Super visa insurance for two parents requires $100,000 of emergency coverage for each of them. IRCC’s officer instructions state “a minimum of $100,000 emergency coverage per applicant.” A shared limit does not meet the rule. In October 2026 a couple aged 60 and 61 on a no-pre-existing plan paid about $2,657 a year or $221 a month.
Most insurers will issue one policy naming both parents, each at $100,000, for the sum of the two individual premiums. Whether that is better than two separate policies depends on whether the parents are the same age and in the same health.
One policy or two?
One policy is simpler: one renewal date, one certificate, one payment and, at some insurers, one shared deductible. Two policies are better when the parents differ in age by a band, when one has pre-existing conditions and the other does not, or when the parents will arrive or leave on different dates.
| Factor | One joint policy | Two separate policies |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | Sum of two individual premiums; occasional small second-applicant discount | Sum of two individual premiums |
| Renewal | One date | Two dates, or aligned by choice |
| Deductible | One per policy at some insurers | One each |
| Age limit | Both must be within the insurer’s limit | Each insurer’s limit applies to its own insured |
| Pre-existing cover | Same plan for both; healthy parent pays for cover they do not need | Healthy parent takes the cheaper no-pre-existing plan |
| Arrival dates | One effective date for both | Each matched to that parent’s entry date |
| Early return of one parent | Partial cancellation; fee and pro-rata rules apply to that insured | Cancel one policy; the other continues |
| Claim by one parent | Usually does not affect the other’s pro-rata refund rights at most insurers; check wording | No effect on the other policy |
IRCC does not care which structure is used. It needs a compliant certificate for each applicant, uploaded with the application and shown at the border. See the sample certificate for what each one must show.
What does couple pricing look like?
Two premiums added together. A couple both aged 55 at Secure Travel paid about $3,154 with stable conditions covered, or $2,052 without. A couple both 65 paid about $4,102, or $3,241 without. A couple both 75 paid about $8,000, or $5,840 without. The published couple example of $2,657 for a couple aged 60 and 61 is on a no-pre-existing plan.
Annual premium for two parents, $100,000 each, $0 deductible, rates seen Oct 2026 — verify at quote time.
| Couple | Plan | Pre-existing covered | Annual total | Monthly equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 and 61 | No-pre-existing plan (published example) | No | $2,657 | $221 plus fee |
| Both 55 | Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) | No | About $2,052 | — |
| Both 55 | Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) | Yes | About $3,154 | — |
| Both 65 | Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) | No | About $3,241 | About $270 plus fee |
| Both 65 | Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) | Yes | About $4,102 | — |
| Both 65 | Manulife Plan B (Manufacturers Life) | Yes | About $5,748 | Annual only |
| Both 70 | Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) | Yes | About $6,760 | — |
| Both 75 | Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) | No | About $5,840 | About $487 plus fee |
| Both 75 | Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) | Yes | About $8,000 | — |
Figures are two single premiums from the PolicyAdvisor and BestQuote tables, added together. Where an insurer offers a second-applicant discount, the quoter applies it. The cost page has the single-person grid by age.
When should the parents be on different plans?
When one has a pre-existing condition and the other does not, when they fall in different age bands, when one parent’s age exceeds an insurer’s limit, or when one needs TuGo’s 7-day rider for a recent medication change. In each case the insurer that suits one parent costs the other money or excludes something they need.
| Situation | Parent A | Parent B |
|---|---|---|
| A healthy, B has controlled diabetes | No-pre-existing plan, for example Secure Travel $1,621 at 65 | Pre-existing covered plan, for example Secure Travel $2,051 at 65 |
| A is 68, B is 81 | Any of the 8 insurers | GMS not available (max 79); Destination excludes pre-existing at 80+ |
| A stable, B changed medication 2 months ago | Standard plan | TuGo with 7-day rider, to age 79 |
| A arriving in March, B in June | Effective date March | Effective date June |
Separate plans mean two questionnaires, two certificates and two renewal dates. That is more admin but it avoids paying the pre-existing premium for a parent with no conditions. See the pre-existing conditions page for the stability periods that drive this decision.
How do monthly plans work for couples?
The same way as for one person: two months’ premium up front plus the set-up fee, then ten instalments. On a joint policy there is one fee; on two policies there are two. The $221 a month example for a couple aged 60 and 61 is before the fee of $10 to $120 depending on the insurer.
Manulife, GMS and Allianz are annual-pay only, so a couple on those insurers pays the full two premiums at purchase. See monthly plans. A missed instalment on a joint policy lapses cover for both parents.
What should both certificates show?
Each parent’s full passport name, the underwriter’s legal name, $100,000 or more of emergency medical coverage in that name, hospitalization and repatriation, and effective and expiry dates 365 days apart from that parent’s entry date. On a joint certificate, each insured should appear on their own line with their own limit.
Upload both with the application and carry both at the border. The officer checks each applicant separately, per the forms and documents page. If one parent is refused and the other approved, the refund rules on the refunds page apply to the refused parent’s premium only. The port of entry page covers what happens if they arrive on different flights.
Questions people ask
Does each parent need $100,000 of super visa insurance?
Yes. IRCC's officer instructions require a minimum of $100,000 emergency coverage per applicant. A family policy with a shared $100,000 limit does not meet the rule. Each parent's certificate, or each line on a joint certificate, must show $100,000 or more in that parent's name.
Is it cheaper to insure both parents on one policy?
Usually not. Most insurers price each insured separately and add the two premiums; a few give a small second-applicant discount. The advantage of one policy is a single renewal date, a single deductible at some insurers, and one certificate. The disadvantage is that both parents share the insurer's age limit and stability rules.
What if one parent is healthy and the other has conditions?
Quote them separately. A healthy parent can take a no-pre-existing plan at 30 to 45 per cent less, while the other takes a plan that covers stable conditions. Two policies from different insurers is routine; IRCC needs a compliant certificate for each applicant, not a matching pair.
Do both parents have to arrive on the same date?
No. Each policy's effective date should match that parent's own arrival date, because the one-year rule runs from each person's date of entry. If they arrive on different dates and share one policy, set the effective date to the earlier arrival and accept that the later arrival has slightly less than a year at the border, or buy two policies.
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