The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents stay in Canada for extended periods. Medical insurance is a strict condition, and certain mistakes show up in applications again and again. Here are the five most frequent.
Mistake 1: coverage below the required minimum
IRCC requires at least $100,000 in coverage for health care, hospitalization and repatriation. A $50,000 policy, however good, does not meet the requirement. And the minimum isn’t always the right choice: for an older visitor, an extended hospital stay can exceed $100,000. Many families choose $150,000 or more for real peace of mind.
Mistake 2: a policy shorter than one year
The policy must be valid for at least one year from the planned date of entry. A 6-month policy, even a renewable one, doesn’t meet the criterion at application time. Check the duration shown on the certificate before adding it to the file.
Mistake 3: an ineligible insurer
The insurance must be issued by an eligible insurer. Since January 28, 2025, IRCC accepts policies from Canadian insurers and from foreign insurers authorized by OSFI to provide accident and sickness insurance in Canada. In practice, a policy bought in the parents’ home country from a local insurer will almost always be rejected: those insurers are generally not on OSFI’s list. Verify this point before paying anything.
Mistake 4: ignoring the refund-on-refusal clause
A Super Visa application can be refused. Most compliant policies provide a full premium refund if you supply IRCC’s refusal letter and no claim has been made. But terms vary: some impose fees or deadlines. Confirm this clause before buying. It’s your safety net.
Mistake 5: picking the wrong coverage start date
Coverage must start on the date of entry into Canada, not the application date. If tickets aren’t booked yet, pick an estimated date: most insurers let you change the start date free of charge before departure. A policy that starts too early means paying for unused weeks; too late, and there’s a coverage gap on arrival.
The bottom line
Super Visa insurance isn’t complicated once you know the rules: $100,000 minimum, one year, eligible insurer, refund clause confirmed, and the right start date. To compare compliant options, see our Super Visa insurance page, or start with the difference between visitor insurance and Super Visa insurance if you’re weighing both.