Visitor Visas
Super Visa: long stays for parents and grandparents
With new Parents and Grandparents Program sponsorship intake currently paused, the Super Visa is the most reliable way to bring parents and grandparents to Canada for extended stays.
Overview
IRCC paused new Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) sponsorship intake in mid-2026, with existing applications still being processed but no new interest-to-sponsor invitations issued until further notice. The Super Visa remains fully open as the practical alternative: a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years, allowing stays of up to 5 years per entry, far beyond a standard visitor visa.
The income and insurance requirements were also relaxed in the most recent update: sponsors can now show 75% of the required income in the most recent year, topped up by the visiting parent or grandparent’s own income, rather than needing to meet 100% of the threshold alone.
What you need to qualify
- Proof of the parent-child or grandparent-grandchild relationship
- Sponsor income meeting the relaxed threshold, topped up by the visitor’s income where needed
- Canadian medical insurance valid for at least 1 year, from an approved insurer
- A clean medical exam result
If PGP sponsorship reopens
We track PGP intake announcements directly and can pivot your file toward a sponsorship application if and when a new intake round opens, without losing the groundwork already completed for your Super Visa.
How Vanguard helps
- Income qualification review under the current relaxed threshold
- Sourcing approved Canadian medical insurance
- Full Super Visa application and medical exam coordination
- Monitoring PGP intake so you can pivot quickly if it reopens
Frequently Asked
Questions about Super Visa
Is PGP sponsorship completely closed?
New intake is paused, not permanently closed. Existing applications continue processing, and we watch for the next intake window.
Can my parent stay the full 10 years on one visa?
The visa itself can be valid up to 10 years, but each individual stay is capped at up to 5 years before a further extension or re-entry is needed.
What changed with the income rules?
Sponsors can now combine 75% of the required income with the visiting parent or grandparent’s own income, rather than meeting the full threshold from the sponsor’s income alone.
Ready to move forward with Super Visa?
Book a paid consultation and leave with a written plan built specifically around your file.