Buying super visa insurance takes about 30 minutes online and the certificate usually arrives the same day. You need the parent’s passport details, their medication list and a planned arrival date. IRCC’s officer instructions require a paid policy of at least $100,000 per applicant, valid for one year from the date of entry. Quotes are not accepted, so the policy is bought before the visa decision.
What do you need before you start?
Six things: the parent’s passport, their date of birth, a list of diagnoses and medications with dates of any changes, the planned arrival date, an address in Canada, and a payment card. The medical list matters most. Guessing at it is the single most common cause of denied claims.
| Item | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Passport name and number | The certificate must match the IRCC application exactly |
| Date of birth | Sets the age band and the premium |
| Diagnoses, medications, doses, dates of change | Needed to answer the medical questionnaire truthfully |
| Planned arrival date | Becomes the effective date; can be moved later |
| Host’s address in Canada | Shown on the certificate as the destination |
| Credit or debit card | Full payment or the deposit for a monthly plan |
If the parent has a chronic condition, ask their doctor for a one-page summary before you start. The medical questionnaire page explains what “stable” means at each insurer.
How long does it take?
About 30 minutes for a straightforward purchase. Allow an hour if two parents are being insured or the medical history is long. The certificate is usually emailed within minutes. Build in a week before your IRCC submission date in case a declaration needs review.
The 10 steps from quote to IRCC upload
- Decide the coverage amount and deductible. $100,000 is the IRCC minimum per applicant. A $500 deductible cuts the premium by roughly 15 per cent at Manulife; see deductibles.
- Get quotes from several insurers for the parent’s exact age. Prices step at 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80. On October 2026 rates a 65-year-old ranged from $2,051 at Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) to $4,201 at Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance); see cost.
- Check the stability period for any pre-existing condition. It runs from 90 to 365 days depending on insurer and age. The parent’s medications must have been unchanged for that period before the effective date; see pre-existing conditions.
- Answer the medical questionnaire with the parent on the call. Read every question aloud. Do not answer from memory on their behalf. An 88-year-old’s $96,311 Hamilton hospital bill was initially denied for undisclosed heart failure, per CP24.
- Choose annual or monthly payment. Monthly plans need a deposit, typically two months plus a set-up fee of $10 to $120; see monthly plans. IRCC accepts either, as long as the policy is not a quote.
- Set the effective date to the planned arrival date. Processing ran from 44 to 265 days by country in September 2026, per immigration.ca. Every insurer we compare lets you move the date before it begins.
- Enter the names exactly as they appear in the passport. A spelling mismatch between the certificate and the application is a refusal risk for a document check.
- Pay and download the certificate and receipt. Keep both as PDFs. Many insurers also send the full policy wording; save that too.
- Check the certificate against the IRCC list. Underwriter named, $100,000 minimum, health care, hospitalization and repatriation covered, one-year term, paid or deposit paid. The sample certificate page shows what each line looks like.
- Upload the certificate to the IRCC Portal. The help centre sets a 5 MB per-file limit on the IRCC Portal and 4 MB on the secure account. The upload page walks through the slot and file preparation.
Which certificate details does IRCC check?
The forms and documents page lists seven points. The policy must include the insurer’s name, be valid for at least one year from the date of entry, be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit, cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, provide at least $100,000 emergency coverage, be valid for each entry, and be available for review at the border.
| IRCC requirement | Where it appears on the certificate |
|---|---|
| Insurance company name | Header; must be the underwriter, not a broker or claims administrator |
| Valid at least 1 year from date of entry | Effective date and expiry date, 365 days apart |
| Paid in full or instalments with a deposit | Receipt or “premium paid” line; monthly plans show the deposit |
| Health care, hospitalization, repatriation | Benefit summary; repatriation or “return of remains” listed |
| Minimum $100,000 emergency coverage | Sum insured line, per insured person |
| Valid for each entry | Multi-entry wording, or a policy that stays in force on short absences |
Underwriters by brand: TuGo (iA Financial Group), 21st Century Travel (Manulife), Secure Travel/RIMI (iA Financial Group, claims by MSH), GMS (Group Medical Services, direct insurer), Destination Travel Group (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch), Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance), Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life), Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada).
What if something goes wrong?
Most problems are fixable by email within the free-look period. The THIA Bill of Rights gives a minimum 10-day review after purchase, with a full refund if the policy has not started and no claim was made.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Name or date of birth wrong on the certificate | Email the insurer; corrected certificate reissued, usually free |
| Visa takes longer than expected | Move the effective date before it begins; see changing the start date |
| Visa refused | Cancel before the effective date with the refusal letter; see refunds |
| Parent’s medication changed after purchase | Tell the insurer before the effective date; the condition may now be unstable |
| File too large for the portal | Compress or re-scan at lower resolution; keep it readable |
| You chose the wrong insurer | Cancel within the free look and rebuy; see switching insurers |
Super Visa Direct Insurance Services is an independent Ontario life and accident-and-sickness agency licensed by FSRA (licence number [FSRA-LICENCE]). We compare the insurers above for Ontario residents, online only, with email at [email protected] or a callback Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern. The requirements page covers the income and medical-exam rules that sit alongside the insurance.
Questions people ask
Who should buy the policy, the parent or the child in Canada?
Either can. Most hosts buy it from Canada with a Canadian card and the parent's details, because IRCC needs the certificate uploaded with the application. The parent must be the named insured. The host can be the policyholder and payer. Confirm at quote time whether the insurer accepts a foreign card if the parent pays.
Do I need to buy before the visa is approved?
Yes. IRCC requires proof of a paid policy, or a policy paid by instalments with a deposit, in the application itself. Quotes are not accepted. Every insurer we compare lets you move the effective date before it begins, so buy now with the planned arrival date and adjust it once the visa is issued.
How long does it take to get the certificate?
At most insurers the certificate and receipt are emailed within minutes of payment. Some monthly plans and applications with medical declarations can take one to two business days for review. Allow a week before your IRCC submission date so the document is in hand and checked.
What must the certificate show for IRCC?
The insurer's name, the applicant's full name as in the passport, a minimum of $100,000 emergency medical coverage, cover for health care, hospitalization and repatriation, an effective date and expiry at least one year apart, and that it is paid or paid by instalments with a deposit. A quote or a broker invoice is not enough.
Can I buy super visa insurance for both parents in one purchase?
Yes, at most insurers, either as one policy naming both or as two policies. Each applicant needs their own $100,000 minimum. Separate policies are simpler if the parents are in different age bands, have different medical histories or will arrive on different dates. See the couples page for pricing.
What if I make a mistake after paying?
Use the free-look period. The THIA Bill of Rights gives a minimum 10-day review period after purchase during which you can cancel for a full refund, provided the policy has not started and no claim was made. Name, date of birth and date errors are usually corrected by email at no charge.
Get the policy IRCC requires, in minutes
Three questions, one price, one button. The certificate your parent needs is emailed the same day.
Sources
- IRCC — Super visa: forms and documents (proof of health insurance)
- IRCC — Super visa: how to apply (IRCC Portal, fees)
- IRCC — Super visa: officer instructions (quotes not accepted, $100,000 per applicant)
- IRCC — Online help: file size limits for uploads
- THIA — Travel Insurance Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
- Immigration.ca — Super visa processing times