How much super visa insurance is required?

At least CAD $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, valid for at least one year, covering healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation.

Can I pay for super visa insurance monthly?

Many providers now offer monthly payment plans, and some refund the unused balance if the visa is refused or the visit is cut short. Confirm both features before buying.

Does super visa insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Only if the condition has been stable for the policy's defined period (often 90–180 days). A recent medication or treatment change can disqualify a related claim — read the stability clause carefully.

Can I buy super visa insurance from a US or foreign insurer?

Since 2022, yes — from a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI to provide accident and sickness insurance in Canada, not just a Canadian company. This widened the market and lowered prices.

What happens if the coverage doesn't meet the rules?

The visa application can be refused. The certificate must clearly show the $100,000 minimum, one-year term, and repatriation, so use a provider familiar with IRCC requirements.

Verified July 2026

Super visa medical insurance: the compliance rules, plainly

To sponsor a parent or grandparent on Canada's super visa, they need private medical insurance that meets IRCC's rules. Get these wrong and the visa is refused.

What the super visa is

The super visa is a multiple-entry visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows stays of up to five years per entry (longer than a standard visitor visa) across a validity of up to 10 years. In exchange for that generosity, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requires the visitor to carry private medical insurance so a health emergency doesn't fall on the public system or the family.

The requirements (2026)

Requirement	Rule
Minimum coverage	CAD $100,000 in emergency medical coverage
Validity	At least one year from the date of entry
Must cover	Healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation — all three
Insurer	A Canadian insurer, or a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI (since 2022)
Proof	Policy/certificate showing insured's name, policy number, coverage amount, coverage period, provider, and confirmation it meets the rules

Get any of these wrong and the visa can be refused, so the certificate wording matters as much as the coverage itself.

The pre-existing-condition trap

Most super visa policies cover pre-existing conditions only if they've been "stable" for a defined period (commonly 90 or 180 days) before coverage begins. "Stable" is strict: a change in medication, dosage, or treatment — even a beneficial one — can restart the clock and let the insurer deny a related claim. For an older applicant, this is the single most important clause to read. Choose the stability period and coverage tier deliberately, and be honest on the medical questionnaire.

What it costs (illustrative)

Premiums depend heavily on age, coverage amount, deductible, and pre-existing conditions. Illustrative annual ranges for $100,000 of coverage:

Applicant age	Approx. annual premium
40–59	$1,000–$1,800
60–69	$1,800–$3,500
70–79	$3,500–$6,000+

Choosing a higher deductible lowers the premium; a higher coverage amount (many families buy $150,000+) raises it.

Practical tips

Buy from a provider experienced with super visa policies so the certificate is worded to satisfy IRCC.
Confirm the certificate explicitly states the $100,000 minimum, the one-year term, and repatriation.
Ask about monthly payment and the refund-on-refusal feature.
Match the insured's name exactly to the passport.
Keep the certificate handy for the application and at the border.

Your compliance checklist

Coverage ≥ CAD $100,000?
Valid ≥ 1 year from entry?
Covers healthcare + hospitalization + repatriation?
Issued by a Canadian or OSFI-authorized insurer?
Certificate shows name, policy number, amount, period, provider?
Pre-existing stability clause reviewed and understood?

Frequently asked questions

How much super visa insurance is required?: At least CAD $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, valid for at least one year, covering healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation.
Can I pay for super visa insurance monthly?: Many providers now offer monthly payment plans, and some refund the unused balance if the visa is refused or the visit is cut short. Confirm both features before buying.
Does super visa insurance cover pre-existing conditions?: Only if the condition has been stable for the policy's defined period (often 90–180 days). A recent medication or treatment change can disqualify a related claim — read the stability clause carefully.
Can I buy super visa insurance from a US or foreign insurer?: Since 2022, yes — from a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI to provide accident and sickness insurance in Canada, not just a Canadian company. This widened the market and lowered prices.
What happens if the coverage doesn't meet the rules?: The visa application can be refused. The certificate must clearly show the $100,000 minimum, one-year term, and repatriation, so use a provider familiar with IRCC requirements.

Sources

Requirements verified July 2026 against IRCC guidance; immigration rules change — confirm current requirements on canada.ca before applying. Premiums are illustrative. Educational only — not immigration or insurance advice.

Educational only — not insurance advice, and no products are sold here. Government figures verified against their cited sources. Robert is a mascot, not a licensed advisor. See our disclaimer.

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