Super Visa insurance is a Canadian emergency medical insurance policy required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as a mandatory condition of the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa. The IRCC requires that the policy: provide a minimum of $100,000 in emergency medical coverage; be valid for at least one year from the date of entry into Canada; and be issued by a Canadian insurance company. Without valid Super Visa insurance, the visa application will not be approved — it is not optional.

The Super Visa program allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada for extended periods — up to five years per entry, with the ability to apply for extensions. This is significantly longer than the standard visitor visa, which typically allows stays of up to six months. The mandatory insurance requirement reflects the extended duration of the visit and the potential for significant medical costs.

Super Visa insurance premiums vary based on the applicant's age, health history, coverage amount ($100,000 minimum, with $150,000 and $200,000 options available), deductible chosen, and the policy term. Age is the most significant pricing factor — premiums increase substantially for applicants over 60, and again for those over 70 and 75.

As a general illustration: a healthy 60-year-old applicant purchasing $100,000 in coverage might pay a moderate annual premium. The same coverage for a 70-year-old with stable pre-existing conditions could cost significantly more. Choosing a higher deductible (for example, $1,000 or $2,500) can reduce the premium by 20–40% compared to a $0 deductible plan — a meaningful saving for families managing the cost of a multi-year Super Visa visit.

Monthly payment plans are available through select insurers, allowing families to spread the cost over the policy term rather than paying the full annual premium upfront. Not all insurers offer monthly plans, and eligibility may depend on the applicant's age and health history.

Some Super Visa insurance plans may provide coverage for certain stable pre-existing medical conditions — including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and stable heart conditions — depending on the insurer, the medical questionnaire, the applicable stability period, and the policy wording. Eligibility and coverage vary by insurer and individual circumstances, and coverage is not guaranteed.

The key concept is stability: a pre-existing condition must be stable for a specified period before the policy start date — no new symptoms, no change in medication or dosage, no new diagnosis, and no medical treatment or advice to change treatment. Common stability periods are 90, 180, or 365 days. A parent whose blood pressure medication was adjusted four months ago may not meet the 180-day stability requirement of some plans, but may qualify under a plan with a 90-day stability period.

Pre-existing condition coverage is one of the most important factors to get right when purchasing Super Visa insurance. A claim denial due to an undisclosed or unstable condition can leave a family facing tens of thousands of dollars in uninsured medical costs. Answering all medical questions honestly and completely at the time of application is essential.

A stability period is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — provisions in a Super Visa insurance policy. It is the length of time a pre-existing medical condition must be stable before the policy start date for that condition to be eligible for coverage under the policy.

Stable typically means all of the following: no new symptoms or worsening of existing symptoms; no change in medication, including dosage changes (even a dosage reduction can break stability under some policies); no new diagnosis related to the condition; no medical treatment, tests, or investigations ordered or pending; and no hospitalization or referral to a specialist for that condition.

Common stability periods are 90, 180, or 365 days. A plan with a 90-day stability period is more favourable for applicants with conditions that were recently adjusted. A plan with a 365-day stability period requires a full year of stability — but may offer broader coverage or lower premiums for applicants who meet that threshold.

As of current IRCC requirements, Super Visa insurance must be valid for a minimum of one year from the date of entry into Canada. The policy must be issued by a Canadian insurance company and provide a minimum of $100,000 in emergency medical coverage. These are the minimum requirements — families often purchase $150,000 or $200,000 in coverage to provide a larger safety margin.

Immigration requirements can change. Applicants should verify current requirements directly with the Government of Canada at canada.ca before applying. The IRCC website provides the most current and authoritative information on Super Visa requirements.

The policy validity period and the immigration requirement are separate considerations. The policy must meet the minimum requirement at the time of application, but the actual coverage period, renewal terms, and cancellation provisions are governed by the policy wording. For example, some policies allow the insured to return to their home country temporarily and resume coverage when they return to Canada; others may have different provisions. Understanding the policy terms before purchasing is important.

Many Super Visa insurance policies include a full refund provision if the visa application is denied, provided the policy has not yet started — meaning the visitor has not yet entered Canada — and the refund request is made within the timeframe specified in the policy. Some policies may charge a small administrative fee for the refund processing.

This refund provision is important because families typically need to purchase the insurance policy before submitting the Super Visa application (to include proof of insurance with the application), but the visa may not be approved. Without a refund provision, families would lose the premium if the visa is denied.

Refund terms vary by insurer and policy. Some insurers offer a full refund with no administrative fee; others charge a flat fee or a percentage of the premium. The refund window (how long after visa denial you have to request the refund) also varies.

Yes — select Canadian insurers offer monthly payment plan options for Super Visa insurance, allowing families to spread the cost over the policy term rather than paying the full annual premium upfront. This can make Super Visa insurance more accessible for families managing the cost of a multi-year visit.

Monthly plans may have different terms, conditions, and cancellation provisions compared to annual lump-sum policies. For example, some monthly plans require a credit card on file for automatic monthly charges; others invoice monthly. Cancellation provisions for monthly plans may differ from annual plans — for example, a monthly plan may not offer a pro-rated refund for unused months in the same way an annual plan would.

Not all insurers offer monthly payment options, and eligibility may depend on the applicant's age, health history, and coverage amount. Some monthly plans are only available for applicants below a certain age or without certain pre-existing conditions.

Yes — Super Visa insurance is purchased by the Canadian child or grandchild sponsoring the visit, not by the visitor themselves. The sponsoring family member in Canada arranges and pays for the policy on behalf of the visiting parent or grandparent. The visitor does not need to be in Canada, and the policy can be arranged entirely remotely.

Oracle RMS Insurance London North regularly assists families across Canada who are sponsoring parents and grandparents from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and other countries. We can assist by phone, video call, or email — no in-person visit is required.

When arranging Super Visa insurance for a parent abroad, you will need the parent's date of birth, health history (to answer the medical questionnaire accurately), and the planned travel dates. The policy is typically issued with a start date of the planned entry date into Canada.

Super Visa insurance and regular visitor insurance both provide emergency medical coverage for people visiting Canada who are not covered by a provincial health plan, but they serve different purposes and have different requirements.

Super Visa insurance is specifically designed to meet the IRCC requirements for the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa program. It must be valid for at least one year, provide a minimum of $100,000 in coverage, and be issued by a Canadian insurance company. These are mandatory requirements — a policy that does not meet all three criteria will not satisfy the IRCC requirement.

Regular visitor insurance is a broader category of travel medical insurance available to any visitor to Canada — not just Super Visa holders. It offers more flexible coverage amounts (as low as $25,000) and durations (days to months), and is suitable for visitors on regular tourist visas or electronic travel authorizations (eTAs). It does not need to meet the IRCC's Super Visa requirements.

If your parent is visiting on a Super Visa, they need Super Visa insurance specifically — regular visitor insurance will not satisfy the IRCC requirement, even if it provides $100,000 in coverage, unless it also meets the one-year validity requirement and is issued by a Canadian insurer. If your parent is visiting on a regular visitor visa, visitor insurance is the appropriate product.

Super Visa insurance typically covers emergency medical treatment and hospitalization, physician and specialist fees, ambulance services, prescription drugs related to a covered emergency, diagnostic tests (X-rays, lab work), and emergency dental treatment due to accidental injury. Most plans also include repatriation coverage — the cost of returning the insured to their home country if medically necessary.

Consider a practical example: a 67-year-old parent visiting on a Super Visa suffers a stroke six months into their visit. Emergency hospitalization, specialist consultations, rehabilitation, and a multi-week hospital stay could cost $80,000 to $200,000 or more without insurance. With a $150,000 Super Visa insurance policy, the insurer covers the eligible emergency medical expenses, subject to the policy terms, deductible, and any applicable exclusions.

Coverage is for emergency and unexpected medical events — it is not a substitute for provincial health insurance and does not cover routine or elective medical care, pre-planned treatments, or ongoing management of chronic conditions (beyond emergency stabilization). The specific coverage, limits, exclusions, and conditions are set out in the policy wording.

Many Super Visa insurance policies can be extended or renewed while the insured is in Canada, provided the extension is requested before the current policy expires and the insured has not had a change in health status that would affect eligibility. Extension terms and conditions vary by insurer.

If your parent's stay is extended beyond the original policy period — for example, because they decide to stay longer or because a medical situation prevents travel — it is important to arrange renewal before the policy lapses. A gap in coverage could leave your parent uninsured and could also affect the immigration status of the visit, since maintaining valid insurance is a condition of the Super Visa.

Some insurers allow extensions online or by phone; others require a new application. If the insured has had a medical event during the policy period, the extension may exclude that condition or may not be available at all, depending on the insurer's rules.

Coverage for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases varies by insurer and policy, and has evolved since the pandemic. Some plans currently include emergency medical coverage for COVID-19 as an unexpected illness, treating it the same as any other acute illness. Others may have specific exclusions or limitations — for example, excluding COVID-19 if the visitor travelled to a destination with a Government of Canada travel health notice in effect at the time of travel.

The Government of Canada's travel health notices (issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada) and travel advisories (issued by Global Affairs Canada) can affect coverage under some policies. It is important to check the current policy wording and any applicable travel notices before purchasing.

In a medical emergency, the insured (or a family member on their behalf) should contact the insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance line as soon as possible — ideally before seeking non-emergency treatment, and immediately after calling 911 for a true emergency. The emergency assistance line number is printed on the insurance card and in the policy documents. The assistance line can: pre-authorize treatment (which may be required for non-emergency procedures); coordinate direct billing with the hospital or clinic so the family does not have to pay out-of-pocket and seek reimbursement; arrange medical evacuation or repatriation if necessary; and help navigate the Canadian healthcare system.

For non-emergency claims, follow the claims process outlined in the policy wording. This typically involves: contacting the insurer within a specified timeframe after the medical event; submitting original receipts and invoices; providing medical records and a completed claim form; and meeting any other documentation requirements specified in the policy. Keep all documentation — original receipts, medical reports, and correspondence with the insurer.

Failure to contact the emergency assistance line before seeking treatment (where required by the policy) is one of the most common reasons for claim complications. Make sure the insured and their family members know the emergency assistance number before the visit begins.

Several Canadian insurance companies offer Super Visa insurance products. These include Manulife Financial, Sun Life Financial, Canada Life, GMS (Group Medical Services), Allianz Global Assistance, Destination Travel Group, Tugo, and others. Each insurer has different underwriting criteria, stability requirements, coverage terms, exclusions, and pricing.

All life and health insurers operating in Canada must be federally licensed under the Insurance Companies Act (Canada) and are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) at the federal level, as well as provincial regulators such as FSRA in Ontario. Canadian life insurers are also members of Assuris, which provides policyholder protection if a member insurer fails.

Because Super Visa insurance products vary significantly in their stability requirements, pre-existing condition coverage, and exclusions, comparing multiple plans is essential — not just comparing premiums. A plan with a lower premium but a 365-day stability period may be less suitable for a parent with a recently adjusted medication than a plan with a higher premium but a 90-day stability period.

Yes, Oracle RMS Insurance – London North is licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).

We operate through A Bajaj Financial Services Inc., which holds FSRA Insurance Act Licence No. 41867M in Ontario. Our licensing authorizes us to offer life and accident and sickness insurance products, including Super Visa insurance, visitor insurance, and travel insurance, through our relationships with multiple Canadian insurance carriers.

As an independent insurance brokerage, we work with leading insurers. This allows us to compare available plans, benefits, and premiums to help individuals and families find coverage suited to their needs and budget.

Our goal is to make finding the right Super Visa insurance simpler, with personalized guidance, access to multiple insurance providers, and support in understanding your options.

Claim denials are one of the most stressful situations a family can face after a medical emergency. Understanding the most common reasons for denial — and how to avoid them — is important before purchasing.

The most common reasons for Super Visa insurance claim denials include: non-disclosure of a pre-existing condition at the time of application (the insurer discovers a condition that was not disclosed on the medical questionnaire); a pre-existing condition that did not meet the stability period requirement (the condition was not stable for the required number of days before the policy start date); treatment for a condition that was specifically excluded from the policy; failure to contact the emergency assistance line before seeking treatment (where required by the policy); and treatment for a condition that is not covered under the policy (for example, routine or elective care).

To minimize the risk of a claim denial: answer all medical questions honestly and completely at the time of application — do not omit conditions or medications; understand the stability requirements for any pre-existing conditions and confirm they are met before the policy start date; read the exclusions section of the policy carefully; and always call the 24-hour emergency assistance line first in a medical emergency.

If a claim is denied, the insured has the right to appeal the decision through the insurer's internal appeals process, and ultimately through the General Insurance OmbudService (GIO) or the courts if the dispute is not resolved. However, prevention is far better than dispute resolution.