Can my parents buy Super Visa insurance in their home country?

Only if the insurer meets IRCC’s conditions. Since January 28, 2025, a foreign insurer is accepted if it is authorized by OSFI to provide accident and sickness insurance, appears on OSFI’s public list of federally regulated financial institutions, and issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada. The policy must also include a statement to that effect. In practice, a policy bought from a local insurer or bank in the home country rarely meets these conditions. Check the insurer’s exact name on OSFI’s list before paying.

How much income does the inviting child or grandchild need?

IRCC publishes a minimum income based on the host’s family size. Under the table updated July 29, 2025, it is $30,526 for one person, $38,002 for two, $46,720 for three and $56,724 for four, plus $8,224 for each person beyond seven. The host can meet this minimum in either of the two tax years before the application. The host can also show at least 75% of the minimum in the previous year, and the parent then adds their own income to cover the gap. Only the host’s spouse or common-law partner can co-sign, and only if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.

The visa is approved but my parent never comes. Do I get a refund?

Generally yes, if no travel has taken place and no claim was made. Cancellation fees can apply and vary by insurer. For example, TuGo’s Visitors to Canada policy sets a $250 fee for a Super Visa policy, while Blue Cross sets a $25 fee for a cancellation before the start date. Contact Protecto Assurances as early as possible, ideally before the coverage start date.

My parent is leaving Canada early. Are the unused months refunded?

It depends on the contract. Some policies refund unused days, with proof of departure and if no claim was made, less an administrative fee. Others do not refund a Super Visa policy once travel has started. If an early departure is possible, check this clause before buying. Keep the boarding pass or return ticket: it is the proof you will be asked for.

Can my parent go back to their home country during the policy?

Yes, in most cases, without cancelling the policy. However, medical costs incurred in the country of permanent residence are not covered, and the days spent there are generally not refunded. On return, the insurance must be valid, because IRCC requires proof of insurance on each entry to Canada. Some contracts also exclude, for the rest of the policy, a condition that became unstable during the absence.

My parent is staying more than a year. Do I need to buy insurance again?

Yes, IRCC asks that the insurance be maintained throughout the stay. Before the end date, you can extend the policy or buy a new one. Extensions depend on the insurer: they can be refused after a claim or a change in health, and some contracts cap the total length. A new policy means a new review of pre-existing conditions. Contact Protecto Assurances about a month before the end date.

Is a medical questionnaire required for Super Visa insurance?

Often yes, especially from a certain age. The questionnaire sets the price and the coverage of pre-existing conditions. Answer accurately. An inaccurate or incomplete answer can lead to an extra deductible or a voided policy, depending on the contract. If a question is unclear, an advisor can help you understand it.

Is there a maximum age for Super Visa insurance?

IRCC sets no maximum age for the insurance. Limits come from insurers and vary from one contract to another. Some stop insuring after 79, others accept older people with a longer stability period for pre-existing conditions. The coverage amounts offered can also shrink with age. Comparing several insurers is especially useful after 75.

Super Visa insurance requirements for 2026

Without compliant medical insurance, IRCC refuses the Super Visa application. The rules fit in a few lines. Here is what they require, what they don’t, and what happens when plans change.

Rules checked on canada.ca on September 28, 2026.

IRCC’s requirements at a glance

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the parent’s or grandparent’s private medical insurance must:

cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation;
provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage;
be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry into Canada;
be paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit. Quotes are not accepted;
be valid for each entry to Canada;
be issued by a Canadian insurance company, or by a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI that issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada.

IRCC also requires the policy to show the insurer’s name and to be available to border services officers on request. The rest (deductible, pre-existing conditions, refunds) depends on the insurer and the contract you choose.

Each requirement explained

Requirement	What it means for you	Source
$100,000 minimum	Emergency coverage must reach at least $100,000. A higher amount is allowed.	IRCC, Forms and documents
Health care, hospitalization, repatriation	All three must be in the policy. A policy that excludes repatriation does not qualify.	IRCC, Forms and documents
1 year from entry	The clock starts on the day of arrival in Canada, not the day of purchase or the day you apply.	IRCC, Forms and documents
Paid, or instalments with a deposit	A quote or price estimate is refused. You need an issued policy.	IRCC, Forms and documents
Valid for each entry	Every time the parent comes back to Canada, the insurance must be in force.	IRCC, Forms and documents; After you apply
Eligible insurer	A Canadian insurer, or a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI and on its public list.	IRCC, Forms and documents; notice of January 28, 2025

$100,000: a floor, not a recommendation

IRCC’s minimum is $100,000 in emergency coverage. It is a legal floor, not advice on the right amount. For a 70-year-old hospitalized for several weeks, the bill can exceed it. Most insurers offer higher amounts, with limits that vary by age. For example, the Blue Cross Visitors to Canada policy offers $50,000, $100,000 or $150,000, and reserves $150,000 for people aged 74 or under. For a Super Visa, only the $100,000 and higher options qualify.

Health care, hospitalization and repatriation

IRCC names three items. Health care covers emergency consultations and treatment. Hospitalization covers the hospital stay. Repatriation covers the parent’s return to their home country, or the return of their remains in case of death. Policies sold as “Super Visa insurance” include all three. Ordinary visitor policies often do too, but check it in writing.

One year, from the date of entry

The policy must be valid for at least one year from arrival. Even if your parent plans to stay six months, the policy filed with the application must cover twelve months.

Don’t know the flight date yet? Pick an estimated date. Most insurers let you move the start date before it arrives. TuGo’s contract says it plainly: if the Super Visa application is delayed, contact your agent before the effective date to change the coverage dates.

An eligible insurer

Until January 2025, only Canadian companies could issue Super Visa insurance. Since January 28, 2025, IRCC also accepts some policies from insurers based outside Canada. The conditions are strict. The foreign insurer must:

be authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), under the Insurance Companies Act, to provide accident and sickness insurance;
appear on OSFI’s public list of federally regulated financial institutions;
have issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada.

A policy from a foreign insurer must also include a statement that it was issued while the company was doing insurance business in Canada.

In practice, a policy bought in your parents’ home country, from a local insurer or bank, almost never meets these conditions. Before paying for a foreign policy, check the insurer’s exact name on OSFI’s list. We cover this trap in the 5 most common Super Visa insurance mistakes.

Paid, not just quoted

A quote is not proof of insurance. IRCC spells it out: “quotes aren’t accepted”. The policy must be paid in full, or paid in instalments with a deposit. So you buy the insurance before you apply.

Valid for each entry

The rule does not stop once the visa is approved. IRCC asks the parent to maintain the insurance while in Canada and states that proof of valid health insurance will be required on re-entry. At the border, the officer may ask to see proof of paid insurance. Keep it with the passport, not packed in your luggage.

The proof of insurance for the application

The document you upload must, according to IRCC:

show the name of the company that issued the policy (the insurer or underwriter);
show validity of at least one year from the date of entry;
for a foreign insurer, include the statement that it was issued while doing insurance business in Canada.

A compliant certificate also shows the insured person’s name, the coverage amount and the start and end dates. Read it again before uploading. A misspelled name or an end date that falls short is enough to cause a problem.

Insurance is only one part of the file. IRCC also requires a letter of invitation signed by the child or grandchild, proof of their status in Canada, proof of the family relationship and a medical exam with a panel physician. The parent must be outside Canada when they apply.

Paying in full or in instalments

IRCC accepts two ways to pay: in full, or in instalments with a deposit. Some insurers offer monthly payments for Super Visa insurance. Fees, deposit amount and schedule vary from one insurer to the next.

Two things to check before choosing monthly payments:

The total cost over 12 months. Compare it with the pay-in-full price, fees included.
The certificate. It must show a one-year policy in force, even when paid month by month.

How long your parent can stay

The Super Visa lets a parent visit a child or grandchild for 5 years at a time, with multiple entries over a period of up to 10 years. The 5-year rule applies to applications submitted on or after June 22, 2023, and also to people who applied earlier but entered Canada on or after June 22, 2023. At entry, the border services officer stamps the passport to authorize the stay.

Before the authorized period ends, the parent must leave Canada or apply to extend their stay. IRCC states that it is the visitor’s responsibility to maintain valid status. Throughout, the passport and the insurance must stay valid.

One key point: extending the insurance does not extend the status. They are two separate steps, one with the insurer and one with IRCC.

The host’s minimum income

This criterion is not about insurance, but it sinks many applications. The inviting child or grandchild must show a minimum income based on family size. IRCC’s table (updated July 29, 2025):

Family size	Minimum income
1 person	$30,526
2 people	$38,002
3 people	$46,720
4 people	$56,724
5 people	$64,336
6 people	$72,560
7 people	$80,784
Each additional person	$8,224

Family size includes the host, their spouse or common-law partner, their dependent children, the Super Visa applicants they will support, previously approved Super Visa applicants, and people they sponsored whose sponsorship undertaking is still in effect.

IRCC offers two options:

Option 1: the host’s total income (with the co-signer’s, if any) meets or exceeds the minimum in either of the 2 tax years before the application.
Option 2: that income was at least 75% of the minimum in the year before the application. The parent can then add their own income to cover the gap. The parent must also prove they will keep earning that income while in Canada.

Only the host’s spouse or common-law partner can co-sign, and only if they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian. For Option 1, the Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment is required. For Option 2, it is the preferred proof.

What the insurance must cover, and what it doesn’t have to

IRCC’s requirement is about emergencies. It does not ask for comprehensive health insurance.

Item	Required by IRCC?	What a Super Visa policy typically includes
Emergency medical care	Yes	Included, up to the amount chosen
Hospitalization	Yes	Included
Repatriation	Yes	Included
Ambulance, emergency tests and drugs	Not named	Generally included
Stable pre-existing conditions	No	Depends on insurer, age and plan
Routine care, follow-ups, check-ups	No	Generally excluded
Unstable conditions	No	Excluded, unless a specific option applies

Visitor policies cover sudden and unexpected situations. The Blue Cross policy puts it this way: it covers accidents and emergencies, and typically not follow-up or recurrent care. A parent who comes to Canada to treat a known problem will not be covered for that treatment.

Pre-existing conditions and stability periods

This is where policies differ most, and where the price moves.

A pre-existing condition (high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, a heart condition) is generally covered if it has been stable for a set period before the effective date. Stable means, in Blue Cross’s definition: no new diagnosis, no new or worsening symptoms, no hospitalization, no new medication, no change in dosage, no treatment or test pending, no treatment changed or stopped, and no medical advice ignored.

The stability period varies by insurer and age. Two examples from contracts in force:

Age at purchase	TuGo (Visitors to Canada)	Blue Cross (Visitors to Canada)
54 or under	90 days	3 months
55 to 59	90 days	6 months
60 to 69	120 days	6 months
70 to 79	180 days	6 months
80 to 85	180 days	Not eligible (79 max.)
86 and over	365 days	Not eligible

Three practical consequences:

A treatment change before the effective date can exclude the condition. As a rule, a new medication or a dosage change restarts the stability period. Some contracts, such as TuGo’s, don’t count routine adjustments to insulin or blood thinners, or a switch from a brand-name drug to its generic equivalent.
Price follows risk. Covering stable conditions usually costs more. Some insurers also sell an option for unstable conditions. At TuGo, it is available to people aged 79 and under.
The medical questionnaire must be accurate. At TuGo, for insured people aged 60 and over, an inaccurate answer triggers an extra $15,000 deductible on each incident claimed. At Blue Cross, an inaccurate or incomplete answer makes the policy voidable.

To see what “stable” means day to day, read our article on pre-existing conditions.

The deductible and how it changes the premium

The deductible is the amount you pay yourself when you claim. A higher deductible lowers the premium. It has no effect on compliance: a policy with a deductible still qualifies for the Super Visa, as long as it provides $100,000 of coverage.

Watch how it is calculated. It changes everything:

Per incident. At TuGo, the deductible applies “per insured per incident claimed”. Two unrelated emergencies in the year, two deductibles.
Per contract. At Blue Cross, the deductible applies to the entire duration of the contract, per insured person. You pay it once.

Over a one-year policy, the difference can be significant. To choose the right amount, read which deductible to choose for visitor insurance. To put the price in context, see how much visitor insurance costs in Canada.

Refunds: visa refused, early departure, trip cancelled

IRCC sets no refund rules. It all depends on the contract. Here is what two policies in force provide, as examples.

Situation	TuGo (Super Visa rules)	Blue Cross (Visitors to Canada)
Visa refused, withdrawn or cancelled	Full refund, with proof, request received within 90 days after the policy ends	Cancellation before the start date: refund less a $25 fee
Visa approved, entry refused at the border	Full refund, with proof	Not addressed explicitly
Parent never travels	Refund less a $250 fee	Before the start date: refund less $25
Early departure, no claim	Unused days refunded, with proof of return, under the contract’s conditions	Unused days refunded, less $25, from the day after departure, with proof
A claim was made	No refund	No refund
Days spent in the home country	Not covered, policy continues	Not covered, not refunded

What to remember:

Early departure is not always refunded. If your parent may cut the stay short, choose a policy that refunds unused days.
Keep IRCC’s refusal letter. It is the document you will be asked for.
Keep proof of departure. A boarding pass or return ticket. At Blue Cross, without proof, the refund runs from the day after the request, not the day after departure.
A single claim cancels the refund. Even a small claim early in the stay.
Deadlines matter. At TuGo, Super Visa refund requests must be received within 90 days after the policy’s expiry date.

If your parent goes home during the policy

Many parents make a trip home during the year. The policy does not necessarily end, but the coverage does.

TuGo allows visits to the country of permanent residence. The policy does not terminate, but costs incurred there are not covered. Travel elsewhere in the world is covered if most of the period is spent in Canada and the parent came to Canada first.
Blue Cross has a “trip break”: no coverage and no refund for days spent in the country of permanent residence. On return, a condition that became unstable during the absence is excluded for the rest of the contract. Side trips to other countries are covered for up to 30 days each, and their total must not exceed 49% of the contract term.

On IRCC’s side, the rule is the same: on re-entry to Canada, the insurance must be valid and the parent must be able to show it.

Before a trip home, check two things: the policy’s end date and the parent’s health at the time of return.

After year one: extend or buy again

IRCC requires one year of coverage for the application, then insurance maintained during the stay. If your parent stays longer than a year, you need to extend the policy or buy a new one before the end date.

Extensions are not automatic:

At Blue Cross, the request must be made before the contract ends, health must not have changed since the start, and the insurer can refuse if there was a claim.
At TuGo, as a rule, there must be no claim, no doctor visit since the effective date and no symptoms. And no extension is possible beyond 2 years from the effective date of the original policy.

For a stay of 3, 4 or 5 years, plan for a new policy at some point. A new policy means a new review of pre-existing conditions, at the new effective date, and a premium based on the age reached. Start a month before the end date: that is enough time to compare without pressure.

Checklist before you apply

The policy covers at least $100,000 in emergencies.
It covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
It is valid for at least 12 months from the planned date of entry.
It is paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit. Not a quote.
The insurer is Canadian, or foreign and on OSFI’s list, with the required statement.
The insurer’s name, the insured’s name and the dates appear on the certificate.
Pre-existing conditions were declared accurately on the medical questionnaire.
You know how the deductible is calculated: per incident or per contract.
You have read the refund clause for refusal, early departure or a cancelled trip.
You know what happens if the parent goes home during the policy.
The letter of invitation, proof of income and medical exam are ready.
A copy of the certificate will travel with the passport.

To prepare the stay itself, see also the insurance checklist for your parents’ visit.

How Protecto helps

A price online in about 3 minutes, based on the visitor’s age and health. Get your Super Visa quote.
A certificate that meets IRCC’s requirements, ready to attach to the application.
Licensed advisors: firm registered with the AMF (no. 602624) and licensed in Ontario (FSRAO 41378M).
4.9 stars on Google, 700+ reviews.
An advisor may call to check a condition’s stability, the deductible or the start date. To help, never to push.

Prefer to talk to someone? Call us at (514) 500-7220.

Sources

Checked on September 28, 2026.

IRCC, Super visa for parents and grandparents
IRCC, Who can apply
IRCC, Forms and documents
IRCC, Proof of the host’s financial support
IRCC, Length of stay
IRCC, After you apply
IRCC, Notice of January 28, 2025 on the health insurance requirement
TuGo, Visitors to Canada policy wording in force in September 2026
Quebec Blue Cross, Visitors to Canada policy wording in force in September 2026

The insurer examples illustrate common practice. Your policy’s terms are the ones in your contract.

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Super Visa insurance requirements (2026)