Super Visa Insurance Canada
Health insurance for parents and grandparents applying for a Canadian Super Visa
Super Visa applicants must provide proof of qualifying private health insurance. Under current IRCC requirements, the policy must provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage, be valid for at least one year from the date of entry and cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
Compare available plans according to the applicant's age, medical history, expected entry date, deductible and payment preference—then receive a personalized quote.
Insurance is only one part of Super Visa eligibility and does not guarantee visa approval or entry to Canada. The issued policy and current IRCC requirements govern.
Current Super Visa insurance requirements
IRCC currently states that the health insurance policy should:
- Name the insurance company that issued or underwrote the policy
- Be valid for at least one year from the date of entry
- Be paid in full or through instalments with a deposit; a quote alone is not accepted
- Cover the applicant's health care, hospitalization and repatriation
- Provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage
- Be valid for each entry to Canada
- Be available for review by a border services officer on request
The policy may be issued by a Canadian insurance company or by an eligible company outside Canada that meets IRCC's current requirements. For a foreign company, IRCC requires specific OSFI authorization and the policy must be issued or made while the company is doing insurance business in Canada.
Requirements can change. Confirm the current IRCC rules before submitting an application or travelling.
What can Super Visa insurance cover?
Depending on the issued policy, eligible emergency benefits may include:
- Physician and walk-in clinic visits for a covered emergency
- Emergency-room treatment and hospitalization
- Diagnostic tests and medical imaging ordered for a covered emergency
- Prescription medication related to a covered emergency
- Licensed ambulance services
- Emergency dental benefits subject to policy limits
- Repatriation or return-home assistance when medically necessary and covered
Super Visa insurance is primarily emergency medical insurance. It is not a substitute for routine checkups, ongoing maintenance care, planned treatment or a provincial health plan.
Pre-existing medical conditions
High blood pressure, diabetes or another medical history does not automatically make a parent ineligible for insurance. Some plans may cover an eligible pre-existing condition when it meets the policy's stability requirements.
Before choosing a plan, compare:
- The policy's definition of a pre-existing condition
- The required stability period
- Whether the rule changes according to age
- Medication, treatment, symptoms, referrals or tests that may affect stability
- Exclusions, benefit limits and deductible rules
Do not rely only on a product label stating that stable conditions are covered. Claim eligibility depends on the medical facts and the exact issued policy.
How to choose a Super Visa insurance plan
Confirm IRCC compliance
The policy documents must satisfy the current Super Visa insurance requirements. A premium estimate or unpaid quotation is not proof of coverage.
Compare more than the minimum coverage
$100,000 is the current IRCC minimum, not necessarily the most suitable amount for every family. Consider age, health history, length of stay and the financial risk the family could absorb.
Review the deductible
A higher deductible may reduce the premium but increases the amount the insured may need to pay during a claim. Confirm whether the deductible applies per policy, per claim or under another policy definition.
Review pre-existing-condition wording
Compare stability definitions, stability periods and exclusions rather than choosing only by price.
Understand claims and assistance procedures
Check when the insurer must be contacted, whether emergency assistance is available and what documents may be required. Direct billing is not guaranteed in every situation.
Full payment or instalments
IRCC states that the policy should be paid in full or through instalments with a deposit; an insurance quote is not accepted as proof of coverage.
Payment arrangements, deposits, cancellation rules and consequences of a missed payment vary by insurer. Before using an instalment option, confirm:
- When the policy becomes effective
- What document will be provided for the Super Visa application
- The deposit and scheduled payments
- What happens if a payment is missed
- Whether any financing or administration charges apply
What if the visa is refused or the travel date changes?
Refund and date-change rules vary by insurer and policy. Some insurers may allow a refund after a visa refusal when the required documents are provided and no claim has been made, but conditions and administrative charges may apply.
Before purchase, review:
- The documents required to request a refund
- Whether fees are non-refundable
- The deadline for requesting a change or cancellation
- Whether the effective date can be moved before travel
- How a claim affects refund eligibility
Do not assume every policy offers the same refund or date-change terms.
Does a five-year stay require five years of insurance upfront?
Under current IRCC rules, eligible Super Visa holders may be allowed to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, but the insurance submitted for the application must be valid for at least one year from the date of entry.
IRCC also says Super Visa holders should maintain valid health insurance for the duration of their stay and may need to renew if coverage expires before they leave Canada. Proof of valid insurance is required on each entry.
The length of authorized stay and the insurance policy term are related but not identical. Check the entry conditions, visitor status and renewal timing rather than assuming the first one-year policy covers the entire possible stay.
Why arrange Super Visa insurance through Excevia?
- Guidance from a provincially licensed insurance advisor
- Access to multiple insurance providers
- English and Chinese service for applicants and Canadian family members
- Help comparing stability rules, deductibles, payment options and refund terms
- Review of policy documents against the current insurance requirements before submission
- Support understanding the policy and claims process
The goal is not simply to find the lowest premium. It is to help the family choose a policy that meets the application requirement and whose important limitations they understand.
Get a Super Visa insurance quote
To prepare a personalized comparison, you will normally need:
- Applicant's date of birth
- Expected entry date or requested policy start date
- Medical history and whether stable pre-existing-condition coverage is needed
- Desired coverage amount
- Deductible preference
- Full-payment or instalment preference
- Number of applicants, if quoting both parents or grandparents
The quote is an estimate. Coverage begins only after the insurer accepts the application, required payment is made and the policy is issued according to its terms.
Frequently asked questions
Reviewed by Excevia Financial Inc. · Last reviewed: July 2026
- IRCC — Who can apply
- IRCC — Forms, documents and health insurance details
- IRCC — How long a Super Visa holder can stay
- IRCC — January 28, 2025 insurance-provider rule change
This page provides general insurance information, not immigration or legal advice. Eligibility, coverage and claims are determined by current government requirements and the issued policy.