Siblings, in-laws, aunts, uncles and cousins cannot get a super visa, which IRCC restricts to parents and grandparents. They come on an ordinary visitor visa or an eTA, normally for up to six months, and the only medical cover available to them is a visitors to Canada plan bought before the flight. A healthy 35-year-old pays about $91 a month for $100,000; a 65-year-old in-law about $133 to $169, per PolicyAdvisor’s October 2026 table. Under 55, most carriers ask no medical questions.
Which relatives are eligible for which visa?
Only parents and grandparents qualify for the super visa, per IRCC’s eligibility page. Everyone else uses the visitor visa or eTA, and the insurance is the family’s decision.
| Relative | Super visa? | Document | Insurance required by IRCC | What to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent or grandparent | Yes | Super visa, or visitor visa | Yes for the super visa | Super visa insurance or a visitor plan; see parents |
| Parent-in-law | Yes, with your spouse as host or co-signer | Super visa, or visitor visa | Yes for the super visa | As above |
| Sibling or sibling-in-law | No | Visitor visa or eTA | No | Visitor plan, before the flight |
| Aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew | No | Visitor visa or eTA | No | Visitor plan, before the flight |
| Adult child of a permanent resident | No | Visitor visa or eTA | No | Visitor plan, before the flight |
| Fiancé or partner awaiting sponsorship | No | Visitor visa or eTA | No | Visitor plan, renewed until provincial coverage |
The visitor visa versus eTA page lists which countries need which document.
What does a sibling’s or in-law’s policy cost?
Less than a parent’s, because they are usually younger. Visitor plans are priced per day by age, so a three-week visit by a 35-year-old is roughly $65 and by a 45-year-old roughly $70.
Monthly premium, $100,000 coverage, 30-day policy, PolicyAdvisor, modified 12 Oct 2026 — verify at quote time.
| Relative’s age | Without pre-existing cover | With stable pre-existing cover | 3-week trip, no pre-existing (derived) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $72.30 | $92.70 | about $51 |
| 35 | $90.90 | $100.20 | about $64 |
| 45 | $101.70 | $115.50 | about $71 |
| 55 | $110.70 | $129.60 | about $77 |
| 65 | $133.20 | $168.60 | about $93 |
The three-week figures are our arithmetic (monthly rate divided by 30, times 21) and are indicative only. The cost page has the full grid by trip length and coverage amount.
Do younger relatives need to answer medical questions?
Usually not. GMS (Group Medical Services) asks no medical questions under 55; TuGo (iA Financial Group) skips the questionnaire for applicants 59 and under; 21st Century Enhanced (Manulife) asks from 60. The pre-existing exclusion still applies at claim time, so a 40-year-old with a condition should still choose a carrier whose stability period they meet.
| Carrier (underwriter) | Medical questions start at | Stability period under 60 |
|---|---|---|
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | 55 | 180 days |
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | 60 | 90 days (fact sheet) |
| 21st Century Enhanced (Manulife) | 60 | 180 days |
| Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance) | Confirm at quote | 90 days |
| Destination (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch) | Confirm at quote | 90 days |
| Secure Travel (iA Financial Group, claims by MSH) | Confirm at quote | 90 days to 69 |
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | Confirm at quote | 180 days |
| Travelance Premier (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) | Confirm at quote | 180 days |
Can a sibling’s family share one policy?
Yes, at most carriers, and it is usually cheaper. The family rate is built around the adults’ ages, with children added at low or no cost. Each adult over the threshold age still answers their own questionnaire.
| Carrier (underwriter) | Family or companion rate | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | Family and Friends rate | Up to 2 adults aged 59 or under and up to 6 dependent children |
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | Family coverage | Everyone under 55 |
| Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) | Family rate | 2× the premium of the eldest insured person |
| 21st Century (Manulife) | 5% per travelling companion | Each traveller buys and travels together |
| Destination (Zurich, Canadian Branch) | Family coverage | Premium based on the oldest traveller under 60 |
Children’s cover is on the grandchildren and minors page.
What is the right term for a relative’s visit?
The ticket plus three days for a fixed visit; the full six months for a relative who may stay to help. A sibling coming for a birth, a wedding or a convalescence often stays longer than planned, and extensions are refused after any claim. Buying the longer term and claiming a pro-rata refund on early return costs a $25 to $50 fee; see how long the policy should be.
| Visit | Term to buy | If it runs over |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding, 2 weeks | 17 days | Extend before expiry if healthy |
| Helping after a birth, planned 6 weeks | 6 months | Refund unused days on return |
| Open-ended | 6 months | Visitor record before status expires; extend the policy before its expiry |
Why insure a healthy 30-year-old at all?
Because accidents do not check age. An emergency visit, a fracture, an appendectomy or a car collision is billed to the visitor at non-resident rates: $3,750 a day on a ward at Niagara Health, with surgery and physician fees on top. A $65 policy for three weeks covers that; the alternative is a bill the host family ends up paying.
SuperVisaDirect is operated by Super Visa Direct Insurance Services, an independent Ontario life and accident-and-sickness insurance agency licensed by FSRA (licence [FSRA-LICENCE]). We serve Ontario residents; other provinces are planned for 2028. Email [email protected] or request a callback, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time.
Questions people ask
Can my brother or sister get a super visa?
No. The super visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. A sibling, in-law, aunt, uncle or cousin applies for an ordinary visitor visa or, from a visa-exempt country, an eTA. Either allows a stay of normally up to six months, extendable from inside Canada with a visitor record.
Does my sibling need insurance for the visa application?
No. IRCC does not ask for insurance with a visitor visa or eTA. A letter of invitation from you, proof of your relationship, the applicant's travel history, bank statements and an employer letter are the documents IRCC recommends. Buy the insurance once the visa is approved and before the flight.
My mother-in-law is 68. Is she treated like a parent?
For the super visa, yes: parents-in-law are parents of your spouse, and your spouse can be the host, or you can co-sign. For a visitor plan, age is what matters. At 68 she answers a medical questionnaire at most carriers, and her stable conditions are covered if they meet the stability period. See the parents page for the super visa route.
How much does a young sibling's policy cost?
About $72 a month at 25, $91 at 35 and $102 at 45 for $100,000 without pre-existing cover, per PolicyAdvisor's October 2026 table. A three-week visit at 35 is roughly $65. Under 55 most carriers ask no medical questions, and GMS sells without questions under 55.
Can a sibling and their spouse share one policy?
Yes at most carriers, and children can be added. TuGo's Family and Friends rate covers two adults aged 59 or under and up to six dependent children. Manulife's family coverage requires everyone to be under 55. Travelance charges twice the eldest person's premium for the family. Each adult still answers their own questions if over the threshold age.
What if my sibling is coming to help after a birth and may stay longer?
Buy the full six months rather than the planned weeks. Visitor plans refund unused days pro rata on early return, less a $25 to $50 fee, while extensions are refused after any claim. If the stay runs past six months, apply for a visitor record before status expires and extend the policy before its own expiry.
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Sources
- IRCC – Super visa eligibility (parents and grandparents only)
- IRCC – Apply for a visitor visa (documents; invitation letter; no insurance requirement)
- IRCC – eTA facts ($7; six months per visit)
- IRCC – Visitor record: about the document (up to 6 months; extend before expiry)
- PolicyAdvisor – Visitor insurance Canada (monthly premiums by age, Oct 2026)
- GMS – Visitors to Canada travel insurance (no medical questions under 55)
- iA Financial Group – TuGo Visitors to Canada (Family and Friends rate; questionnaire from 60)
- Manulife CoverMe – Visitors to Canada Standard plan (family coverage under 55)
- PolicyAdvisor – Travelance visitor review (family rate 2× eldest)
- Niagara Health – 2026-27 non-resident rate schedule