Do I need super visa insurance?

For most kinds of travel, insurance is a strong recommendation. For the Super Visa, it is a rule. If you are sponsoring a parent or grandparent, coverage is not something you weigh — it is something you must have in place for the application to succeed.

Why it is mandatory

The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents visit for extended periods. IRCC attaches a firm insurance condition to it: the applicant must hold emergency medical coverage of at least $100,000, valid for 365 days from the date of entry, issued by a Canadian insurer. Proof of this coverage has to accompany the application. There is no version of a successful Super Visa application without it, which is why the answer to “do I need it” is an unambiguous yes.

The three conditions that matter

A policy only qualifies if it meets all three of IRCC’s requirements:

• Amount: at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage.
• Duration: valid for 365 days from entry.
• Insurer: issued by a Canadian insurer.

Miss any one of these and the coverage does not satisfy the requirement. A policy from another country, a shorter term, or a lower limit will not work, regardless of how good it otherwise looks. This is why families sponsoring a parent or grandparent arrange the policy early: the proof of coverage has to be ready before the application is submitted, not added afterward, and leaving it to the last minute risks delaying the whole visa.

The gap it also fills

Beyond the legal requirement, the coverage does real work. Visitors are not covered by provincial health plans such as OHIP, so a visiting parent or grandparent who is injured or falls ill would be billed directly by a Canadian hospital at full cost. The $100,000 of coverage carries that risk, and our 24/7 assistance line can coordinate care and arrange for hospitals to bill the insurer directly. So even setting the visa aside, the coverage protects both the visitor and the sponsoring family from a potentially enormous bill.

Age and health are not obstacles

Because Super Visa applicants are parents and grandparents, age and health come up often — but neither blocks coverage. There is no age limit on TripCovered coverage. Applicants under 60 answer no medical questions; those 60 and over complete a medical questionnaire that sets the premium rather than eligibility. Stable pre-existing conditions are often covered when they meet the policy’s stability period, so accurate disclosure keeps a future claim valid.

What drives the premium

The price depends on the applicant’s age, the coverage amount, the length of coverage and their health answers. A full year of coverage naturally costs more than a short trip, and higher limits cost more than the minimum. Some insurers offer payment options, but the policy still has to provide the full 365 days. The only accurate figure comes from a personalized quote.

The straight answer

If you are applying for a Super Visa, you need Super Visa insurance — it is required, not optional. The policy must provide at least $100,000, be valid for 365 days, and come from a Canadian insurer, with proof submitted alongside the application. Confirm those minimums, complete the medical questionnaire if needed, and compare your options with a quote so your coverage is ready before you apply.