Instruction: How to Apply for Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents)

Eligibility

To be eligible for a super visa, you must

• be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
• have a signed letter from your child or grandchild who invites you to Canada that includes
  • a promise of financial support for the length of your visit
  • the list and number of people in the household of this person
  • a copy of this person’s Canadian citizenship or permanent resident document

Letter of Invitation

Sometimes, when you apply for a visa to visit Canada, we ask you to give us a letter of invitation from someone in Canada.

A letter of invitation does not guarantee that we will issue a visa. Visa officers assess you to decide whether you meet the terms of Canada’s immigration law.

Information for the person writing the letter of invitation

Writing a letter of invitation does not mean you are legally responsible for the visitor once he or she gets to Canada. You should still write the letter in good faith. You must tell the truth and plan to keep the promises you make in the letter.

Send your letter (notarized, if the visa office asks for that) to the person you are inviting to Canada. The person must then send this letter to the Canadian embassy or consulate outside of Canada when he or she applies for a temporary resident visa.

You must include this information about the person you are inviting:

• complete name,
• date of birth,
• address and telephone number,
• your relationship to the person,
• the purpose of the trip,
• how long the person plans to stay in Canada,
• where the person will stay, and how he or she will pay for things, and
• when the person plans to leave Canada.

You must include this information about yourself:

• complete name,
• date of birth,
• address and telephone number in Canada,
• job title,
• whether you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident,
• a photocopy of a document proving your status in Canada, such as
  • a Canadian birth certificate, if you were born in Canada,
  • a Canadian citizenship card, if you are a naturalized citizen, or
  • a copy of your PR card or your IMM 1000 proof of landing, if you are a permanent resident,
• details of your family, such as names and dates of birth of your spouse and dependants (this is mandatory for the parent and grandparent super visa), and
• the total number of people living in your household, including people you sponsored whose sponsorship is still in effect (this is mandatory for the parent and grandparent super visa).

For the parent and grandparent super visa only, you must also provide:

• a written and signed promise of your financial support for your parents or grandparents for their entire stay in Canada, and
• proof that your income meets or is above the low-income cut-off (LICO) for the total number of people, including the visiting parents or grandparents.

This information is only a guide. You must write the letter of invitation yourself. Some visa offices may ask that a notary public notarize your letter.

Low Income Cut-Off (LICO)

Size of Family Unit	Minimum necessary gross income
1 person (your child or grandchild)	$27,514
2 persons	$34,254
3 persons	$42,100
4 persons	$51,128
5 persons	$57,988
6 persons	$65,400
7 persons	$72,814
More than 7 persons, for each additional person, add	$7,412

Eligibility (continued)

• have proof of private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company
  • This medical insurance needs to
    • be paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit (quotes aren’t accepted)
    • be valid for at least 1 year from the date you’ll enter Canada
    • cover your health care, hospitalization and repatriation
    • provide for at least $100,000 emergency coverage

Note: Private health insurance must be valid for each entry to Canada. Be prepared to show your proof of paid insurance to a border services officer if they ask to see it when you enter Canada.

You must also:

• apply for a super visa from outside Canada
• have your visa printed outside Canada (wait for visa office instructions)
• be allowed to enter Canada
• take an immigration medical exam
• meet certain other conditions

You can’t include dependants in this application.

Financial support (proof of funds)

The child or grandchild who invites you must prove that their household meets the minimum necessary income (AKA: LICO). The following documents are examples of what can be used as proof of funds:

• Notice of Assessment (NOA) or T4/T1 for the most recent tax year
• Employment Insurance Benefit statements
• employment letter including salary, job title, job description, and date of hiring
• pay stubs
• bank statements

Other conditions we consider

We consider several things before we decide if you can come to Canada. You must be a genuine visitor to Canada who will leave by choice at the end of your visit.

We’ll look at these things when you apply:

• your ties to your home country
• the purpose of your visit
• your family and finances
• the overall economic and political stability of your home country
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