Canada Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents

For thousands of families in Pakistan, the Canada Super Visa has become the most reliable way to reunite with children and grandchildren settled in Canada. Unlike a regular visit visa, which limits each stay to six months, the Super Visa allows parents and grandparents to live in Canada for up to 5 years per entry, with multiple entries over a validity of up to 10 years. The program also became more accessible on 31 March 2026, when IRCC relaxed the income rules for hosts.

Key Takeaways: Canada Super Visa from Pakistan 

• Who can apply: Parents and grandparents of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is least 18 years old and lives in Canada.
• Length of stay: Up to 5 years per entry on a visa that can remain valid for up to 10 years.
• Key requirements: The host in Canada meets the minimum income requirement, while the applicant holds medical insurance of at least $100,000 and completes a medical exam.
• Government fee: CAD 185 in total, covering the CAD 100 application fee and CAD 85 for biometrics.
• 2026 update: Since 31 March 2026, the host can qualify with either of their last two tax years, and the applicant’s own income can cover part of the requirement.

What Is the Canada Super Visa? 

The Canada Super Visa is a multi-entry visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows a stay of up to 5 years on each entry, while a regular visit visa limits each stay to 6 months.

The visa itself can remain valid for up to 10 years. This means your parents can travel between Pakistan and Canada on the same visa for a decade, without renewing their status after every visit.

The Canada Super Visa carries visitor status only, so your parents cannot work on it. For permanent residence, the route is parents and grandparents sponsorship, where IRCC invites sponsors with very limited slots. IRCC has not opened a new intake since 2020, which makes the Super Visa the only realistic option for most families today.

Super Visa Requirements in 2026 

The Super Visa has two sets of requirements. The child or grandchild in Canada acts as the host, while the parent or grandparent in Pakistan is the applicant. IRCC assesses both sides of the file, so the application only succeeds when each party meets its own conditions.

Requirements for the Host in Canada 

Your child or grandchild must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and living in Canada. The relationship must be by blood or adoption, which means an in-law cannot act as the host, though a parent-in-law can still be included when the blood-related child hosts the file.

The host also signs a letter of invitation, which lists every person in their family size count and includes proof that they meet the minimum income requirement. A spouse or common-law partner can co-sign to combine income.

Requirements for the Applicant in Pakistan 

The parent or grandparent must be outside Canada when the application is submitted. They must be admissible to Canada, complete a medical exam with an IRCC panel physician, and hold private medical insurance before the visa is issued.

Beyond these conditions, IRCC applies the standard visitor assessment to every Canada Super Visa file. The officer reviews your ties to Pakistan, your purpose of visit, and your financial position.

Super Visa Income Requirement 2026 

The host must meet the minimum necessary income, called the MNI, based on their family size. The family size includes the host, their spouse or partner, their dependent children, the visiting parents, plus anyone they already host on a Canada Super Visa or sponsor under an active undertaking.

Here is the current MNI table from IRCC, updated on 29 July 2025:

IRCC updates these figures, so check the official proof of financial support page before you apply.

For example: A son in Toronto who lives with his wife and one child invites both parents from Faisalabad. His own household counts as 3 people, and the 2 visiting parents bring the family size to 5. To qualify as the host, his income must reach $64,336 in a qualifying tax year.

What Changed on 31 March 2026 

On 31 March 2026, IRCC introduced two changes to the Canada Super Visa income rules. The first change concerns the tax year. The host can now qualify using either of the two tax years before the application, whereas under the old rule, only the most recent tax year was accepted.

The second change allows the applicant’s own income to count. If the host earns at least 75 percent of the required amount, the parent or grandparent can cover the remaining gap with their own income, backed by proof that it will continue during the stay.

Not sure if your child’s income clears the MNI? A host who falls just below the threshold may still qualify through the earlier tax year or the new 75 percent option. AIRCS Group reviews both tax years and confirms your exact position. Message our team on WhatsApp for a free assessment.

Super Visa Insurance Rules

Every applicant must hold private medical insurance before the visa is issued. The policy must provide at least $100,000 in emergency coverage, remain valid for a minimum of one year from the date of entry, and cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation. It can come from a Canadian company or from a foreign insurer authorized by Canada’s OSFI and listed on its official register.

For a parent in their sixties, Super Visa insurance usually costs between CAD 1,500 and CAD 3,000 per year, depending on age, health, and the deductible you choose.

How to Apply for the Canada Super Visa from Pakistan 

The application is submitted online through the IRCC portal, and there is no interview. Follow these steps in order.

• Confirm eligibility on both sides. The host measures their income against the MNI table, and the parent confirms they can meet the medical and admissibility requirements.
• Gather the host documents. These include the signed invitation letter with the family size count, proof of status in Canada, and the CRA notice of assessment for the qualifying tax year.
• Gather the documents in Pakistan. These include a valid passport, the NADRA birth certificate and FRC that proves the parent and child relationship, and six months of bank statements. Any document issued in Urdu must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
• Buy the insurance and complete the medical. Obtain the paid insurance certificate and complete an upfront medical exam with an IRCC panel physician in Pakistan. The medical is mandatory for stays over six months.
• Apply online and pay CAD 185. This covers the CAD 100 application fee and CAD 85 for biometrics. Then give biometrics at the VAC in Islamabad, Lahore, or Karachi within 30 days of the instruction letter.

After submission, your file enters processing stage. The Super Visa processing time changes from week to week, so check the live figure on the IRCC processing times tool before you book travel.

Super Visa vs Visit Visa: Which One Should Your Parents choose? 

It depends on the length of stay. If your parents want to attend a short event in Canada, a simple Canada visit visa is easier to obtain since the Super Visa requirements add an income test, insurance, and a medical exam that a visit visa does not ask for.

If they plan to live with you or stay without renewing status, the Super Visa is designed for that purpose.The Super Visa vs visit visa difference also depends on the financial assessment. A visit visa is assessed on the applicant’s own funds in Pakistan, while the Super Visa is assessed mainly on the host’s income in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How long can my parents stay in Canada on a Super Visa? 

They can stay 5 years on each entry, and they can apply from inside Canada to extend the stay. The visa itself can remain valid for up to 10 years.

How much income does the host need for a Super Visa in 2026? 

It depends on family size. A family size of 4 needs $56,724 and a family size of 5 needs $64,336. From March 2026, the host can use either of their last two tax years to meet it.

Can my parents’ pension in Pakistan count toward the income requirement? 

Yes, to a limited extent. Under the rules introduced on 31 March 2026, if the host earns at least 75 percent of the required income, the parent’s own recurring income, such as a pension, can cover the remaining gap with documented proof that it will continue during the stay.

Is Super Visa insurance mandatory from a Canadian company? 

No. IRCC also recognizes policies from foreign insurers, provided the company is authorized by OSFI and listed on its official register. The coverage must still meet the minimum of $100,000 in emergency medical coverage for one year.

Can my parents work in Canada on a Super Visa? 

No. The Super Visa grants visitor status only, so working requires a separate visa permit. For permanent settlement, the parents and grandparents sponsorship program is the applicable route.

What if my parent’s Super Visa application gets refused? 

They can reapply at any time. Review the refusal letter, address the specific weakness, and submit a stronger file. If income was the reason, the rules introduced in March 2026 may now resolve it.

Apply for the Super Visa with Expert Guidance 

A Super Visa file is prepared in two countries at once. The income proof comes from your child in Canada, while the medical, insurance, and identity documents come from your side in Pakistan, and and any inconsistency between the two can lead to refusal.

AIRCS Group prepares the file on both ends, verifies the host’s income under the new 2026 rules, and submits one consistent application to IRCC. Book your free assessment and find out if your family qualifies for the super visa.