Longer Stays under the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa

For over a decade, the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa program has allowed Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada for extended periods of time. It is a multiple-entry visa, valid for up to 10 years in total. While the length of stay under a regular multiple-entry visitor visa is limited to 6 months or less, the Super Visa currently allows parents and grandparents to remain in Canada for 2 years at a time.

Minimum income requirements must be met by the host child or grandchild to support super visa holders. Applicants must undergo a medical exam and obtain private health insurance from an approved provider. With approximately 17,000 super visas issued per year, it remains a popular option for Canadian citizens and permanent residents to reunite with their parents and grandparents in Canada.

As of July 4, 2022, super visa holders will be able to stay in Canada for up to 5 years per entry. They will also have the option to request to extend their stay by another 2 years while in Canada, increasing the maximum stay from 2 to 7 consecutive years. This is a significant improvement for intercontinental families! According to Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety, "Reuniting families is a priority for our Government and contributes to our success and strength as a country—particularly, as we work to recover from the pandemic and reconnect with our loved ones."

In addition, designated international medical insurance companies will be able to provide coverage to super visa applicants in the future. Under the current provisions, only Canadian insurance providers can offer the required medical coverage for super visa applicants. Information about any designated medical

insurance companies located outside of Canada is yet to be released.

Since 2011, the Super Visa has been an alternative to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) which leads to permanent residence. With approximately 200,000 applicants per year but only about 20,000 available spots, demand far exceeds the limitations of the program. In recent years, IRCC has held lotteries extending invitations to apply for permanent residence under the PGP. IRCC has not yet released the plans for the PGP in 2022.

Immigration minister Sean Fraser said, "Families are at the heart of Canadian society. The enhancements to the super visa program allow family members to reunite for longer in Canada, which helps everyday Canadian citizens and permanent residents succeed and contribute to society, while affording their parents and grandparents invaluable opportunities to spend time with their family in Canada."

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