Super Visa Medical Insurance
What medical insurance a Super Visa requires, why foreign insurers are now accepted, how long the policy must run, and the proof mistakes that cause refusals.
What medical insurance is required for a Super Visa?
A Super Visa requires private medical insurance covering healthcare, hospitalization and repatriation, valid for at least one year from the date of entry, and IRCC sets a minimum coverage amount. Since 2022 the policy may be issued by an insurer outside Canada that IRCC has approved, not only by a Canadian insurer, which has lowered the cost substantially for many families.
Check the current figure before you rely on it
We do not publish the current minimum coverage amount IRCC requires on this page, because government fees, thresholds and processing estimates are revised on their own schedule and an out-of-date number here would be worse than none. IRCC publishes the current figure directly: check it on canada.ca. If you would rather have it confirmed against your own circumstances, book a consultation.
Insurance is the requirement most likely to cause an avoidable refusal, because it is the one families tend to arrange last and treat as a formality. It is not. An officer checks the policy against specific criteria, and a policy that falls short on any one of them can sink an otherwise strong application.
The rules also changed in a way that materially reduces cost, and many families are still buying policies on the old assumption that only Canadian insurers are acceptable.
What the policy has to cover
The requirement is specific about the categories of coverage, and a general travel policy does not automatically satisfy it.
- Healthcare, hospitalization and repatriation. All three must be covered; a policy missing repatriation does not meet the requirement.
- A minimum coverage amount set by IRCC. This figure is periodically reviewed, so confirm the current amount rather than relying on what applied previously.
- Validity of at least one year from the date of entry to Canada.
- Coverage for each person entering on the Super Visa. Two parents travelling need coverage for both.
Foreign insurers are now accepted
For years the policy had to come from a Canadian insurance company. Since 2022, policies from insurers outside Canada that IRCC has approved are also acceptable. For families whose parents come from countries with well-developed insurance markets, this often reduces the premium considerably.
The qualification matters: the insurer must be one IRCC accepts, not simply any foreign insurer. Confirm that before buying, because discovering the problem after submitting means buying a second policy and losing time.
The proof mistakes that cause refusals
Most insurance-related problems are not about coverage at all. They are about what was submitted as evidence.
- Submitting a quote rather than proof of a purchased, paid policy. A quotation is not evidence of coverage and is a common cause of refusal.
- A policy that runs less than a full year, sometimes because it was bought to match an intended visit length rather than the requirement.
- A policy whose start date does not align with the intended entry date, leaving a gap.
- Coverage below the required minimum, often from selecting a cheaper tier.
- A single policy covering only one of two travelling parents.
- A document that does not clearly state the coverage amount, the validity period and the person covered. If an officer cannot see those three things, the policy has not been proven.
Practical points on cost and structure
Premiums rise with age and with pre-existing conditions, and for older parents insurance is often the single largest cost in a Super Visa application. Policies can usually be paid in instalments, and many insurers refund the unused portion if the visa is refused or the visit is cut short, which is worth confirming in writing before purchase.
A deductible is permitted, and choosing a higher one lowers the premium. Weigh that against the fact that the deductible is what the family pays out of pocket if care is actually needed. Do not disclose a pre-existing condition inaccurately to reduce a premium: a policy that would not pay out is both a practical and an immigration problem.
Licensed & up to date
Prepared and reviewed by Rami Khattouf, RCIC #R531957, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Last reviewed August 2026. Immigration rules, fees and processing times change. We verify every file against current official IRCC guidance before applying. This page is general information, not advice for your specific case.
Medical Insurance: common questions
Yes, if the insurer is one IRCC accepts. Since 2022 approved foreign insurers are acceptable alongside Canadian ones, which often reduces the premium significantly. Confirm the insurer qualifies before purchasing.
At least one year from the date of entry to Canada. Buying a policy that matches a shorter intended visit does not meet the requirement, even if the visit really will be shorter.
You must show the policy is purchased and paid, not merely quoted. Many insurers allow instalments while still issuing proof of an active paid policy; a quotation on its own is a frequent cause of refusal.
Many insurers refund the unused portion if the visa is refused or the visit ends early, but this depends on the policy. Confirm the refund terms in writing before buying rather than assuming them.
Each person entering on a Super Visa must be covered. That can be two policies or one policy that clearly names and covers both, but coverage for only one traveller will not satisfy the requirement for the other.