HV Global Immigration Ltd | Updated September 18, 2026
Planning a holiday in Canada, attending a family celebration, or inviting your parents for a longer visit? Choosing the right application is the first step. A Canada visitor visa generally suits shorter trips, while the Super Visa offers eligible parents and grandparents longer stays with family.
This guide explains the key requirements, supporting documents, costs and application steps so you can prepare with a clear understanding of what immigration officers assess.
What is a Canada visitor visa
A visitor visa, also called a Temporary Resident Visa or TRV, is placed in your passport and allows you to travel to Canada to seek entry. Whether you need a visa or an electronic travel authorization depends on your nationality, travel document and method of travel.
Most visitors are allowed to stay for up to six months, although a border officer can authorize a different period. The visa expiry date and your authorized stay are different: a visa valid for several years does not permit you to remain in Canada continuously for that entire period.
IRCC guidance on visitor visas and length of stay
Differences between a visitor visa and a Super Visa
| Feature | Visitor visa | Super Visa |
| Main purpose | Tourism and short family visits | Extended visits by eligible parents and grandparents |
| Length of stay | Usually up to six months | Eligible for five years at a time under current rules |
| Host income | Financial support assessed in context | Minimum income rules apply |
| Medical exam | May be required | Required |
| Insurance | Consider coverage for medical costs | Qualifying private health insurance required |
Which option suits your visit
A regular visitor visa generally suits a holiday, a family celebration or a shorter visit, including a visit by parents or grandparents. The Super Visa is designed for eligible parents and grandparents who want longer stays with their children or grandchildren in Canada. Its main advantage is the longer permitted stay per entry, rather than simply a longer visa expiry date.
For example, parents planning a three week graduation visit may consider a visitor visa. Parents hoping to spend a year with an eligible child in Canada may consider a Super Visa, provided they meet the income, insurance, medical and other requirements described below. The right choice depends on the actual visit and the family’s circumstances.
Canada visitor visa eligibility and documents
Applicants must demonstrate that they can afford their visit and will leave Canada when their authorized stay ends. IRCC also considers health, admissibility and ties to the home country, such as employment, family responsibilities and financial assets. An invitation from a relative does not replace the applicant’s own eligibility assessment.
There is no single bank balance that guarantees approval. The funds should make sense for the proposed trip, accommodation arrangements and number of travellers.
IRCC visitor visa eligibility requirements
Preparing a useful application package
Follow your personalized IRCC checklist and the instructions for your local visa office. Depending on your circumstances, supporting evidence may include:
- A valid passport and relevant travel history pages.
- A clear travel purpose, proposed dates and accommodation plan.
- Bank statements and evidence explaining the source of available funds.
- Employment confirmation, approved leave, business records or pension evidence, where relevant.
- An invitation letter and supporting host information for a family visit.
- Documents showing family relationships and responsibilities at home.
- Any additional documents or translations required by your checklist.
IRCC visitor visa application and document instructions
Make the evidence fit the visit
For a graduation visit, explain whose graduation you will attend and provide the available event details. For a holiday, propose an itinerary that fits your budget and time away from work. For a family visit, explain who will pay for flights, accommodation and daily expenses.
Before submitting, compare the dates, names and financial information across the forms and supporting letters. If a recent large deposit appears in a bank statement, explain its source with records. A short, specific explanation is more useful than a generic statement that you have “strong ties.”
Retired applicants can explain their circumstances through pension income, family commitments and other relevant evidence. The application should reflect the person’s actual life rather than rely on a standard template that assumes every visitor is employed.
Super Visa eligibility for parents and grandparents
The Super Visa is available to qualifying parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents or people registered under the Indian Act. The host must live in Canada, be at least 18 and meet the program’s financial requirements.
Applicants must apply while outside Canada, complete an immigration medical examination, obtain qualifying insurance and demonstrate that they are genuine temporary visitors. Visa printing must also take place through a visa office outside Canada, following its instructions. Travelling abroad only for passport submission does not satisfy the requirement to be outside Canada when applying.
IRCC Super Visa eligibility requirements
Under the current rules, new Super Visa applicants are eligible for stays of five years at a time. Always check the authorized stay applicable to your entry, particularly if you hold an older Super Visa.
IRCC Super Visa length of stay
Super Visa income requirements
Calculate family size before checking the income threshold. Include the host, spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, invited applicants, and relevant existing Super Visa commitments or sponsorship undertakings.
Current IRCC guidance provides two options:
- Option 1: The host, with an eligible co-signer where applicable, meets the minimum in either of the two tax years before applying. CRA notices of assessment are required.
- Option 2: Host and eligible co-signer income in the preceding year reaches at least 75% of the minimum. The applicant’s income may cover the shortfall, with evidence that it will continue while in Canada.
The published table checked on September 18, 2026 is labelled “Updated July 29, 2025.” It lists $38,002 for two people, $46,720 for three, $56,724 for four, $64,336 for five, $72,560 for six and $80,784 for seven. Add $8,224 per person above seven. Recheck the live table before filing.
IRCC Super Visa income thresholds and proof of financial support
Super Visa insurance and supporting documents
The insurance policy must provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage, cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and be valid for at least one year from entry. It must be paid in full or through instalments with a deposit; an insurance quote is insufficient.
Use a Canadian insurer or a qualifying foreign insurer that meets IRCC’s OSFI authorization and Canadian insurance business conditions. An overseas travel policy does not qualify automatically. Carry proof on each entry and renew coverage if it will expire before departure.
The application also requires the signed host invitation, relationship evidence, proof of host status, financial evidence and medical exam confirmation. Only an eligible spouse or common-law partner of the host may co-sign; siblings cannot combine their income as co-signers. Follow local visa office and translation instructions.
IRCC Super Visa documents and insurance requirements
How to apply for a Canada visitor visa or Super Visa
- Choose the application that fits the visit and confirm the appropriate IRCC application route.
- Gather the required documents and reconcile any differences in names, dates or financial information.
- Complete the online forms, upload the evidence and pay the applicable fees.
- Follow instructions for biometrics and any additional medical, document or interview requests.
- Monitor your account and submit your passport only when instructed. For visa-required travellers, wait until the visa is issued before travelling.
IRCC Super Visa application instructions
IRCC next steps after a visitor visa application
Application fees and processing times
The government application fee for a visitor visa, including a Super Visa, is CAD $100 per person. Biometrics cost CAD $85 per person when required. Insurance, medical examinations, translations and professional fees are separate. Family fee caps may apply when IRCC’s conditions are met.
Processing times depend on the visa office and any additional checks or documents needed. Check IRCC’s current estimate for your application rather than treating another traveller’s timeline as a promise.
Frequently asked questions about visitor visas and Super Visas
Does a ten year visitor visa allow a ten year stay
No. Visa validity concerns when you may travel using the document. Your permitted stay is determined separately. Single or multiple entry issuance and validity are discretionary; a ten year visa is not guaranteed.
IRCC explanation of visa validity and visitor stays
Can parents apply if their child holds a work or study permit
Temporary resident status alone does not make the child an eligible Super Visa host. Parents may instead consider a regular visitor visa, subject to their individual eligibility.
IRCC Super Visa host requirements
Can I extend a visit from inside Canada
To request a longer stay, apply for a visitor record before your authorized stay expires. A visitor record is different from a visa and is not a travel document. An extension request should explain the additional time needed and how the continued visit will be funded.
IRCC visitor record and extension information
What should I do after a visitor visa refusal
Start with the reasons in the decision and review what the submitted evidence actually demonstrated. Identify whether the concern relates to the travel purpose, finances, personal circumstances or another issue. Before reapplying, consider what relevant evidence or explanation can address that concern. Reusing the same package with a longer cover letter may leave the underlying problem unresolved.
IRCC information about application decisions
Should my parents apply for a visitor visa or a Super Visa?
A visitor visa may suit a short visit. A Super Visa may suit a longer stay if the parent or grandparent and Canadian host meet the additional requirements. HV Global can assess the travel purpose, finances and family circumstances before recommending a route.
Can I apply for a Super Visa while visiting Canada?
No. You must be outside Canada when you apply. Leaving only to submit your passport later does not satisfy that requirement. Follow the visa office’s instructions for overseas visa printing.
Is medical insurance mandatory for a Super Visa?
Yes. Qualifying private insurance must be valid for at least one year from entry and include at least CAD $100,000 in emergency coverage for health care, hospitalization and repatriation. A quotation alone is insufficient.
Can I buy Super Visa insurance from any overseas insurer?
No. A foreign insurer must meet IRCC’s eligibility conditions. Check both the provider and policy before paying; an ordinary overseas travel policy does not automatically qualify.
Does an invitation letter guarantee a visitor visa approval?
No. The applicant must still demonstrate a genuine temporary visit, adequate financial support and compliance with the entry requirements. The host’s invitation supports the application but does not determine the decision.
How much money should I show for a visitor visa?
There is no universal balance that guarantees approval. Present funds appropriate to the trip’s length, accommodation and number of travellers, and explain their source. Super Visa applications have separate host financial requirements.
Does a Super Visa make my parent a permanent resident?
No. It provides temporary visitor status. Permanent residence requires a separate eligible immigration application; holding a Super Visa does not guarantee sponsorship or permanent residence approval.
Can HV Global review which application is right for my family?
Yes. Contact HV Global Immigration Ltd at hvglobal.ca for an individual profile assessment. We can compare the available routes, review previous refusals and help prepare the relevant application and supporting evidence.
How HV Global Immigration can help
At HV Global Immigration Ltd, we can assess whether a visitor visa or Super Visa suits your plans, prepare a tailored document checklist, review your supporting evidence and assist with application preparation and submission. For Super Visa files, we can review family size, the applicable income option and the required insurance documentation.
If you have a previous refusal, we can examine the decision and discuss what needs attention before a new application. Our role is to present your circumstances clearly and accurately. IRCC makes the decision on every application.
Not sure whether to choose a Canada visitor visa or Super Visa? Contact HV Global Immigration Ltd at hvglobal.ca for an individual profile assessment. We will review your travel purpose, intended length of stay, family relationship, host status and finances, insurance requirements, and any previous refusals. Based on your circumstances, we can advise which application path is appropriate and explain the documents needed to support it. Book a consultation before applying to receive advice tailored to your profile.
Book a consultation with HV Global Immigration
Visiting family across Canada
Whether your family lives in Calgary, Edmonton, Cochrane or Olds, or elsewhere in Canada, start with a realistic plan for where you will stay and how long you will visit. The same federal visitor visa and Super Visa framework applies to trips to Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
For travel to Vancouver Island, Cape Breton Island or Newfoundland, include onward transportation and accommodation in your budget. A clear itinerary helps connect your proposed visit to the funds and supporting documents in your application.
This article provides general information based on IRCC guidance checked on September 18, 2026. Requirements, fees and income thresholds can change. Individual circumstances require a separate assessment.
