Super Visa Insurance in 2025: Requirements, Costs and What IRCC Actually Checks
If you are sponsoring your parents or grandparents to Canada on a Super Visa, the medical insurance requirement is not a small detail. It is a mandatory condition set by immigration rules and, more importantly, the only financial shield between your family and a potentially very large hospital bill.
In 2025, there is more choice in the market, more marketing noise and more confusion. Many families are searching for “super visa insurance requirements”, “super visa insurance vs visitor insurance” and “can I buy super visa insurance after arrival in Canada” and getting incomplete or conflicting answers.
This article is designed to give you a single, coherent guide that:
Explains Super Visa insurance requirements in plain language
Clarifies what immigration officers actually look for on your policy
Shows the difference between Super Visa insurance and standard visitor insurance
Answers whether you can buy or renew coverage after your parents arrive in Canada
Connects those rules back to how a platform like DaddySafe helps you compare only compliant plans from recognised insurers such as Manulife and others
If there is any difference between this article and the wording of an insurance policy, the policy always wins.
Quick refresher: how the Super Visa works
The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa is a special program that lets eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents stay in Canada for longer periods than a regular visitor.
Key features include:
Long stays: up to several years per entry
Multiple entries over a number of years
The expectation that the visitor will not rely on provincial health plans during their stays
Because of that last point, immigration rules require every Super Visa applicant to have private emergency medical insurance in place. The insurance is not optional, and it must meet very specific conditions.
Super Visa insurance requirements in 2025
The term “super visa insurance requirements” refers to a specific checklist, not just a general instruction to “buy some coverage”.
To be acceptable for Super Visa purposes, the medical insurance must:
Provide at least 100,000 dollars of coverage
The policy must offer a minimum of 100,000 dollars in emergency medical protection for each insured person. This is the legal floor, not necessarily the ideal amount.
Be valid for at least one year from the date of entry
The coverage must run for a minimum of 365 days from the date your parent or grandparent first enters Canada on their Super Visa, even if you expect the first stay to be shorter.
Cover emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation
The wording should clearly indicate that the policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospital services and the cost of returning the person to their home country, including in the event of death.
Be issued by an eligible insurer
The policy must be issued by either:
A Canadian insurance company, or
A foreign insurance company that is properly authorised to operate for this purpose under Canadian rules
In practice, families typically buy coverage from recognised Canadian insurers that are already familiar with Super Visa requirements.
Be prepaid or properly set up with instalments
A quote is not enough. Immigration officers are looking for proof of actual coverage, either:
Paid in full for the period shown, or
Clearly set up with a deposit and instalments under a recognised structure the insurer offers for Super Visa use
Be valid and available for review at each entry
Every time your parent or grandparent enters Canada on their Super Visa, they are expected to have valid insurance in force and to be able to show proof if asked.
If any of these requirements are not satisfied, the application can be refused or the authorised length of stay can be reduced.
What IRCC actually checks on your policy
When people search “what does IRCC check on super visa insurance”, they often imagine officers reading every clause of the contract. In reality, immigration officers focus on a few core items.
They look to confirm that:
The insured person’s name matches the visa applicant
The insurer’s name is clearly shown (not just the broker or platform)
The coverage amount is at least 100,000 dollars
The start and end dates of the policy cover at least one full year from the intended date of entry
The policy includes emergency medical, hospital and repatriation coverage
The policy appears to be issued and paid as a real contract, not a quote
They are not deciding whether a future claim will be paid. That decision always belongs to the insurer according to the policy wording. Immigration’s role is to check that the basic Super Visa insurance requirements are in place.
This is why the quality of the certificate or confirmation you receive after purchase matters. It must clearly answer these questions without confusion.
How much does Super Visa insurance cost and what drives the price
“Super visa insurance cost” is another common search term, and it is easy to see why. For many families, insuring two parents for a full year is a noticeable budget item.
While every insurer has its own rate tables, the price generally depends on:
Age
The older the parent or grandparent, the higher the premium. Rates can jump in certain age bands (for example, 60+, 70+, 80+).
Coverage amount
Higher limits such as 150,000 or 300,000 dollars cost more than the 100,000 dollar minimum.
Pre-existing condition treatment
Plans that cover certain “stable” pre-existing conditions (such as controlled blood pressure or diabetes) cost more than plans that exclude all pre-existing conditions.
Deductible
A higher deductible can significantly reduce the premium, but you must be prepared to pay that amount out of pocket in a claim.
Length of coverage and payment structure
A full year of coverage has a higher total premium than a shorter visitor plan. Some insurers offer monthly or structured payment options for Super Visa coverage, often with conditions attached to keep the policy in good standing.
A typical range in today’s market, for many applicants, runs from a few dollars per day at younger ages and minimum coverage levels up to several thousand dollars per year for older parents at higher coverage amounts. The exact number is best determined through actual quotes.
A comparison platform like DaddySafe allows you to see how age, coverage limit, deductible and pre-existing condition options change the price, instead of guessing.
Super Visa insurance vs visitor insurance: why it matters
“Super visa insurance vs visitor insurance” is a crucial comparison because the two concepts are related but not interchangeable.
At a high level:
Purpose
Super Visa insurance is specifically configured for parents and grandparents who are applying under the Super Visa program. It is a mandatory condition for the visa.
Visitor insurance is emergency medical coverage for anyone visiting Canada temporarily, such as tourists, students and temporary workers. It is strongly recommended but usually not a formal visa condition in the same way.
Coverage amount
Super Visa insurance must meet the minimum 100,000 dollar requirement and is often set at higher limits.
Visitor insurance, depending on the plan, can offer lower coverage amounts such as 25,000 or 50,000 dollars, which would not satisfy Super Visa rules.
Duration
Super Visa insurance is normally purchased for at least one year at a time.
Visitor insurance can be bought for shorter stays like 30, 90 or 180 days.
Immigration risk
For Super Visa holders, failure to maintain valid insurance during a stay can create both financial and immigration risk.
For regular visitors, a lapse in insurance does not directly affect visa status, but it leaves the traveller exposed to medical costs.
In practice, many insurance companies use similar emergency medical wordings for both “Super Visa” and “visitor” products. The difference is how you configure the policy: the coverage amount, term, and whether the insurer and certificate are acceptable for Super Visa purposes.
On DaddySafe, this difference can be built directly into the user journey:
A Super Visa path that filters for plans and options that can meet the government’s minimum requirements
A visitor path that opens up more flexible combinations of coverage and duration for shorter or non-Super Visa trips
Can I buy Super Visa insurance after arrival in Canada?
“Buy super visa insurance after arrival Canada” is one of the most common and most misunderstood searches in this space. There is no single yes or no answer. Instead, there are three different realities to understand.
First Super Visa application and entry
For the first Super Visa application, immigration expects proof of qualifying insurance as part of the file. That proof is usually a certificate showing a full year of coverage starting from the expected date of entry.
In that sense, you cannot simply wait until your parents arrive in Canada and then buy the insurance for the initial Super Visa approval. The policy should be in place and documented before the visa is granted and before they travel.
Renewals and extensions while your parents are already in Canada
Where you do have flexibility is with ongoing coverage once your parents are already here.
Most insurers that offer Super Visa–capable visitor coverage allow you to:
Extend coverage before it expires, or
Purchase a new policy while the person is in Canada
However, there are two important conditions to understand:
Waiting periods
If there has been a gap in coverage, or if coverage is first bought after arrival, many policies apply a waiting period for sickness at the start of the policy. During this period, emergency medical care for sickness is not covered, even if the expenses occur after the waiting period ends. Injury is typically still covered from the effective date.
Pre-existing condition stability
When you start a new policy, the “stability period” for pre-existing conditions is measured back from the new effective date. Any recent change in symptoms, medication, dosage or treatment recommendations can mean that a condition is no longer considered stable and may be excluded under the new policy.
Practically, yes, you can usually buy or renew Super Visa–type coverage after arrival in Canada, but you need to be very clear about waiting periods and pre-existing condition treatment so you do not create gaps in protection.
Converting a standard visitor to a Super Visa in Canada
A separate situation arises when a parent enters Canada on a regular visitor visa and the family later decides to apply for a Super Visa.
Buying insurance after arrival does not, by itself, convert someone from visitor status to Super Visa status. That process is governed by immigration rules and where and how the application is made. Insurance is one element of the application, not the whole process.
Pre-existing conditions, stability and why they matter so much
Every serious discussion of Super Visa insurance requirements must include pre-existing conditions. The policy wordings behind Super Visa–capable visitor plans typically follow one of two approaches:
Plans that exclude all pre-existing conditions altogether
Plans that can cover certain pre-existing conditions, but only if they have been “stable” for a defined number of days before the policy starts and only for certain ages and conditions
“Stable” is a defined term. It usually means there have been no new symptoms, no changes in diagnosis, no new or adjusted medications and no new recommended tests or hospital stays during the stability period.
From a sponsor’s point of view, this means:
You must always read how the policy defines pre-existing and stable
You must match that definition against your parent’s actual medical history
You need to be especially careful when renewing or starting a new policy after arrival, because the new effective date resets the look-back period
A platform like DaddySafe can surface whether a plan includes an option for stable pre-existing conditions and what stability periods apply by age. It cannot change the definitions in the contract, but it can make those rules visible earlier in your decision-making process.
How DaddySafe helps you navigate Super Visa insurance requirements
Knowing the rules is one thing. Applying them to real policies, with real prices, is another.
DaddySafe is structured to help you move from theory to action by:
Bringing together multiple visitors and Super Visa–capable emergency medical plans from established insurers such as Manulife and others on one platform
Allowing you to enter your parents’ details once and then see a range of quotes that can be configured to meet Super Visa insurance requirements
Highlighting key factors that matter under those rules, including:
Coverage amount and term
Treatment of pre-existing conditions and stability periods
Deductible options
High-level differences in coverage features
The comparison does not replace the policy wording. It is designed to make the differences between plans easier to see so that you can focus your detailed review on a shortlist that actually fits your Super Visa strategy.
Practical next steps and final checklist
If you are ready to move from research to action, a practical sequence is:
Confirm that you are applying under the Super Visa program, not a standard visitor visa.
Decide on a coverage amount (at least 100,000 dollars, often higher for older parents or more complex histories).
Decide whether you want or need a plan that can cover stable pre-existing conditions.
Use DaddySafe to generate multiple Super Visa–ready quotes and compare how age, coverage limit, deductible and stability rules affect both price and protection.
For your shortlist of plans, read the policy wording carefully, paying particular attention to:
Pre-existing condition definitions and stability period
Waiting period rules if coverage starts after arrival or after a gap
Emergency assistance obligations (for example, calling the assistance centre in a serious emergency)
Once you are satisfied, complete the application and payment, and keep both the confirmation of coverage and the full policy wording accessible for immigration and for any future claims.
This article is a general guide to Super Visa insurance requirements and how those requirements interact with real-world visitor medical policies. It is not a policy, it is not legal advice and it does not replace the official wording of any insurance contract or any immigration instruction.
Coverage, eligibility, benefits, exclusions, waiting periods and refund rules always depend on:
The specific insurer and product you choose
The exact policy wording in force when you buy
Your parent’s age, medical history and answers on the application
Use DaddySafe to compare structured options and surface the key differences, then rely on the policy wording and a licensed advisor to confirm how a specific plan applies to your family’s situation before you make a final decision.
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