If you ‘re missing children or grandchildren in Canada, it’s time for a family reunion. And the Canadian government offers a great opportunity –the super visa for parents and grandparents to visit their families who are Canadian permanent citizens. Of course, there are some specific requirements for a family visa. In this article, we will show you some details on how to apply for a super visa for parents and grandparents.
What is a Super Visa?
A super visa, a type of multi-entry visitor visa to Canada, can only be applied by parents and grandparents of Canadian permanent residents or citizens. Typically, a super visa allows them to stay in Canada for up to five years at a time with a two-year extension. Moreover, this visa will be valid for up to 10 years, so they can avoid the hassle of renewing a visa every time they want to visit you. Because it is a visitor visa, your parents and grandparents do not have the rights and responsibilities of a Canadian permanent resident or citizen. They are not allowed to work in Canada.
Eligibility for a Super Visa
If your parents and grandparents want to apply for a Canadian super visa, they must meet the following requirements.
- The applicant must be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Applicants must have a valid passport and apply from outside Canada.
- They must have a signed letter of invitation from the child or grandchild in Canada, including a promise of the duration of your temporary visit and a copy of the child’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document.
- Your child or grandchild’s household meets the minimum necessary income and financial requirements, such as at least $100,000 CAD of medical insurance coverage over one year.
- A clear immigration medical exam.
All in all, government officials will consider your ties to your home country, the purpose of the visit, your family and finances, and the overall economic and political stability of your home country.
How to Apply for a Canadian Super Visa
You must be outside Canada when you apply for a super visa online with the IRCC Portal. Here you can follow the steps below to apply online.
Launch the IRCC Portal and create an account
If it is your first time to use the IRCC Portal, you will get a code to sign up for a new account with your email.
Prepare the required documents
Usually, the supporting documents for a super visa depend on why you are traveling to Canada. Therefore, you must prepare and upload the necessary documents, such as a letter written by your family member in Canada, their passports, travel dates (flight tickets or itineraries) and proof of medical insurance.
Complete and submit your online form
Once you have collected all the necessary documents, you can fill out the super visa application honestly and truly.
Pay for your application
Here you need to pay the processing fee for a super visa around CAD 100 and the biometrics fee of CAD 85. They can support credit cards, prepaid cards from Visa, UnionPay and Mastercard.
Submit additional documents as needed
After applying for a super visa, you will receive a letter and may be asked to attend an interview and submit additional documents, such as a medical exam, a police certificate and your biometrics-photograph and fingerprints. Later, you will receive a receipt with your visa tracking number, so you can track your application process.
Receive the super visa and get ready to travel
If your application is approved, you must submit your passport to obtain a super visa. And you can visit Canada anytime you want while the super visa is valid.
However, if you have a disability or are a refugee, stateless person or non-citizen with an identity or travel document, you can apply on paper:
An applicant must submit a completed application form and pay for your application fee, biometric and third party fees for your medical exam and a police certificate. And you need to send your application in one package to the nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in person. And you must keep a copy of the receipt, because it needs to be submitted with the completed application.
What are the income requirements?
When parents and grandparents apply for a super visa, their children and grandchildren living in Canada must meet the requirements of the LICO. This means they have enough income to cover the cost of visiting family members. This will depend on the family size and income of Canadian citizens. Here you can check the chart below.
What are the differences between a super visa and a visitor visa?
Since the super visa is a type of visitor visa, there are some differences in various aspects.
- Applicant: Everyone can apply for a visitor visa to Canada, but only parents or grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible for a super visa.
- Duration of Stay: A super visa will allow your parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for up to two to five years. However, the visitor visa only allows for a six-month stay. If you want to extend your stay, you need to pay for a new one.
A letter of invitation for a super visa
If your parents or grandparents are applying for a super visa to stay with you in Canada, you need to write a invitation letter honestly and faithfully. In the letter, you must tell the truth and plan. You must have the necessary things in it:
The person you are inviting:
- Full name and date of birth
- address and phone number
- Relationship between you and the person
- The purpose of the trip
- The stay in Canada
- where the person will live
- When the person leaves Canada
Information about yourself:
- Basic personal information: name, address, telephone number and date of birth
- Whether you are a Canadian citizen or a PR
- job title
- A photocopy of your status in Canada, such as a Canadian birth certificate, and a copy of your PR card.
- Some details of your family, such as your spouse’s name and date of birth.
How long is the processing time?
The processing time for a super visa will depend on different countries. Usually, it will take a few months or less. For example, if you are applying for a super visa from India, it will take about 53 days. If you have applied, you can check your application status online.
What is the processing fee for a super visa?
You must pay the visa processing fee of $100 CAD. In addition, if this is your first time applying for a super visa, you must pay the CAD 85 biometric information fee. And a medical exam can cost you CAD 200- CAD 300.
Conclusion
All in all, the super visa can be helpful for parents and grandparents in other countries to visit their family in Canada. Whatever the duration of your stay, you can enjoy family time together and visit them whenever you want.
Erin Lo