Super Visa or Family Sponsorship: Which One Is Open in 2026?
In 2026, the Super Visa is the route open to new applicants. IRCC paused the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) on July 15, 2026, with no new invitations until further notice. A Super Visa lets a parent or grandparent stay up to 5 years per entry, on a visa valid up to 10 years. An officer decides.
$100
IRCC’s Super Visa fee, per person
$85
Biometrics, per person, unless exempt
$170
Biometrics maximum per family
Paused
The PGP, the permanent-residence route: no new forms or invitations
Confirm current fees on canada.ca before paying. The Fee Calculator shows the Super Visa application fees.
Which route can a family start in 2026?
On July 15, 2026, IRCC paused the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). Its own words: "We will not accept new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice." No family can start a fresh PGP application right now, and IRCC has published no reopening date.
IRCC keeps processing applications already in its inventory, and it plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026, in line with the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
When intake runs, the PGP is invitation-based, not first-come, first-served: interested sponsors submit an "interest to sponsor" form during an open window, and IRCC later invites a limited number to apply.
The rule
On July 15, 2026, IRCC paused the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
How do the Super Visa and the PGP differ?
| Feature | Super Visa | PGP Sponsorship |
|---|---|---|
| Status granted | Temporary resident (visitor) | Permanent resident (PR) |
| Available in 2026 | Yes, open to new applications | Paused: no new forms or invitations |
| Length of stay | Up to 5 years per entry | Permanent, can stay indefinitely |
| Visa validity | Up to 10 years (multiple entry) | N/A: PR card issued |
| Medical insurance | Min. $100,000 CAD, valid 1+ year | Not required |
| Income requirement | Minimum necessary income (LICO) in either of the 2 tax years before applying, or at least 75% of it in the year before, with the applicant's income covering the rest | LICO + 30% for the sponsor, for 3 tax years |
| Undertaking | None | 20 years (10 years in Quebec) |
| Work authorization | None, visitor status only | Full work authorization as PR |
PR can lead to citizenship eligibility; the Super Visa has no citizenship pathway.
Who can apply for a Super Visa, and who can host?
Unlike a standard visitor visa, which usually allows a stay of up to 6 months, the Super Visa lets an approved parent or grandparent stay for up to 5 years at a time (for applications made on or after June 22, 2023). A visa officer makes the final decision based on the whole application.
The parent or grandparent (applicant) must:
- Be the parent or grandparent of the host: IRCC requires the host to be your biological or adopted child or grandchild (a step-relationship does not qualify)
- Pass an upfront immigration medical examination with an IRCC-designated panel physician
- Be admissible to Canada (for example, no criminal or security inadmissibility under IRPA, sections 34 to 42)
- Satisfy the officer they will leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay
- Have private medical insurance of at least $100,000 CAD that is valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
The child or grandchild in Canada (host) must:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian, at least 18 years old and living in Canada
- Meet the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) threshold for your household size
- Provide a written invitation letter confirming support
- Provide proof of your Canadian citizenship, PR status or registration as an Indian
How much income does the Super Visa host need?
The host must show their household meets a minimum necessary income, based on Statistics Canada's Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) and varying by family size. This is the LICO level itself, not the LICO plus 30% used for the PGP, so the Super Visa bar is generally lower. IRCC updates the table from time to time, so check the current table on canada.ca before you apply.
As of March 31, 2026, the host (with any co-signer) can meet the minimum in either of the 2 tax years before the application. Or the host can show at least 75% of the minimum in the year before the application, and the visiting parent or grandparent can add their own income to cover the rest.
IRCC counts in the family size:
- The visiting parent(s) or grandparent(s)
- You, and your spouse or partner
- Your and their dependent children
- Previously approved super visa applicants on a letter still in effect
- Anyone you or your co-signer sponsored whose undertaking is still in effect
The host or co-signer sends their Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the CRA. If it is unavailable, IRCC accepts other proof, such as the T4 or T1 for the last tax year, pay stubs for the most recent 12 months, an employer letter stating job title, duties and salary, and bank statements.
What medical insurance does a Super Visa need?
Private medical insurance is mandatory, and a policy that does not meet IRCC's rules can lead to a refusal. It is what covers a Super Visa holder's medical bills in Canada.
The policy must:
- Give minimum coverage of $100,000 CAD for health care, hospitalization and repatriation
- Be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry
- Cover the parent or grandparent for the full period of each stay (IRCC says to renew it if it would expire while they are still in Canada)
- Come from a Canadian insurance company or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer (a change introduced by IRCC, effective January 2025)
- Be available as proof of an active policy on each entry to Canada
How do you apply for a Super Visa?
Gather the host’s documents
Proof of Canadian citizenship, PR status or registration as an Indian, the invitation letter, income proof (the CRA notice of assessment, or T4s and pay stubs if it is unavailable), and proof of your relationship (birth certificate, legal documents).
Arrange the medical exam
The parent or grandparent books an immigration medical examination (IME) with an IRCC-designated physician. Results are valid for 12 months.
Buy qualifying medical insurance
Buy a policy with at least $100,000 CAD coverage, valid for at least 1 year, from a Canadian insurer or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer. Keep the policy document for the application.
Complete the application
Apply online through the IRCC Portal. Include the visitor visa (TRV) application forms, photos, passport, the insurance and medical proof, the host documents, and the application fee.
$100 per person
Provide biometrics if required
Applicants give fingerprints and a photo at a designated collection point, unless they are exempt.
$85 per person
Wait for processing
Processing times vary by country and change over time. Check the current Super Visa processing time on canada.ca and track the application through your IRCC account.
Enter Canada within validity
At the border, a CBSA officer makes the final admission decision. If the officer grants entry, your parent or grandparent can stay for 5 years, even if the officer does not stamp the passport.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- Document ChecklistTypical documents by application type
- Fee CalculatorCurrent government fees, itemized
- Processing TimesIRCC wait times by program
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What do people ask?
Can parents work in Canada on a Super Visa?
No. A Super Visa is visitor status, and it does not authorize work in Canada. Parents and grandparents can visit family and travel, and a job would need separate work authorization or permanent residence. Each province and territory decides who qualifies for its public health plan, and IRCC requires private medical insurance for the Super Visa. The Super Visa Canada 2026 guide explains what visitor status allows.
What is the Super Visa for parents?
The Super Visa is a multiple-entry visitor visa for the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and registered Indians. It can be valid for up to 10 years and allows stays of up to 5 years per entry. The host must meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for the family size, and the visitor needs private medical insurance. The Super Visa Canada 2026 guide covers each requirement.
Is parent sponsorship (the PGP) open in 2026?
No. IRCC paused the Parents and Grandparents Program on July 15, 2026. It will not accept new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice. IRCC keeps processing applications already in its inventory. Be wary of any service that sells a place on a "PGP waiting list", because IRCC runs intake itself. The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship guide tracks the program.
Is the Super Visa income requirement lower than the PGP one?
Yes, generally. The Super Visa host must meet the LICO for the family size, in either of the two tax years before the application. A PGP sponsor needs the LICO plus 30% for each of the 3 most recent tax years. Since March 31, 2026, a visiting parent's own income can be added once the host reaches 75% of the threshold. The Super Visa Income Requirements 2026 guide has the details.
Does my parent need insurance from a Canadian company?
No. The policy can come from a Canadian insurer or from a foreign insurer authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI). It must cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation for at least $100,000, and be valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry. Ask the insurer to confirm in writing that it meets IRCC rules. The Super Visa Canada 2026 guide explains the test.
How long can my parent stay in Canada on a Super Visa?
5 years at a time, on a visa that can be valid for up to 10 years. If a border officer grants entry, your parent can stay for 5 years, even if the officer does not stamp the passport. To stay longer, your parent can apply from inside Canada to extend the stay, up to 2 years at a time, before their status ends, and an officer decides. The Visitor Visa Extension guide explains that application.
Can I switch from a Super Visa to PGP permanent residence later?
Only through a new PGP application, if the PGP reopens and you receive an invitation. A Super Visa does not lead to permanent residence by itself. You would then need the LICO plus 30% for 3 tax years and would sign a 20-year undertaking (10 years in Quebec). An officer decides each application. The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship guide explains the PGP steps.
Part of:Sponsoring family
- Who Can Sponsor a Spouse to Canada? Eligibility
- Does Marriage Give Canadian Citizenship?
- Common-Law Sponsorship Canada: Sponsor Without Being Married
The textbook on this subject
Volume 2: Immigrating to Canada $79
The economic and family pathways to permanent residence, explained from the published criteria.
Follow on Facebook to hear when the library opens (opens in a new tab)Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.
- IRCC: Super visa for parents and grandparents
- IRCC: Sponsor your family members
- IRCC news: Super visa enhancements, 5 years per entry from July 4, 2022
- IRCC notice: Super visa insurance from insurers outside Canada (January 28, 2025)
- IRCC: Supplementary Information for the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan