You may have found this page because you were searching for information on the Canadian parents and grandparents super visa. This essential resource aims to answer your questions about the super visa and its medical insurance for super visa mandatory requirements. It will also inform you about Canada’s health care system, provide links to additional helpful resources, and review the products that meet the super visa health insurance requirements.

About the Super Visa

The Canadian super visa is a multi-entry visa valid for 10 years. It allows parents and grandparents of citizens or permanent residents of Canada to enter the country for up to 2 years at a time. According to the Canadian government, to be eligible for a super visa, the visitor must:

• Be a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Be allowed to enter Canada
• Prove that the visitor’s child or grandchild has the minimum required income
• Have a written statement from the visitor’s child or grandchild saying that they will provide financial support for the visitor
• Pass an immigration medical examination
• Have valid Canadian medical insurance coverage for super visa of $100,000 for a minimum of 1 year, including coverage for health care, hospitalization, and repatriation

An officer will also examine whether or not the visitor is an authentic visitor who will leave the country voluntarily following their visit. For more information about this examination, as well as a complete list of criteria for a super visa application, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. For a general overview, visit the super visa hub.

About the Canadian Health Care System

You may be wondering, “why is there an insurance requirement for the super visa?” It is a common misconception that Canada has free healthcare for all. There are limitations to Canada’s national health insurance program. The key limitation for visitors to Canada is that the Government Health Insurance Plans (GHIP) do not cover “a tourist, a transient or a visitor to the province,” as stated on the Government of Canada’s website. This means if a visitor to Canada needs to see a doctor or visit the hospital while in Canada, it is not free and the visitor will be billed for the services they receive. Thus, the government requires visitors to Canada under the super visa to have individual medical insurance plans in case of an emergency.Government Health Insurance Plans (GHIP) do cover many medical care expenses for residents of their respective provinces. For more information on what is covered in your province or territory, visit its respective website below.

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Public hospitals in Canada often post their rates for non-residents in front of the help desk in the emergency room. If you want to know more about specific costs of medical insurance for super visa Canada, it is recommended that you visit your local hospital and pick up a flyer for information, as costs vary by location.

About Canadian Emergency Medical Insurance Coverage for the Super Visa

Because visitors to Canada are not covered by a Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP), the government of Canada requires visitors under the super visa to have emergency medical insurance for super visa Canada. As discussed previously, the insurance plan must:

• Provide coverage of $100,000 or more
• Include coverage for the following:
  • Health care
  • Hospitalization
  • Repatriation
• Be valid for 1 year from the date of entry into Canada

*This coverage must be purchased each time the visitor enters Canada.

Travelling Outside Canada

Your Canadian health insurance is almost certainly not valid outside of Canada. Your provincial or territorial health plan may cover nothing or only a very small portion of the costs of medical care abroad, and never up front. Foreign hospitals can be very expensive and may require immediate cash payment. You could face years of debt paying off the costs of treatment for an illness or accident you suffered abroad. The Government of Canada will not pay your medical bills.

Your travel insurance should include health, life and disability coverage that will help you avoid large expenses, such as the cost of hospitalization and medical treatment outside Canada. Ensure your coverage includes or has provisions for:

• Pre-existing Medical Conditions: understand the definitions of, and limitations and restrictions due to pre-existing conditions and tests and treatments you may have undergone. Ensure that any deductible costs are clearly explained in the policy and plan your finances accordingly.
• Medical Evacuation: ensure the policy covers medical evacuation to Canada or to the nearest location with appropriate medical care. The policy should also cover the costs of a medical escort to accompany you to your final destination.
• Repatriation in Case of Death: ensure that the plan covers the preparation and return of your remains to Canada.