What Super Visa insurance does Protecto offer?

At Protecto, we offer Super Visa policies for visitors aged 86 and over, an option for some unstable conditions (age 79 and under) and monthly instalments, with a deposit. We also offer policies that refund the premium if the visa is refused, with proof, policies that refund unused days if your parent leaves Canada early, with proof of departure and no claim, and coverage dates you can change if the visa application is delayed. A licensed advisor tells you which policy fits your parent’s age and health.

Can I buy Super Visa insurance in my parents' 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. IRCC notes that OSFI has not listed foreign insurance companies outside Canada, unless they are registered with OSFI as branches or subsidiaries in Canada. 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. The table continues up to seven people, then adds $8,224 for each additional person. 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?

It depends on the contract and on when you ask. At Protecto, we offer Super Visa policies that can refund the premium if no travel took place and no claim was made, less cancellation fees. Other contracts have stricter conditions, especially if the policy was used for the visa application. 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. At Protecto, we offer policies that refund unused days if your parent leaves Canada before the end date, with proof of departure and if no claim was made, less fees. If an early departure is possible, talk to your advisor before buying. Keep the boarding pass and the return ticket: depending on the contract, they serve as proof of departure.

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 contract: a claim or a change in health can prevent one, and a contract can cap the total length. With a new policy, the new contract’s conditions apply from its new effective date, including for pre-existing conditions. Contact Protecto Assurances about a month before the end date.

Is a medical questionnaire required for Super Visa insurance?

It depends on the contract and on age. At Protecto, we offer a Super Visa policy with no medical questionnaire that excludes all pre-existing conditions, and others that ask for a questionnaire from age 60 to cover stable conditions or set the premium. Answer accurately. Depending on the contract, an inaccurate or incomplete answer can lead to an extra deductible or a voided policy. If a question is unclear, an advisor can help you understand it.

Is there a maximum age for Super Visa insurance?

IRCC’s insurance requirements mention no maximum age. Limits come from the contracts. At Protecto, we offer Super Visa policies for visitors aged 86 and over. The older the visitor, the longer the stability period required for pre-existing conditions can be, and some coverage amounts are reserved for younger visitors.

Super Visa insurance requirements for 2026

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

Yes. At Protecto, we offer policies that allow a temporary trip home without cancelling the policy. However, medical costs incurred in the country of permanent residence are not covered and, depending on the contract, the days spent there are not refunded. On return, the insurance must be valid, because IRCC requires proof of insurance on each entry to Canada. Depending on the contract, a health problem that started or was treated during the absence can be excluded from then on.

To be eligible for a Super Visa, the parent must show proof of private health insurance that meets IRCC’s requirements. The rules fit in a few lines. Here is what they require, what they don’t, and what happens when plans change. Protecto offers compliant Super Visa policies, including for visitors aged 86 and over.

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 minimum set by IRCC, not advice on the right amount. Protecto offers policies with coverage amounts above $100,000. Some amounts are reserved for younger visitors. For a Super Visa, only the $100,000 and higher options qualify.

Health care, hospitalization and repatriation

IRCC names three items. Check that the contract covers all three. The policies we offer for the Super Visa cover them.

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? Protecto offers Super Visa policies that let you change the coverage dates before the effective date if the visa application is delayed.

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.

Before paying for a foreign policy, check the insurer’s exact name on OSFI’s list. We also cover this 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.

Read the certificate again before uploading it.

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. Protecto offers Super Visa policies payable in monthly instalments, with a deposit. Fees, the deposit and the date coverage starts depend on the contract: your advisor explains them before you buy.

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: according to IRCC, staying beyond the authorized period requires applying to extend the stay, and the insurance should be renewed if it ends before the parent leaves Canada.

The host’s minimum income

This criterion is not about insurance, but it is one of the host requirements. 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 invited parent and any other Super Visa applicants the host will support, the host, their spouse (which may include a separated spouse) or common-law partner, their dependent children, Super Visa holders named in another letter of invitation still in effect signed by the host or their spouse or common-law partner, and people the host or co-signer sponsored (or co-signed for) whose 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

Here is what IRCC requires, and what it does not name.

Item	Required by IRCC?	What you find in a Super Visa policy
Emergency medical care	Yes	Included, up to the amount chosen
Hospitalization	Yes	Included
Repatriation	Yes	Included
Ambulance, emergency tests and drugs	Not named	Included in an emergency, with limits set by the contract
Stable pre-existing conditions	No	Depends on the contract, age and plan
Routine care, follow-ups, check-ups	No	Excluded, except some follow-ups after a covered emergency, depending on the contract
Unstable conditions	No	Excluded. Depending on the contract, an option can cover some of them (age 79 and under)

Visitor policies cover sudden and unexpected situations. One of the contracts we offer 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.

Depending on the contract and plan, a pre-existing condition (high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol) can be covered if it has been stable for a set period before the effective date. Stable means, in the definition of one of the contracts we offer: 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 required stability period ranges from 90 days to 365 days, depending on the contract and age. The older the visitor, the longer it can be.

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. Protecto offers policies that don’t count routine adjustments to insulin or blood thinners, or a switch from a brand-name drug to its generic equivalent.
An option can cover unstable conditions. We offer an option for some unstable conditions, for people aged 79 and under.
The medical questionnaire must be accurate. Depending on the contract, an inaccurate or incomplete answer to the medical questionnaire can lead to an extra deductible ($15,000 on each incident claimed, for people aged 60 and over, in one of the contracts we offer) or to the policy being voided.

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

The deductible and how it is calculated

The deductible is the amount you pay yourself when you claim. IRCC’s requirements do not mention deductibles.

Watch how it is calculated. It changes everything:

Per incident. The deductible applies to each incident claimed. Two unrelated emergencies in the year, two deductibles.
Per contract. The deductible applies only once for the entire duration of the contract, per insured person.

Protecto offers both. 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’s requirements say nothing about refunds. It all depends on the contract.

Situation	With the policies we offer
Visa refused	Protecto offers policies that refund the full premium, with proof of the refusal
Visa approved, entry refused at the border	We offer policies that can refund the full premium, with proof
Parent never travels	Refund possible, less cancellation fees, depending on the contract. One of the contracts we offer keeps the policy for a minimum period if it was used for the visa application
Early departure, no claim	We offer policies that refund unused days, with proof of departure, less fees
A claim was made	Depending on the contract, no refund
Days spent in the home country	Care not covered. Depending on the contract, those days are not refunded

What to remember:

Early departure is not always refunded. If your parent may cut the stay short, tell us before you buy.
Keep IRCC’s refusal letter. Depending on the contract, a refund for a refused visa requires proof of the refusal.
Keep proof of departure. A boarding pass or return ticket. Depending on the contract, the refund runs from the date of departure, with proof, or from the date of your request. Ask without delay.
A claim can cancel the refund. Depending on the contract, even a small claim is enough.
Deadlines matter. Depending on the contract, the refund request must be made within a set time, for example 90 days after the policy ends.

If your parent goes home during the policy

If your parent makes a trip home during the year, the policy does not necessarily end, but the coverage does.

Protecto offers policies that allow these visits without ending the policy. Costs incurred in the country of permanent residence are not covered and, depending on the contract, the days spent there are not refunded. On return, depending on the contract, a health problem that arose during the absence can be excluded from then on. We also offer policies that cover trips to other countries during the period of coverage, with conditions.

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.

Extending the policy for a longer stay is not automatic. Depending on the contract, the request must be made before the end date, and a claim or a change in health since the effective date can prevent it. One of the contracts we offer also caps the total length at 2 years from the effective date of the original policy, unless the insurer agrees otherwise.

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. Contact us a month before the end date.

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 policy shows the insurer’s name.
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.

Super Visa insurance at Protecto

Protecto offers:

Super Visa policies for visitors aged 86 and over;
an option for some unstable conditions, for people aged 79 and under;
monthly instalments, with a deposit;
policies that refund unused days if your parent leaves Canada early, with proof of departure and no claim;
policies that refund the premium if the visa is refused, with proof;
coverage dates you can change if the visa application is delayed.

And to help you:

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
Contracts of the visitor policies offered by Protecto, wordings in force in September 2026

The examples are taken from the contracts we offer. Your policy’s terms are the ones in your contract.

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Super Visa insurance requirements (2026)