A standard Super Visa insurance plan covers: emergency hospitalization, physician and specialist fees, diagnostic tests (X-rays, lab work), ambulance services, prescription drugs related to a covered emergency, and repatriation to the home country if required. Many plans we offer also include emergency dental care and follow-up treatment after a covered emergency. Coverage is specifically designed for the extended stays parents and grandparents make under the Super Visa program — up to five years per entry — unlike basic visitor insurance which is typically limited to shorter trips.

Many Super Visa insurance plans do cover stable pre-existing conditions such as controlled diabetes, hypertension, and heart conditions — but the condition must have been stable for a defined period before travel, typically 90 to 180 days depending on the insurer. Coverage for pre-existing conditions does affect the premium, with plans typically ranging from $130 to $650 per month depending on age and health status. During our comparison process, we'll help you identify which insurers offer pre-existing condition coverage that fits your parent's specific health history — this is one of the most important factors to get right.

The key differences are duration, minimum coverage, and IRCC compliance requirements. Super Visa insurance is specifically designed to meet IRCC's mandatory standards: minimum $100,000 coverage, valid for at least one year, paid in full (or via monthly instalments with full commitment). Visitor insurance is more flexible and typically designed for shorter trips of days or weeks. If your parent is visiting on a regular visitor visa, visitor insurance may be appropriate. If they are applying for the Super Visa — which allows stays of up to five years per entry — Super Visa insurance is required. A general visitor policy typically will not satisfy the Super Visa insurance requirement and can lead to a refusal; an advisor can help you confirm the plan meets IRCC's criteria.

In most cases, same-day coverage is available. Once you select a plan, submit your application, and payment is confirmed, your policy documents are issued by email — typically within a few hours. This means you can have a fully compliant Super Visa insurance certificate ready to submit with your visa application the same day. For applications with pre-existing conditions, there may be additional questions to answer, but the process is still fast. We recommend not leaving insurance to the last minute, as you'll want time to review the policy details carefully.

Yes, most Super Visa insurance policies can be extended before the expiry date, provided no claims have been made or depending on your insurer's terms. This is especially relevant given the Super Visa allows stays of up to five years per entry. If your parents decide to extend their visit, contact us before the policy expires and we'll arrange a renewal or extension to ensure there is no lapse in coverage — a gap in coverage could affect re-entry into Canada. We proactively reach out to our clients ahead of renewal dates so nothing falls through the cracks.

We compare plans from Canada's leading insurers, including Manulife, TuGo, Destination Travel Group, GMS, and Secure Travel, among others. All insurers we work with are FSRA-licensed and meet the OSFI authorization standards required under the January 2025 IRCC updates. Rather than being tied to one provider, our role as independent advisors is to find you the plan that best fits your parent's age, health, coverage needs, and budget — with full transparency on what each plan covers and what it doesn't.