Bringing Your Parents or Grandparents to Canada? Their Insurance Is Not Optional
The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents visit Canada for extended stays, with multiple entries — so family can come back and forth instead of applying for a new visitor visa each time.
One requirement catches many families off guard: Super Visa applicants must show proof of private emergency medical insurance that meets Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rules. Without an eligible policy, the application cannot succeed — and visitors to Canada are not covered by OHIP, so a medical emergency here can mean paying hospital bills out of pocket.
Protect with Oneil helps Ontario families arrange Super Visa insurance that meets the requirements the first time, in plain language, with no pressure.
Why IRCC Requires Super Visa Insurance
Canada's health system does not cover visitors. If a visiting parent or grandparent needs emergency care, hospitalization, or medical transport home, the family pays — and those costs add up quickly.
That is why IRCC makes eligible emergency medical insurance part of the Super Visa itself. The policy protects your family from a medical emergency becoming a financial one, and it must stay valid for each entry to Canada, ready to show a border services officer if asked.
The IRCC Requirements, in a Checklist
Based on IRCC's published requirements, a Super Visa insurance policy must:
- Provide a minimum of $100,000 in emergency coverage
- Be valid for a minimum of one year from the date of entry to Canada
- Cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation
- Be paid in full, or paid in instalments with a deposit — a quote is not accepted as proof
- Be valid for each entry to Canada, and available for review by border services officers on request
- Be issued by a Canadian insurance company, or by a foreign insurance company that is authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to provide accident and sickness insurance and that issued the policy while doing business in Canada
One caution that matters: insurance brokers and claims administrators are not insurance companies, and a policy from a foreign insurer that is not OSFI-authorized will not meet the requirement — no matter how good the price looks. If your parent's current policy will expire before they leave Canada, it should be renewed so coverage continues for the whole stay.
Is $100,000 Enough?
$100,000 is the IRCC minimum, not a recommendation. Emergency hospital care in Canada for a visitor can run to thousands of dollars a day, and a serious illness or injury — surgery, intensive care, medical transport home — can pass $100,000 faster than most families expect.
Many families choose a higher coverage amount for that reason. The difference in premium between the minimum and a higher limit is often smaller than people assume, and it is worth comparing both before deciding. At your consultation, we will look at the options against your parent's age, health, and length of stay — and if the minimum genuinely makes sense for your situation, we will tell you.
Basic vs. Enhanced Plans
Super Visa policies are not all built the same:
Basic plans. Meet the IRCC requirements at the lowest cost. They typically cover emergency medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation, but may exclude pre-existing conditions.
Enhanced plans. Higher coverage amounts and broader benefits. Some enhanced options can cover pre-existing conditions that have been stable for a set period before the trip — which matters for many parents and grandparents.
Which one fits depends on your parent's health history and how long they will stay. A condition that is not covered is the most common reason families are disappointed at claim time, so we go through the stability and exclusion rules carefully before you buy.
When to Buy: Before They Arrive
Timing matters with Super Visa insurance:
- The policy must be valid for at least one year from the date of entry, so it is normally arranged before your parent or grandparent travels.
- Buying after arrival can mean a waiting period before coverage begins — a gap IRCC's requirement is designed to avoid.
- Proof of insurance is needed as part of the Super Visa application, and again at each entry to Canada.
If your family's application is already in progress, do not wait for a decision to ask about insurance — a short conversation now avoids a scramble later.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Choose a Plan
- Does it meet every IRCC requirement — amount, one-year term, and an eligible insurer?
- Are pre-existing conditions covered, and what stability period applies?
- Is there a deductible, and how does it change the premium?
- What happens if the Super Visa application is refused — is the premium refundable?
- Can the policy be renewed or extended if the visit runs longer?
- How are claims handled in Canada, and who do we call in an emergency?
If a seller cannot answer these clearly, that is useful information in itself.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Buying a quote instead of a policy. IRCC does not accept quotes — the policy must be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit.
- Choosing an ineligible insurer. A foreign policy that is not OSFI-authorized does not qualify, however official it looks.
- Buying less than $100,000, or less than one year. Both fail the requirements outright.
- Assuming a basic plan covers pre-existing conditions. Many do not — check before you buy, not at claim time.
- Letting coverage lapse between entries. The policy must be valid for each entry to Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs Super Visa insurance? Every Super Visa applicant. Parents and grandparents applying for a Super Visa must show proof of eligible private emergency medical insurance. Family members visiting on a regular visitor visa do not face the same formal requirement, but they are also not covered by OHIP — visitors to Canada coverage is worth considering for them too. See our Travel Insurance page.
How much coverage does IRCC require? A minimum of $100,000 in emergency coverage, valid for at least one year from the date of entry, covering health care, hospitalization, and repatriation.
Can the insurance come from an insurer in our home country? Only if that insurer is authorized by OSFI to provide accident and sickness insurance and issued the policy while doing business in Canada. A Canadian insurance company is the straightforward route — we can confirm eligibility before you buy.
What if my parent has a pre-existing condition? It depends on the condition and the plan. Basic plans often exclude pre-existing conditions; some enhanced plans cover conditions that have been stable for a defined period. Answer any medical questions fully and accurately — incomplete answers can lead to a denied claim.
When should we buy the policy? Before your parent or grandparent travels, and early enough that proof of insurance is ready for the application. The one-year validity runs from the date of entry.
Can you help if the visit is extended? Yes. Policies can generally be renewed or replaced so coverage continues, and IRCC expects coverage to be maintained for the whole stay. Talk to us before the existing policy expires.
Book a Free Consultation
Welcoming family to Canada should be a happy project, not a paperwork worry. Book a free consultation and we will confirm the IRCC requirements with you, compare basic and enhanced options, and make sure the policy you buy is one IRCC will accept.
Book a Free Consultation: calendly.com/protectwithoneil-info/30min
Or request a free quote, or call: Business 343-362-3097 · Direct 343-362-3020
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Serving: all of Ontario, including Ottawa, Embrun, Toronto, Cornwall, Kingston, Kitchener and Waterloo
Protect with Oneil — O'Neil Creighton, licensed life insurance & group benefits advisor in Ontario. FSRA licence #26245008, contracted through Experior Financial Group Inc.
This page is general information only and is not insurance, immigration, or legal advice. Super Visa requirements are set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and can change; confirm current requirements at canada.ca before applying. Coverage is subject to eligibility, underwriting, and to the terms, limits, definitions, and exclusions of the policy issued.