By Pankaj Babbar, licensed advisor at SAI Insurances · 4 min read
1-minute read
The short answer
- The insurance rules are the same for every country: at least $100,000 of coverage, valid one year from entry, from a Canadian (or IRCC-approved) insurer, and paid before you apply.
- Buy the policy before you submit the application — proof of the paid policy goes in with it. If the visa is refused, the premium is generally refundable.
- Your parent will need an immigration medical exam with an IRCC-approved panel physician, and biometrics at a visa application centre.
- Diabetes and blood pressure are common — there are plans for stable pre-existing conditions. Answer every health question honestly.
- You can talk it all through with an advisor in Hindi or Punjabi.
Detailed guide · 3 min read
The rules don't change by country
Whether your parents live in Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi or anywhere else, IRCC applies one set of Super Visa insurance rules. The policy must give at least $100,000 of emergency medical coverage (health care, hospitalization and repatriation), be valid for at least one year from the day they enter Canada, come from a Canadian insurer or an approved insurer outside Canada, and be paid — in full or in instalments with a deposit. Our IRCC requirements checklist goes through each one.
The order of steps
The insurance is one piece of a longer process. In a typical case it looks like this:
- Check the host's income. The child or grandchild in Canada must meet IRCC's minimum income for their family size.
- Write the invitation letter, promising financial support for the visit.
- Buy the insurance with a start date matching the planned arrival, and keep the proof of payment.
- Book the immigration medical exam with an IRCC panel physician. There are panel physicians in India; the list is on the IRCC website.
- Apply online and give biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a visa application centre.
- Wait for the decision, then travel. The policy should be active from the day they land.
Pre-existing conditions — be honest, not hopeful
Many parents in their 60s and 70s manage diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid or heart conditions. That doesn't stop you from getting coverage. Several plans cover stable pre-existing conditions — meaning no new symptoms, tests or changes in medication for a set period before the policy starts. The length of that period differs between insurers and plans.
The single most important thing: answer the medical questions fully and truthfully. Leaving out a condition to get a lower price is the fastest way to have a claim refused when your family needs it most.
Paying for it
A year of coverage can be a large amount, and it rises with age. Two things help: choosing a deductible, and paying monthly with a deposit, which IRCC accepts.
If the visa is refused
Because you buy the policy before the decision, insurers generally refund the premium if IRCC refuses the visa — usually with the refusal letter, and sometimes minus a small fee. Here's how the refund works.
Questions families often ask
- Can both parents be on one policy? Each person needs their own coverage of at least $100,000; some insurers offer couple or family pricing.
- What if their flight date changes? Most insurers let you change the start date before the policy begins — tell your advisor as soon as the date moves.
- Does it cover a trip back to India? Super Visa insurance is for medical emergencies in Canada. What happens to coverage during a trip home depends on the policy, so ask before they travel.
Talk it through in your language
Insurance terms are confusing enough in one language. We explain every option in English, Hindi or Punjabi, compare insurers side by side, and make sure the paperwork matches what IRCC expects — so your parents' application has one less thing to worry about.
This article is general information, not insurance or immigration advice. IRCC requirements and processes can change — always check the official IRCC website, and your licensed advisor confirms the insurance details for your family. Refund terms, fees and pre-existing-condition rules vary by insurer.