What's the best Super Visa insurance in Canada for 2023?
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Thanks to the 'Super Visa', parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply for and receive authorization to reunite with family members living in Canada. Eventually, family members approved under this program may receive permanent residence and even apply for Canadian citizenship.
Are you hoping to reunite with loved ones, but feel overwhelmed by the application process? You’re not alone. In the article below, we outline everything you need to know to apply for your Super Visa, including insurance requirements, processing times and application fees.
Top 5 best super visa travel insurances for 2023
- Manulife Super Visa insurance: No medical questionnaire on application
- Destination Super Visa insurance: Up to $300,000 covered
- Tugo Super Visa insurance: Minimum $100,000 covered in medical emergencies
- Allianz: Super Visa insurance without deductible
- SoNomad Super Visa insurance: Pre-existing conditions covered
Top Super Visa insurers in Canada in 2023
Manulife Super Visa insurance: No medical questionnaire on application
Manulife offers emergency medical care with CoverMe travel insurance for visitors to Canada.This insurance is divided in two plans. Both cover the following:
- Emergency medical care up to $150,000 if you’re under 70, and up to $100,000 if you’re age 70 or over.
- Covers side trips from Canada or a trip break to temporarily return to your country of origin (said side trip must start and end in Canada and be less than 30 days or 49% of the total number of coverage days).
- Travel Accident insurance for the coverage of accidental loss of sight, limb or life, up to $50,000.
Here's where Manulife's Super Visa insurance plans differ:
- Plan A doesn't require a medical questionnaire on application.
- Plan B covers pre-existing medical conditions that have been stable for 180 days prior to coverage.
Manulife also offers an optional add-on: Optional trip interruption up to $1,500 for single coverage and up to $5,000 for family coverage.
For prices, get a free quote on Manulife's website or use our comparator above.
| Manulife's features | Amount |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Up to $150,000 |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
Destination Super Visa insurance: Up to $300,000 covered
Destination provides emergency medical insurance for visitors to Canada, including Super Visa applicants. Its different plans offer:
- Several maximum emergency medical coverage options :
- $10,000
- $25,000
- $50,000
- $100,000
- $150,000
- $300,000
- Destination Super Visa's Insurance also covers drugs and/or medication up to $1,000 as long as a 30-day supply isn't exceeded.
- Other professional services are also covered (up to $500 per practitioner), such as: physiotherapist, osteopath, chiropractor, etc.
- Before the age of 85 years old, Destination does not apply deductible
- However, age 86 and over, a $500 deductible will be applied.
- On pre-existing conditions: they will only be covered before the age of 79 years old if, and only if, stable during the 120 days prior to the effective date.
Tugo Super Visa insurance: Minimum $100,000 covered in medical emergencies
Tugo offers a Super Visa insurance for all ages, a feature greatly appreciated since it's not available with all insurers.
Not only does Tugo covers a minimum of $100,000 for emergency medical expenses, it also covers the following hospital care and treatment for injuries and illnesses including Covid-19:
- Doctor’s services
- Ambulance services
- X-rays and other diagnostic laboratory procedures
- Prescription drugs
- Essential medical supplies such as crutches
Emergency dental services are covered as well and Tugo also offers a 24h accident insurance up to $25,000. Much like many insurers on the market, Tugo will cover you abroad as long as the majority of your overall trip remains in Canada.
Allianz: Super Visa insurance without deductible
Allianz Global Assistance has been providing medical assistance and trip cancellation services to Canadians and visitors for over 30 years, reaching 44 different countries as of now.
Allianz offers up to $25,000, $50,000 or $100,000 in affordable emergency medical coverage for visitors to Canada. Here are some of the benefits offered with Allianz's Visitors to Canada Plan:
- $100,000 in medical coverage per year
- No medical questionnaires required to obtain a quote.
- No deductible.
- The option to return to your home country for a visit before coming back to Canada without cancelling coverage.
- Partial refund of your policy for unused days if you return to your home country earlier than planned.
- Emergency dental treatment.
- 24-Hour Emergency Travel Assistance.
| Allianz's features | Amount |
|---|---|
| Coverage | $100,000 |
| Deductible |
SoNomad Super Visa insurance: Pre-existing conditions covered
SoNomad offers one of the most comprehensive Super Visa insurances on the market. On top of the coverage of basic medical emergencies (a $100,000 minimum coverage), SoNomad also:
- offers coverage for pre exisiting medical conditions
- has no fees or penalties if your Super Visa is denied (100% reimbursement)
- is easy to renew should you decide to stay longer
- offers the reimbursement of the unused portion of the insurance if you decide to leave earlier
Like many other insurers, SoNomad allows travel outside Canada as long as you spend the majority of your time in Canada. Your trip must begin and end in Canada. The trip length outside Canada, however, does differs from one policy to another.
Get a free Super visa insurance quote through SoNomad's website or click on the button below:
What is Super Visa insurance?
Super Visa insurance is required medical insurance for at least $100,000 to cover emergency care while a Super Visa recipient is staying in Canada. Think of it as a sort of long-term travel insurance. Anyone applying for a Super Visa needs insurance.
Unless you lived or worked in Canada previously, you may be wondering how to go about finding the best policy to meet your needs and satisfy the Super Visa application requirements. Not to worry, we’ll walk you through all the details and help you compare quotes from qualified insurers.
Not sure if you can afford qualifying insurance? Know that children and grandchildren can purchase said coverage on your behalf.
You can also check out the insurers showcased in the comparator at the tope of this page. They all offer competitive Super Visa insurance plans!
Is Super Visa insurance mandatory?
Unlike your usual travel insurance, Super Visa insurance is mandatory when applying for a Super Visa. It will ensure you have the minimum insurance coverage required by law for your application to be processed. Also know that the cheapest Super Visa insurance isn't necessarily the best option, and many decide to get a plan that will actually cover their medical issues should they arise while in Canada.
How much does Super Visa insurance cost?
As with most other insurance policies, Canadian Super Visa insurance costs vary depending on factors such as:
- your age
- your overall level of health
- your desired deductible.
Your specific destination in Canada, whether it's Calgary, Brampton, Edmonton, Toronto, Surrey or even Mississauga, shouldn't influence your Super Visa insurance monthly payment.
Expert advice
To better understand the monthly cost associated with your specific scenario, we suggest having a look at our customizable comparator.
In general, however, Super Visa insurance costs should fall within the following ranges:
| Visitor | Age | Health | Estimated annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single adult | 40s | No pre-existing conditions | $800 to $1,800 |
| Two adults | 40s | No pre-existing conditions | $1,600 to $3,600 |
| Single adult | 70s | No pre-existing conditions | $1,700 to $4,600 |
| Single adult | 70s | Stable pre-existing conditions | Beginning at $2,200 |
Note that the above scenarios are based on a policy worth $100,000 and a deductible between $0 and $1,000. You can compare prices for specific policies and insurers at the top of this page.
How much are the Super Visa application fees?
At the time of publication, the application fee for a Super Visa is $100 per person. You will also need to pay a fee to have your biometrics taken. This can range from $85 for one person, to $170 for two or more people applying simultaneously.
What does Super Visa insurance cover?
At a minimum, your Super Visa healh insurance policy will need to include $100,000 of emergency medical coverage. Many insurers, however, offer policies tailored to the Super Visa application that also include basic healthcare:
- Emergency medical expenses and dental procedures
- Routine doctor’s fees and X-rays
- Prescription drugs
Good to know
Timing for Super Visa medical insurance can be tricky. All Super Visa insurance policies must be valid for a minimum of one year, however, if you intend to remain in Canada for more than 12 months or to make multiple trips, your policy will need to cover the entire period of your stay or multiple entries.
Super Visa insurance pre-existing health conditions
If you have pre-existing health conditions or require specific medications, it may be worth purchasing a policy that includes prescription drug benefits and additional medical assistance.
Similarly, not all Super Visa medical insurances in Canada offer a Covid insurance when travelling to Canada. Check your plan's general terms and conditions to know your insurer's policy.
Are other destinations covered by your Super Visa insurance?
Super visa insurance often provide some coverage should you decide to travel outside of Canada. However, certain requirements must be met:
- The destination country must not be your home country.
- You trip begins and ends in Canada.
- The duration of your trip must not exceed 50% of the coverage period.
Insurers' policies on the matter may differ from one another. Always check your general terms and conditions.
How do I get a Super Visa insurance quote?
Many of the most reputable and well-known global insurance companies offer policies suitable for a Super Visa application. And while sorting through the different options may seem overwhelming at first, online calculators and comparators can help you identify the right Super Visa insurance policy for your needs and budget. Buying from the insurer can also save you money, as you’ll pay no commission.
Watch out!
When buying a Super Visa insurance plan, know that the insurer must be a Canadian company.
Several insurers offer qualifying Super Visa insurance coverages:
- AIG Travelguard Super Visa insurance
- Allianz Super Visa insurance
- Atlas Travel Super Visa insurance
- BlueCross Super Visa insurance
- Canada Life Super Visa insurance
- Cooperators Super Visa insurance
- Desjardins Super Visa insurance
- GMS Super Visa insurance
- Ingle Super Visa insurance
- Manulife Super Visa insurance
- PDCM Super Visa insurance
- RBC Super Visa insurance
- Rimi Super Visa insurance
- SunLife Super Visa insurance
- TD Super Visa insurance
- 21st Century Super Visa insurance
For a better understanding of what each insurer has to offer, and to get a customizable Super Visa insurance, compare the best plans currently on the market with our free comparator. If you’re in a hurry or have particular health needs, it may be worth the extra cost to work with an insurance broker who can help you select the best policy and negotiate with the insurer on your behalf.
What are the requirements to get for Super Visa insurance?
Requirements for a Super Visa, while not overly complex, may take some time to fulfill. Parents or grandparents who intend to apply may want to begin collecting documents several months in advance to ensure you’re ready to travel on schedule.
To apply for a Canadian Super Visa, you’ll need:
- Proof of your relationship to your Canadian child or grandchild;
- A letter of invitation from your child or grandchild confirming that they’re willing and able to host you during your visit;
- A copy of your child or grandchild’s Canadian identity document;
- Proof that your child or grandchild can financially support you during your visit; and
- Proof of Super Visa medical insurance from a Canadian insurer to cover any healthcare costs during your stay.
In some cases, you may also need to include additional documents in your Super Visa application demonstrating strong ties to your home country. While the Super Visa is intended to allow for extended trips to Canada, it is not a pathway to permanent residence and the IRCC may want evidence that you don’t plan to stay in Canada for longer than the Super Visa allows.
What is a Super Visa?
In simplest terms, the Super Visa program was designed to make travel to Canada for immediate relatives easier and less expensive. Rather than applying for a fresh Visitor’s Visa for each trip, parents and grandparents can instead apply for a single, multiple-entry visa valid for ten years. And while regular visitors must change or renew their status after just six months, Super Visa holders can remain in Canada for up to two years before applying for a renewal.
How long is a Super Visa valid?
The Canadian Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to enter Canada for up to two years at a time over a validity period of ten years.
Who is eligible for a Super Visa?
Parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident may apply for a Super Visa. This includes step and adoptive parents and grandparents, as well as same-sex partners. Dependents of your parents and grandparents, however, are not eligible to apply for a Super Visa.
Let’s take a look at two examples to understand how the rule works:
- Lee lives in Toronto and would like to invite his parents, Chun and Jinhai to visit him, his wife and his new baby daughter in Canada for six months. Lee’s 16-year-old younger brother, Junfeng, would also join in the family reunion. In this case, Chun and Jinhai are eligible for a Super Visa. Junfeng, however, will need to apply for a standard Visitor’s Visa.
- Jean-Luc and his partner, Aristide, would like to spend half the year in Paris and half the year with Jean-Luc’s daughter, Marie, in Montreal for the foreseeable future. Both Jean-Luc and Aristide are eligible for a Super Visa.
How and where to apply for a Super Visa?
While the IRCC makes every effort to simplify the process of obtaining a Super Visa, it does require that applicants themselves sign and submit their own applications. Of course, friends and family can certainly assist in completing the application form and collecting supporting documents to help a parent or grandparent apply for their Super Visa.
As a Canadian child or grandchild, the best support you can offer your parent or grandparent is to provide evidence that you meet the income requirements for a Super Visa. You can prove that you have the means to support your relatives by providing any of the following:
- Notice of Assessment (NOA) or T4/T1 for the most recent tax year
- Employment Insurance stubs
- Employment letter, including salary and date of hire
- Pay stubs
- Bank statements
Here are the current Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) limits for applying for a Super Visa:
| Size of Family | Minimum necessary gross income |
|---|---|
| 1 person (a child or grandchild) | $25,921 |
| 2 persons | $32,270 |
| 3 persons | $39,672 |
| 4 persons | $48,167 |
| 5 persons | $54,630 |
| 6 persons | $61,613 |
| 7 persons | $68,598 |
| For each additional person add | $6,985 |
You may apply for a Super Visa to Canada either online or by submitting a paper application.
- If you choose to apply online, you’ll pay your Super Visa application fees at the time that you upload your documents. For quicker processing times, the IRCC recommends submitting your Super Visa application online via its secure portal. According to IRCC, applying online helps the agency verify that you’ve submitted all the necessary documents quickly, saves on courier fees and allows you to hold on to your passport while your application is processed.
Not all parents and grandparents are comfortable online or they may not be fluent in English. You can absolutely apply for a super insurance policy on a relative’s behalf as long as you provide their details.
- If you feel more comfortable applying on paper, however, IRCC also accepts Super Visa applications through the mail. After assembling all of your supporting documents, including a receipt for your application fees, you’ll need to locate the nearest Visa Application Centre and arrange to mail your Super Visa application package via courier. You’ll need to pay the application fee online and include a printout of your receipt in your application package, together with your invitation letter, proof of insurance and other documents.
Watch out!
Anyone applying for a Super Visa must do so from outside of Canada. This means that, if you’re already present in the country on a standard Visitor’s Visa, you’ll need to depart temporarily and wait to re-enter until your Super Visa application is approved.
Provided you’ve submitted all the correct documents, IRCC will send you a notice with an appointment for an immigration medical exam and fingerprint collection - also called ‘biometrics’. It’s important to save these notices and keep the appointments as scheduled.
What are the processing times for a Canadian Super Visa?
In general, you can expect to wait between three to six months to receive a decision on your Super Visa application. Processing times for the Super Visa vary by country, as well as VAC workloads. If you reside in a country with high demand for a Super Visa, it may take slightly longer for the IRCC to review your application and issue an approval letter.
One of the best ways to keep things moving? Take the time to ensure that your application is complete before submitting documents and completing your medical exam and biometrics as soon as possible once notified by the IRCC.
How do I extend a Super Visa to Canada?
If you’d like to extend your stay in Canada beyond the maximum visit length of 2 years, you’ll need to apply for a document known as a Visitor Record. Requesting a Visitor Record is not the same as renewing your Super Visa. This Visitor Record grants a one-time extension to your current stay in Canada, while the Super Visa controls the period during which you can enter and exit.
Your Canadian Super Visa checklist
To keep things moving forward during the Super Visa application process, here is a checklist and timeline:
One Year Before Departure
- Request a letter of invitation from your child or grandchild
- Collect supporting documents
- Proof of your Canadian relative’s income
- Proof of your relationship to your child or grandchild
- Copies of your relative’s Canadian identity documents
- Purchase Super Visa medical insurance
- Minimum coverage of $100,000 annually
- Policy issued by a Canadian insurer
- Policy valid for a minimum of one year following your planned date of entry
- Pay Super Visa application fees
Six Months Before Departure
- Make your final travel arrangements
- Submit your Super Visa application
Three Months Before Departure
- Provide your biometrics when asked to do so by the IRCC
- Attend your IIRC medical exam appointment
- Upload any additional documents requested by IRCC to process your application
While processing times do vary, the above schedule should have you ready to travel to Canada within six months of submitting your application.
