Super visa insurance is refundable at every insurer we compare if IRCC refuses the visa, provided you cancel before the effective date and send the refusal letter. Manulife, 21st Century, Travelance and Destination refund in full. GMS and Secure Travel deduct an administration fee. If the parent returns home early, the unused days are refunded pro-rata only if no claim was made, less a cancellation fee of $25 to $250.
Refund terms matter because the policy is bought before the outcome is known. IRCC’s approval rate is 75 to 81 per cent, so roughly one applicant in five is refused, and processing ranged from 44 to 265 days by country in September 2026. Buy with the refund and date-change terms in view.
Do you get a refund if the super visa is refused?
Yes, at all 8 insurers. The conditions are that the policy has not started and that you send the IRCC refusal letter. Four insurers refund in full. Two deduct an administration fee. MSH-administered plans set a 60-day window from the refusal.
| Insurer (underwriter) | Refund on refusal | Condition | Document | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | Full | Before effective date | IRCC refusal letter | On request |
| 21st Century (Manulife) | Full | Before effective date | IRCC refusal letter | Proof within 30 days of refusal |
| Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) | Full, no fee | Before effective date | IRCC refusal letter | Within 30 days |
| Destination (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch) | Full | Before effective date | IRCC refusal letter | On request |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | Full less administration fee | Before effective date | IRCC refusal letter | On request |
| Secure Travel/RIMI (iA Financial Group; claims by MSH) | Full less administration fee | Before effective date | IRCC refusal letter | Within 60 days per MSH terms |
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | Yes, per policy terms | Before effective date | IRCC refusal letter | Per policy terms |
| Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance) | Yes, per policy terms | Before effective date | IRCC refusal letter | Per policy terms |
Terms seen October 2026 from insurer wordings and the PolicyAdvisor and BestQuote summaries — verify in the policy document. Where a cell says “per policy terms,” the published summaries did not state the detail.
The refusal letter is the key document. IRCC sends it through the applicant’s online account. Download it, send it to the insurer with the policy number, and keep the acknowledgement.
Do you get a refund if the parent leaves early?
Usually a pro-rata refund of the unused days, less the insurer’s cancellation fee, and only if no claim has been made or is pending. Proof of departure such as a boarding pass or passport exit stamp is required. On monthly plans you stop the instalments and pay the fee; on annual plans you wait for the refund.
| Insurer (underwriter) | Pro-rata refund on early return | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | Yes, less fee | No claims; proof of return |
| 21st Century (Manulife) | Yes, less fee | No claims; proof of return |
| Travelance (Old Republic) | Yes, less early-return fee | No claims; proof of return |
| Destination (Zurich, Canadian Branch) | Yes, less partial-cancellation fee | No claims; proof of return |
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | Yes, less minimum fee | No claims; proof of return |
| Secure Travel/RIMI (iA Financial Group) | Yes, less admin fee | No claims; proof of return |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | Yes, less admin fee | No claims; proof of return |
| Allianz (CUMIS General) | Per policy terms | No claims; proof of return |
A claim of any size, even a $90 clinic visit, usually removes the right to a pro-rata refund at most insurers. If the parent is leaving in two weeks and has a minor claim pending, calculate whether the refund exceeds the claim before submitting it.
What are the cancellation fees?
TuGo and 21st Century charge $250. Travelance charges $250, or $50 for an early return. Destination charges $150, or $25 for a partial cancellation. Manulife charges a $25 minimum. GMS and Secure Travel charge an administration fee. The set-up fee on monthly plans is never refunded.
| Insurer (underwriter) | Cancellation fee | Early return or partial fee |
|---|---|---|
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | $250 | Per policy terms |
| 21st Century (Manulife) | $250 | Per policy terms |
| Travelance (Old Republic) | $250 | $50 early return |
| Destination (Zurich, Canadian Branch) | $150 | $25 partial |
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | $25 minimum | $25 minimum |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | Administration fee | Administration fee |
| Secure Travel/RIMI (iA Financial Group) | Administration fee | Administration fee |
| Allianz (CUMIS General) | Per policy terms | Per policy terms |
Fees seen October 2026 — verify in the policy wording. The fee is deducted from the refund, so on a $2,051 annual premium cancelled after six months with no claims, the refund is about $1,025 less the fee.
Can you change the start date?
Yes, at every insurer we compare, at no charge, if you ask before the current effective date. Email the insurer or SuperVisaDirect with the policy number and the new date. If the parent crosses an age band before the new date, the premium is recalculated and the difference is charged or refunded.
Processing times make this routine. IRCC’s service standard is 112 days. In September 2026 immigration.ca recorded India at 70 days, China 77, the Philippines 90, Pakistan 92, Nigeria 44, the UK 97 and Iran 265. India was 208 days in March 2026. Set the effective date to the planned arrival and move it when the visa is issued. If the parent arrives earlier than the effective date, they are uninsured until it; move the date forward as well as back.
What is the 10-day free look?
The THIA Bill of Rights commits member insurers to “a minimum 10-day free review of the policy.” During that period you can cancel for a full refund. The effective date must not have passed and no claim may have been made. It applies from the purchase date, not the effective date.
Use it to read the policy wording in full, check the stability clause against the parent’s medication history, and confirm the exclusions. If something does not fit, cancel and buy elsewhere without a fee. The switching page covers moving insurers after the free look has passed.
What voids a refund?
A claim made or pending, a request after expiry, missing documents, misrepresentation, and stopping monthly payments without a cancellation request. On monthly plans a stopped payment is a lapse, and a lapsed policy earns no refund. A policy voided for misrepresentation may return the premium or may not, depending on the wording.
| Situation | Refund |
|---|---|
| Visa refused, cancelled before effective date, letter sent | Full or less admin fee |
| Visa refused, cancelled after effective date | Pro-rata at best; some insurers refuse |
| Parent returned early, no claims, proof sent | Pro-rata less fee |
| Parent returned early, claim made | None at most insurers |
| Request after policy expiry | None |
| Monthly payments stopped, no request | None; treated as lapse |
| Policy voided for misrepresentation | Per policy wording |
| Parent left for a side trip and came back | None; policy continues (see side trips) |
Keep every email. If a refund is refused and you think the terms were met, the THIA Bill of Rights gives a right to escalate and the insurer’s complaint process leads to the OLHI ombudsman. The requirements page explains the approval odds that make these terms worth reading before you buy.
Questions people ask
Do I get a refund if the super visa is refused?
Yes, at every insurer we compare, if you cancel before the effective date and provide the IRCC refusal letter. Manulife, 21st Century (proof within 30 days), Travelance (within 30 days, no fee) and Destination refund in full. GMS and Secure Travel refund less an administration fee. MSH-administered plans require the request within 60 days.
Do I get a refund if my parent goes home early?
Usually a pro-rata refund of the unused days, less a cancellation fee, but only if no claim was made or is pending. TuGo and 21st Century charge $250, Travelance $250 or $50 for an early return, Destination $150, and Manulife a $25 minimum. Proof of departure such as a boarding pass is required.
Can I change the start date of super visa insurance?
Yes, at every insurer we compare, at no charge, as long as the request is made before the current effective date. Processing times vary from 44 to 265 days by country, so most families move the date at least once. The premium is recalculated if the parent crosses an age band before the new date.
What is the 10-day free look?
The THIA Bill of Rights gives a minimum 10-day review period after purchase during which the policy can be cancelled for a full refund, as long as the effective date has not passed and no claim has been made. Insurers that follow THIA apply it; check the policy wording for the exact wording.
What voids a refund?
A claim made or pending, a cancellation requested after the policy has expired, failure to provide the refusal letter or proof of departure, and misrepresentation that led the insurer to void the policy. On monthly plans, stopping payments without a cancellation request is treated as a lapse, not a cancellation, and no refund is paid.
How long does a super visa insurance refund take?
Typically two to six weeks from receipt of the documents, by the original payment method. Refunds on visa refusal are usually faster because there is no claims check. Keep the cancellation confirmation email; if the refund has not arrived in 30 days, the THIA complaint process and the insurer's ombudsman route are available.
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