Families who want to bring parents or grandparents to Canada face a key decision: apply for the Super Visa (a long-stay visitor authorization) or pursue permanent residence through the Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP). Each has distinct advantages and trade-offs. This guide breaks down both options so you can make an informed decision — or use both simultaneously.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Super Visa | PGP Sponsorship |
|---|---|---|
| Result | Visitor status — no PR | Permanent Residence (PR) |
| Length of stay per visit | Up to 5 years per entry | Permanent (as long as PR is maintained) |
| Processing time | Typically weeks to a few months | 20–36+ months from application |
| Income requirement | LICO+30% (most recent tax year only) | LICO+30% for 3 consecutive tax years |
| Medical insurance | Required — Canadian private health insurance minimum $100,000 coverage | Not required (covered by provincial health once PR) |
| Work authorization | No — visitor status only | Yes — once PR is granted |
| Access to Canadian healthcare | No — must maintain private insurance | Yes — provincial health coverage after waiting period |
| Sponsorship undertaking | None | 20-year financial undertaking |
| Can apply for citizenship? | No | Yes — after 3 of 5 years as PR (IRPA s.5) |
| Multiple entries? | Yes — valid for 10 years (multiple entry) | N/A — PR does not expire (but PR card requires renewal) |
| Lottery/intake required? | No — apply anytime | Yes — must be selected in randomized intake |
Super Visa — How It Works
The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa that allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to stay in Canada for up to 5 years per visit (as of amendments to IRPR). Key requirements:
- ✓ Applicant must be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- ✓ The child/grandchild in Canada must demonstrate income at or above LICO+30% (most recent tax year)
- ✓ Applicant must purchase Canadian private medical insurance with a minimum $100,000 coverage, valid for at least 1 year from date of entry
- ✓ Applicant must have a letter of invitation from the child/grandchild in Canada
- ✓ Applicant must satisfy a visa officer that they will leave Canada at the end of their authorized stay
- ✓ Standard visitor visa admissibility requirements apply (valid travel document, no inadmissibility)
⚠ Medical insurance cost
Private medical insurance for elderly visitors can be costly — often $1,500–$5,000+ per year depending on age and health. This is an ongoing cost each year the parent/grandparent is in Canada on Super Visa. Factor this into your long-term planning.
When Super Visa Makes More Sense
You need a faster solution
Super Visa processing is measured in weeks to months, not years. If you need your parents here soon — for childcare, health reasons, or family events — Super Visa is the practical choice.
Your parents want to travel between countries
A Super Visa allows your parents to leave and re-enter Canada freely within the 10-year validity. As a PR, your parents would need to maintain residency obligations (IRPA s.28) to keep their status.
You don't meet 3-year income requirement
Super Visa only requires the most recent tax year's income at LICO+30%, versus 3 consecutive years for PGP. If you've recently started earning more, Super Visa may be accessible sooner.
Parents prefer to maintain ties to home country
Some parents do not want to immigrate permanently. Super Visa allows extended visits without cutting ties to their home country or giving up foreign pensions/benefits that may be affected by PR status.
When PGP Sponsorship Makes More Sense
Your parents want to stay permanently
PGP grants full permanent residence, with a path to Canadian citizenship. Parents can work, access provincial healthcare, and build a life in Canada without recurring medical insurance costs.
Healthcare costs are a concern
Once parents become PRs, they are eligible for provincial health coverage (after the applicable waiting period, usually 3 months). This eliminates the ongoing cost of private medical insurance required for Super Visa.
Long-term family integration
If the family's plan is for parents to be in Canada permanently — to help raise grandchildren, retire, or live near family — PGP provides the legal foundation for that life.
Parents eventually want to become Canadian citizens
Only permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship (IRPA s.5). Super Visa holders cannot accrue time toward citizenship.
Can You Apply for Both Simultaneously?
Yes — it is possible to pursue both simultaneously. Many families apply for the Super Visa first to allow extended visits while the PGP sponsorship application is in process. Important considerations:
- ✓ Applying for a Super Visa does not preclude or negatively affect a concurrent PGP sponsorship application
- ✓ However, parents on a Super Visa who are inside Canada when the PGP application is approved will still need to complete a landing procedure (the PR confirmation)
- ✓ A visa officer may scrutinize intent to return — if a parent applies for Super Visa while a PGP application is pending, the officer must believe the parent will leave at the end of the authorized stay, despite the pending PR application
- ✓ Consult a licensed immigration lawyer before pursuing both pathways simultaneously, particularly regarding visa officer assessments of intent
Not sure which path is right for your family?
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Get Your Pathway Report — $149.99Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Super Visa require my parents to leave and re-enter to reset the 5-year clock?+
The 5 years is per entry — each time your parents enter Canada on a valid Super Visa, they may be authorized to stay up to 5 years. They do not need to leave and re-enter to extend a current stay; rather, each new entry can start a new authorized stay up to the visa's expiry date. A CBSA officer determines the authorized stay at each entry. Always confirm with a licensed immigration lawyer or CBSA officer.
My parents are on a Super Visa and we just got selected for PGP. What happens?+
Your parents can remain on their Super Visa while the PGP sponsorship is processed. When the PGP is approved and your parents' permanent residence is confirmed, they will transition to PR status. If they are in Canada at the time, the PR confirmation process may be completed from within Canada.
Can my parents work in Canada on a Super Visa?+
No. The Super Visa is a visitor status and does not authorize work in Canada. Only permanent residents and those with a work permit are authorized to work. If your parents wish to work, they would need to obtain separate work authorization or become PRs through the PGP.
What medical insurance is required for the Super Visa?+
Applicants must purchase Canadian private medical insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 for healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation. The policy must be valid for a minimum of 1 year from the expected date of entry and issued by a Canadian insurance company. The insurance must be in place at the time of application.
Important: This tool provides general information based on publicly available Canadian immigration law (IRPA). Results are not a determination of admissibility. Only a CBSA officer at a port of entry can make admissibility decisions. For complex legal situations, professional guidance may also be beneficial.