Super visa insurance must be renewed before it expires if the parent stays beyond the first year. IRCC’s January 2025 notice says coverage “may need renewal during the stay if it expires before departure.” Renew 30 to 60 days ahead, with the new term starting the day the old one ends. Expect a price step at each age band and a fresh medical questionnaire at most insurers.
The super visa allows a stay of up to 5 years per entry and is valid for up to 10 years. The insurance is sold in 365-day terms. A parent staying five years therefore buys five policies, and the risk is the gap between them.
When should you renew?
Thirty to sixty days before expiry, with the new effective date set to the day after the old expiry. Renewing early costs nothing extra because the new term does not start until the old one ends. Renewing late creates a gap, and a gap at most insurers means a new policy, a new stability test and sometimes a waiting period for illness.
| Timing | What happens |
|---|---|
| 60 days before expiry | Quote, compare, decide; ample time to switch insurers if terms changed |
| 30 days before expiry | Buy; set effective date to expiry plus one day |
| Expiry day | Old policy ends at 23:59; new policy starts 00:01 |
| 1 day after expiry, no renewal | Gap; parent uninsured; IRCC condition unmet |
| Renewal bought after a gap | New policy; stability clock reset; possible 48-hour to 7-day sickness waiting period |
Diarize the expiry date the day you buy, in the host’s calendar as well as the parent’s. The effective date on the renewal certificate should match the old expiry date plus one day exactly.
What are the no-gap rules?
A continuous renewal keeps the stability clock running from the original effective date at most insurers, and avoids any waiting period. A renewal after a gap is treated as a new purchase. The stability period is measured afresh as at the new effective date, and a claim in the gap is uninsured. Some insurers impose a short waiting period for illness.
The IRCC side is separate. Inside Canada, the stay already authorized at entry is not affected by a lapse in insurance. The next entry is, because the officer checks for a full year of coverage on each entry, per the officer instructions. A parent who lets insurance lapse in Canada and then takes a trip home will have to produce a new, compliant policy at re-entry.
Where are the price cliffs?
Prices step up at 65, 70, 75, 80 and 85. The 65-to-70 step is the largest in proportional terms for most insurers. GMS stops issuing at 79, Manulife, Travelance and 21st Century Enhanced at 85, Allianz at 89, Secure Travel at 90. TuGo and 21st Century Basic have no maximum age.
Annual premium, $100,000 coverage, $0 deductible, stable pre-existing conditions covered, rates seen Oct 2026 — verify at quote time.
| Insurer (underwriter) | 60 | 65 | 70 | 75 | 80 | Max issue age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Travel (iA Financial Group) | $1,621 | $2,051 | $3,380 | $4,000 | Quote | 90 |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | $1,799 | $2,405 | $4,296 | $5,533 | Not sold | 79 |
| Destination (Zurich, Canadian Branch) | $1,840 | $2,624 | $4,179 | $5,183 | No pre-existing cover | About 90 |
| 21st Century Enhanced (Manulife) | $2,741 | $3,095 | $4,683 | $5,712 | About $7,818 | 85 |
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | $2,398 | $2,986 | $3,985 | $5,295 | Quote | None |
| Manulife Plan B (Manufacturers Life) | $2,529 | $2,874 | $4,181 | $5,427 | Quote | 85 |
| Allianz (CUMIS General) | — | $4,201 | — | $9,910 | Quote | 89 |
Rates from the PolicyAdvisor and BestQuote tables; the 80-year-old 21st Century figure is twelve times the published monthly rate. Insurers rate by age at the effective date. A parent turning 70 three weeks after renewal pays the 69 rate for the whole year; a parent turning 70 three weeks before pays the 70 rate. Where it is lawful and the dates allow, renew before the birthday.
Will the parent be re-underwritten?
At most insurers, yes. The questionnaire is re-asked and stability is measured as at the new effective date. Any medication change, new diagnosis, hospital visit or claim during year one affects year two. A year-one claim for a condition may lead to that condition being excluded or the premium being loaded.
| Year-one event | Effect on year-two renewal |
|---|---|
| No change in health, no claims | Standard renewal; same stability status |
| Dose changed 4 months before renewal | Condition unstable at 180-day insurers; stable at Secure Travel (90 days to 69) |
| New diagnosis in Canada | Must be declared; excluded until stable for the period |
| Claim paid for an existing condition | May be re-priced or excluded; ask before renewing |
| Hospital admission | Declare; stability clock restarts from discharge |
| Crossed an age band | Premium steps up; stability period may lengthen |
A few insurers offer continuous renewal without new questions if the policy has not lapsed. Ask at renewal. The switching insurers page covers what happens when a change in health makes another insurer a better fit.
Can the stay be extended inside Canada?
Yes. The super visa allows up to 5 years per entry, and the parent can apply to IRCC from inside Canada to extend as a visitor for up to 2 more years. The extension application needs valid insurance for the extension period. Apply before the current authorized stay expires; the parent keeps implied status while IRCC decides.
The insurance for the extension follows the same rule: $100,000 of emergency coverage from a Canadian insurer or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer, covering the period applied for. A policy that expires mid-extension weakens the application. Renew first, then apply, and include the new certificate with the extension.
Seven years is the practical maximum for a single entry: five authorized at the border plus two by extension. The visa itself may remain valid for a further period, allowing a fresh entry and a fresh five-year stay, subject to the officer’s decision at the border. Each of those entries is a fresh insurance check, covered on the port of entry page.
Questions people ask
Does super visa insurance have to be renewed every year?
Yes, if the parent stays beyond the first policy term. IRCC's January 2025 notice says coverage may need renewal during the stay if it expires before departure. Each policy is a 365-day term; a 5-year stay needs five consecutive terms, or a 2-year term where an insurer offers one, with no gap between them.
When should I renew?
Thirty to sixty days before expiry. Set the new effective date to the day after the old expiry date. Renewing early does not waste money because the new term starts when the old one ends. Renewing late creates a gap, which most insurers treat as a new policy with a fresh stability period and sometimes a waiting period.
Does the price go up at renewal?
Usually, for two reasons. Insurers re-rate annually, and the parent may have crossed an age band. On October 2026 rates, Secure Travel charged $2,051 at 65 and $3,380 at 70. GMS charged $2,405 at 65 and $4,296 at 70. The step at 80 is larger still and GMS stops issuing at 79.
Will my parent be re-underwritten at renewal?
At most insurers, yes. The medical questionnaire is re-asked and the stability period is tested again as at the new effective date. A medication change during year one makes that condition unstable for the year-two policy. A claim in year one may be excluded or priced in year two. Some insurers waive the questionnaire for a continuous renewal.
Can the parent renew from inside Canada?
Yes. The policy is renewed online or by phone; the parent's location does not matter. Some insurers require a renewal before expiry to continue coverage without a waiting period for sickness. A new policy bought after a gap can carry a waiting period of 48 hours to 7 days for illness.
Does renewing insurance extend the super visa stay?
No. The insurance and the authorized stay are separate. The officer sets the stay at entry, up to 5 years. To stay beyond it, the parent applies to IRCC to extend as a visitor, up to 2 years more, and must hold valid insurance for the extension period. Insurance is a condition, not a mechanism.
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