Super Visa Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Income & Insurance | BestQuote

The 2026 IRCC Super Visa insurance requirements are clear but strict: your parent or grandparent needs private medical insurance with at least $100,000 CAD in emergency coverage, valid for a minimum of one year from their date of entry, from an approved insurer, covering health care, hospitalization, and repatriation. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not approve a Super Visa without proof of a qualifying policy and a single missing requirement is one of the most common reasons applications are refused.

This guide breaks down every Super Visa insurance requirement for 2026, including a recent change that many older guides still get wrong, exactly what your policy documents must show, and how to make sure your coverage qualifies before you apply.

Super Visa is only for the parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (or a person registered under the Canadian Indian Act). The applicant must be found admissible to Canada, undergo an immigration medical exam, and provide a letter of invitation from their Canadian child or grandchild. The host must meet a minimum income requirement (below), and the applicant must hold qualifying insurance (below).

The Canadian host must meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for their household size — for 2025, $30,526 for a single-person household, rising with each additional person. The income is proven with documents such as a Notice of Assessment, T4s, or an employment letter. See the full income table and accepted documents in our Super Visa document checklist.

To qualify for a Super Visa, the insurance policy must meet all five of the following IRCC requirements. Missing even one will result in a refused application.

The policy must provide at least $100,000 CAD in emergency medical coverage per person. This is the legal minimum set by IRCC and it is non-negotiable - you cannot go lower, even by a small amount. Many Canadian families choose higher limits such as $150,000 or $300,000 for extra protection, given how expensive emergency care is for non-residents, but $100,000 is the floor for a qualifying policy.

Why this amount? A single day in a Canadian hospital can cost a non-resident several thousand dollars, and a serious medical event can quickly exceed $100,000. The requirement exists to make sure visiting parents and grandparents are financially protected and do not create an unpayable bill.

The insurance policy must be valid for a minimum of one full year (365 days) from your parent or grandparent's intended date of entry into Canada. This is mandatory even if the planned visit is shorter - a six-month or nine-month policy will not qualify, and buying one is a common reason applications are refused.

If your family member plans to stay longer than a year, the initial policy still only needs to cover one year for the application, but IRCC expects continuous coverage throughout the actual stay, so plan to renew before the first policy expires.

Meeting the dollar amount is not enough on its own, the policy must also cover the right things. A qualifying Super Visa policy must include:

1. Health care: emergency medical treatment for illness or injury during the stay.

2. Hospitalization: the cost of a hospital stay, including room, board, and related care.

3. Repatriation: the cost of returning the insured person to their home country if medically necessary or in the event of death.

Most policies also include emergency dental for acute pain and emergency medical evacuation, but the three items above are the mandatory core. Always confirm the policy wording explicitly lists all three.

This is the requirement most out-of-date guides still get wrong. For years, Super Visa insurance had to be purchased from a Canadian insurance company. That changed.

✅  Update: effective January 28, 2025:

IRCC now accepts Super Visa insurance from a Canadian insurer OR from a foreign insurance company that is authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to operate in Canada. Previously, only Canadian companies were accepted.

You can verify whether a foreign insurer is OSFI-authorized on the OSFI website (osfi-bsif.gc.ca).

For most families, buying from an established Canadian insurer remains the simplest and safest route as it removes any doubt about whether the insurer qualifies. But the change gives families more options and can help with pricing. If you are unsure whether a specific policy qualifies, a licensed Canadian broker can confirm it before you buy.

IRCC requires proof that the insurance premium has been paid, either in full, or with the initial deposit paid on an approved monthly installment plan. A quote or an estimate is not acceptable. Your application needs a policy document or certificate of insurance showing the coverage is active.

Monthly payment plans are fully accepted in 2026. If you pay monthly, your policy certificate must still show the full 365-day coverage period, and you must have paid the initial deposit (often the first two months plus fees) with the payment arrangement clearly documented.

When you submit the Super Visa application, the insurance certificate or policy document must clearly display all of the following. Missing any one of these is a common cause of delay or refusal:

• The insured person's full name, matching their passport and visa application exactly

• The policy number

• The coverage amount, clearly showing at least $100,000 CAD

• The coverage period, showing at least 365 days from the intended date of entry

• The insurer's name, and confirmation it is a Canadian or OSFI-authorized insurer

• Confirmation of coverage for emergency health care, hospitalization, and repatriation

• Proof the premium is paid (or the deposit is paid on a monthly plan)

Our BestQuote MedEC policy is built to satisfy every IRCC requirements for Super Visa health insurance.

1. $100,000+ coverage,

2. One-year validity,

3. From a reputable Canadian Insurer

4. Covers health care, hospitalization, and repatriation

5. issues a certificate of insurance to you that can submit directly with your Super Visa application.

You can compare it against other approved plans on our quote engine, or call 1-888-888-0510 for help choosing

Cost is not an IRCC requirement, but it is the most common follow-up question. Super Visa insurance premiums for the mandatory $100,000 coverage typically range from about $1,000 to over $6,000 per year, depending mainly on the applicant's age, health history, deductible, and coverage amount.

Age is the biggest factor - a healthy applicant in their late 50s pays far less than one in their late 70s. Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or heart disease increase the premium or require a specialized plan with a stability period. Choosing a higher deductible lowers the premium. Because prices vary so widely between insurers for the same applicant, comparing quotes is the most reliable way to find a qualifying policy at the best price.

See our current pricing guide on our Super Visa Insurance Rates page, or get a quote to compare our available annual and monthly payment plans.

Most insurance-related Super Visa refusals come down to a handful of avoidable errors:

• Buying coverage below $100,000, thinking it is close enough - the minimum is strict

• Buying a 6-month or 9-month policy instead of the mandatory full year

• Using an insurer that is neither Canadian nor OSFI-authorized

• Submitting a quote or payment receipt instead of an actual policy certificate

• A name mismatch between the insurance documents and the passport or application

• Not disclosing a pre-existing condition, which can void a future claim even if the visa is approved

The fastest way to make sure your coverage meets every IRCC requirement is to compare qualifying plans side by side. BestQuote compares Super Visa insurance from Canada's top approved insurers - all meeting the $100,000 minimum, one-year validity, and required coverage - so you can buy with confidence and receive a certificate ready for your application.

1. Compare Super Visa Insurance Plans

2. See Monthly Payment Options

3. Speak to a Broker: 1-888-888-0510

This guide is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Super Visa requirements can change - always confirm current requirements on canada.ca and review your policy wording. Contact us with any questions before purchasing.