Parents and grandparents can now visit their relatives in Canada more easily thanks to the immigration department’s expansion of the Super Visa health insurance eligibility
Parents and grandparents can now visit their relatives in Canada more easily thanks to the immigration department’s expansion of the Super Visa health insurance eligibility requirements.
To satisfy the proof of health insurance requirement, parents and grandparents applying for a Canadian Super Visa may buy health insurance plans from non-Canadian insurers as of January 28, 2025. Health insurance had to be obtained from a Canadian provider to qualify for a Super Visa prior to this modification. Every time a Super Visa holder enters Canada, they must have their own private health insurance in effect.
Which Health Insurance Companies Based Outside of Canada are Now Qualified for the Super Visa?
A non-Canadian health insurance provider must offer health insurance coverage to meet the requirements of the Super Visa.
- Possess the authority to offer accident and illness insurance granted by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) under the Insurance Companies Act.
- Be listed among the financial institutions subject to federal regulation by the OSFI.
- During its insurance business in Canada, it must be issuing or creating the policy.
This also applies to all insurance plans, whether Canadian or not, they must:
- Be good for a year or more after the date of entry.
- Receive payment in full or in installments plus a deposit.
- Address medical care, hospitalization, and repatriation.
- A minimum of $100000 in healthcare coverage should be provided.
When entering Canada with a Super Visa, newcomers must be ready to present a border services officer with proof of payment for an insurance plan.
How Can I Check Whether My Non-Canadian Health Insurance Provider is Permitted to Offer Coverage?
Step 1: Verify that the OSFI recognizes your insurer
To ensure their provider is listed, newcomers who wish to complete their health insurance requirement through a non-Canadian health insurance provider can check the OSFIs list of federally regulated financial institutions. There are 41 trust companies and 79 banks on the list as of this writing.
Step 2: Determine whether your health insurance company is permitted to offer coverage under the Insurance Companies Act
You can email the OSFI to find out if your foreign health insurance provider is permitted to offer health insurance coverage under Canada’s Insurance Companies Act. Include as much information as you can about the health insurance provider you are contacting in your email, along with the requirements you are attempting to fulfill to find out the status of this business.
Keep in mind that this provider must first be listed among the financial institutions subject to federal regulation by OSFI. To get in touch with the OSFI, send an email to information@osfi-bsif.gc.ca. Within a maximum of 15 days, the OSFI will attempt to address your question.
Step 3: Verify that the policy is being issued or made by your health insurance provider while it is conducting business in Canada
When applying for a Super Visa, newcomers who use a non-Canadian healthcare provider should emphasize to their provider that this is a key component of the policy they are buying. The fact that the policy was created or issued while the provider was conducting business in Canada must be stated in the policy itself.
Super Visa Key Requirements and Advantages
Parents and grandparents of citizens and permanent residents of Canada are granted long-term temporary resident status under the Super Visa which enables Super Visa holders to spend time with their relatives in Canada. Holders of Super Visas are permitted to stay in Canada for a maximum of five years at a time with the possibility of a two-year extension. By giving parents and grandparents the legal right to reside in Canada with their family for extended periods of time, the Super Visa offers an alternative to the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Parents and grandparents who successfully complete the PGP can obtain Canadian permanent residence (PR), which allows them to remain in Canada indefinitely in contrast to the Super Visa. Since the PGP is now a lottery due to excessive demand, many PGP candidates find the process to be drawn out and unpredictable.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents have a faster and more reliable way to reconnect with their parents and grandparents in Canada with the Super Visa than with the PGP.
To qualify for the Super Visa, you need a host who:
- Is your child or grandchild
- Is a registered Indian, a citizen of Canada, or a permanent resident
- Has reached the age of eighteen.
- Meets or exceeds the minimum necessary income requirements based on the size of their family.
- Pledges to provide for your financial needs while you are there.
And you must be:
- When applying for a Super Visa you must be outside of Canada.
- Consult a visa office outside of Canada to have your visa printed.
- Be able to enter Canada.
- Undergo a medical examination for immigration.
- For the duration of your visit to Canada, obtain health insurance.
You can apply for entry into Canada as a visitor without a Super Visa if you plan to stay with your family for six months or less.