A super visa insurance certificate must show the applicant’s name as on the passport and the legal name of the insurance company that issued the policy. It must show at least $100,000 of emergency medical coverage for health care, hospitalization and repatriation. It must show an effective date, an expiry date at least 365 days later, a policy number, and that the premium was paid in full or by instalments with a deposit. A quote, invoice or broker letter is not accepted.
The requirements come from IRCC’s forms and documents page and the officer instructions. The layout differs by insurer. The table below describes each field a compliant certificate carries and what the officer checks it against.
What does each field on the certificate mean?
A certificate is usually one or two pages. The top block identifies the insurer and the policy; the middle block identifies the insured and the dates; the lower block states the coverage, the premium and the assistance contact. The officer reads it in that order.
| Field | What it shows | IRCC rule it satisfies | Check before uploading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurer name and logo | Legal name of the underwriting insurance company, for example “The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company” or “Zurich Insurance Company Ltd (Canadian Branch)” | Policy from a Canadian insurer or an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer; brokers and administrators “are not insurance companies” | The underwriter is named, not only the brand (TuGo, 21st Century, Secure Travel) or the agency |
| Underwritten by | Where the brand differs from the underwriter, a line such as “Underwritten by iA Financial Group” | Same | Present on every brand-name plan |
| Business-in-Canada statement | For a foreign insurer only: “issued in the course of its insurance business in Canada” | Officer instructions require this statement on foreign-issued policies | Required for Zurich Canadian Branch and any OSFI-listed foreign insurer |
| Policy or certificate number | Unique reference | Identifies the policy for the officer and the hospital | Matches the number on the policy wording |
| Plan name | For example “Visitors to Canada Emergency Medical, Plan B” | None directly | Matches the plan you chose, especially pre-existing cover |
| Insured name | Full name exactly as in the passport | Identifies the applicant | Spelling, order of names and middle names match the passport |
| Date of birth | As in the passport | Age-rated premium; identity | Matches the passport |
| Effective date | First day of coverage | “Valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry” | Equals the planned arrival date; move it if the flight changes |
| Expiry date | Last day of coverage | Same | At least 365 days after the effective date |
| Number of days | Usually 365 | Same | 365, not 364 or 180 |
| Coverage amount | “$100,000” or higher, per insured | “Minimum of $100,000 emergency coverage per applicant” | Each insured has their own $100,000 on a joint certificate |
| Benefits summary | Emergency medical, hospitalization, repatriation of remains or return to home country | “Health care, hospitalization and repatriation” | All three words appear, or the wording equivalent |
| Deductible | $0 or the amount chosen | None; IRCC does not regulate deductibles | Matches what you chose; see deductibles |
| Pre-existing conditions | “Covered if stable for N days” or “Excluded” | None; this is between you and the insurer | Matches the plan; see pre-existing conditions |
| Premium and payment status | Total premium and “Paid in full” or “Deposit received; balance by instalments” | “Paid in full or in instalments with a deposit (quotes are not accepted)” | The word “quote” does not appear anywhere |
| Issue date | Date the certificate was generated | Confirms a live policy, not a quote | On or before the application date |
| 24-hour assistance number | Toll-free and collect numbers | Not an IRCC rule; THIA Bill of Rights | Saved in the host’s phone; see claims |
| Agency details | Super Visa Direct Insurance Services, FSRA licence [FSRA-LICENCE] | None; identifies who sold the policy | Does not replace the underwriter line |
Every certificate SuperVisaDirect issues carries the underwriter line because IRCC checks it. The THIA Bill of Rights separately requires the policy to name the underwriter and explain the complaint process.
Which fields cause refusals?
Four fields account for most insurance-related refusals. They are a missing or wrong underwriter, a term shorter than one year, a coverage amount below $100,000 per person, and a document that is a quote rather than a paid policy. A fifth, for foreign insurers, is the missing business-in-Canada statement.
| Defect | Why it fails | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Only the broker or agency is named | Brokers “are not insurance companies and will not appear on the OSFI list” | Get a certificate naming the underwriter |
| Term of 180 days or a 364-day count | Rule is a minimum of one year from the date of entry | Buy a 365-day term; set effective date to arrival |
| $100,000 shared between two parents | Rule is $100,000 per applicant | Each insured at $100,000 on the certificate; see couples |
| Document headed “Quote” or “Proposal” | “Quotes are not accepted” | Pay the premium or deposit; upload the certificate |
| Policy from a foreign insurer not on OSFI’s list | Insurer not “authorized by OSFI” | Buy from a Canadian insurer; check OSFI’s list |
| Effective date months before arrival | Less than a year left at the date of entry | Move the effective date before it begins |
| Name does not match the passport | Identity cannot be confirmed | Ask the insurer to reissue; usually same day |
There is no IRCC-approved list of insurers. The officer applies the rules above to the document in front of them.
How do you use the certificate?
Upload the PDF with the super visa application in the proof-of-insurance slot. Email a copy to the parent and keep one with the host. Print two copies for the parent’s hand luggage, with the policy wording and the assistance card. On arrival, have it ready for the CBSA officer; the port of entry page describes that check.
On a monthly plan the certificate looks the same as on an annual one; it shows the full term and the total premium. See monthly plans. If the effective date changes, the insurer reissues the certificate with the new dates and the same policy number; upload the reissued version if the application is still open, and carry it at the border regardless. The requirements page lists the certificate alongside the other documents in the application.
Questions people ask
What must a super visa insurance certificate show?
The insured's full name, the insurance company that issued the policy, a minimum of $100,000 emergency coverage, cover for health care, hospitalization and repatriation, an effective date and an expiry date at least one year apart, a policy number, and that the policy is paid in full or by instalments with a deposit. IRCC's forms page and officer instructions set these out.
Does the certificate need to say 'super visa' on it?
No. IRCC checks the content, not the title. A visitors-to-Canada emergency medical certificate that meets every requirement is accepted. Many insurers do print 'Super Visa' on the certificate because applicants ask for it, and it helps the officer, but it is not a rule.
Is a certificate from a broker acceptable?
Only if it names the insurance company that underwrites the policy. IRCC's officer instructions say proof may appear with the name of the broker or claims administrator, which are not insurance companies and will not appear on the OSFI list. The underwriter must be identified on the document.
What if the insurer is a foreign company?
The certificate must state that the policy was issued or made in the course of the company's insurance business in Canada, and the company must be on OSFI's list as authorized for accident and sickness insurance. Indian and Filipino domestic insurers are not on the list. No mainstream foreign retail product currently meets the test.
Should the expiry date be exactly one year after the effective date?
At least 365 days after the date of entry. Set the effective date to the arrival date, and the expiry will be 364 or 365 days later depending on the insurer's counting. If the arrival date moves, change the effective date before it begins so the certificate still shows a full year from the actual entry.
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