparent must hold private medical insurance with all four of the following:

1. Minimum CAD $100,000 in coverage
2. Valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry to Canada
3. Covers hospitalization, healthcare services, and repatriation
4. From an IRCC-approved insurer — Canadian-licensed insurer OR an OSFI-approved non-Canadian insurer

Proof of fully-paid insurance must be submitted with the visa application. Confirmation letters from the insurer specifically for Super Visa purposes are standard — every major Canadian insurer issues them on request.

2. The 2024 monthly-payment option

Until 2024, the entire year's premium had to be paid in full at the time of application. As of 2024, IRCC accepts policies paid via monthly instalments through approved insurers, provided:

• The policy is in force at application time
• The full annual coverage is guaranteed (the insurer cannot cancel mid-year for non-payment in a way that breaks coverage)
• Proof of the first month's payment is included

This is a meaningful change for families who previously paid CAD 1,800–3,500+ in one shot. Monthly payment plans typically run CAD 200–350/month depending on age, pre-existing conditions, and coverage amount.

3. What "covers hospitalization, healthcare, repatriation" means

These three are required minimums. In practice, a compliant Super Visa policy covers:

• Emergency medical care — emergency room visits, urgent care, prescription medications
• Hospitalization — inpatient care, surgery, diagnostic imaging
• Healthcare services — doctor's appointments, specialist consultations, lab work
• Repatriation — cost of returning the insured to their home country in case of serious illness, plus return of remains

What's typically not covered (and you don't need it covered for the Super Visa):

• Routine check-ups and preventive care
• Pregnancy-related care after a certain age
• Pre-existing condition flares (without a specific rider)
• Mental health beyond emergency stabilization
• Dental beyond emergency

If your parent has specific health concerns, talk to the insurer about riders — some offer pre-existing-condition coverage if the condition has been stable for a defined period (typically 90–180 days) before policy effective date.

4. Canadian-licensed insurers — the safe list

The Canadian insurers most-frequently used for Super Visa policies (in alphabetical order, no endorsement implied):

• 21st Century Travel Insurance
• Allianz Global Assistance Canada
• Blue Cross (provincial associations)
• Destination Travel Insurance
• GMS — Group Medical Services
• Manulife Travel Insurance
• MSH International Canada
• Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada
• RBC Insurance
• Sun Life Financial
• TD Insurance
• Tugo (formerly TIC Travel Insurance)

All of these are familiar to IRCC officers, all offer Super Visa-specific products, and all issue the confirmation letters in the format IRCC expects.

5. The age and pre-existing-condition pricing reality

Premiums scale with age. Approximate annual costs for a healthy applicant in 2026:

Pre-existing conditions add 20–60% depending on the condition and the stability period. Cardiac history, oncology history, and uncontrolled diabetes are the most-priced. Disclose everything to the insurer — undisclosed conditions void the policy at claim time.

6. The application-day reality — what to submit

When the Super Visa is filed, the documentation we attach for the medical insurance line item:

1. Insurance confirmation letter addressed to IRCC (or "To Whom It May Concern") on insurer letterhead, stating:

   • Insured's full name (matching passport)
   • Policy number
   • Coverage amount (CAD 100,000+)
   • Coverage start and end dates (1+ year)
   • Coverage scope (hospitalization, healthcare, repatriation)
   • Payment status (paid in full OR active monthly plan with guaranteed annual coverage)
   • Insurer's licensing details

2. Proof of payment — bank/credit card statement showing the premium paid

3. (For monthly plans) Confirmation that the policy cannot be cancelled by the insurer mid-year for non-payment in a way that breaks Super Visa compliance

7. After arrival — keep it active

The Super Visa requires continuous insurance coverage as a condition of stay. If the policy lapses while your parent is in Canada:

• They may be deemed in breach of conditions
• Extensions or future Super Visa renewals may be affected
• A serious medical event during a lapse could leave the family with uncovered bills running into the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars

We strongly recommend setting renewal reminders 60+ days before expiry. Most insurers grandfather the original premium for continuous-renewal customers, so renewing on time also saves money.

8. Combining Super Visa with PGP

Many of our clients use the Super Visa as a bridge while waiting for PGP — but the two are not mutually exclusive. A parent on a 5-year Super Visa stay can be simultaneously in the PGP queue. If their PGP application is approved during the stay, they transition to permanent residence without leaving Canada. If not, they leave at end of stay (or extend through the visitor record process) and continue waiting in the PGP queue.

For a deeper picture of both pathways, see our Parents and Grandparents service page and the PGP / Super Visa decision matrix.

Halani Immigration Services Inc. files Super Visa and PGP applications across Pakistan, India, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The first consultation is free. Start your free assessment or book a strategy call — we'll help you decide whether Super Visa, PGP, or both is the right path for your family.