IRCC allows Super Visa applicants to pay for medical insurance in monthly installments

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada IRCC has introduced key changes to Canada’s Super Visa. According to the latest rule, applicants can now pay their medical insurance via monthly installments, which will make it easier for families to be together in Canada.

In order to be eligible for the Super Visa, the applicant must have private medical insurance that meets all the following criteria:

1. It covers the applicant for health care, hospitalization, and repatriation;
2. It provides a minimum of $100,000 in emergency coverage; and
3. It is valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry into Canada and is available upon review by a border services officer upon request during re-entry into Canada.

While applicants have previously been allowed to pay for insurance in monthly installments, IRCC announced in August that it would require annual up-front payments. These payments average $1,500 for a 65-year-old and can be higher for older individuals

In response to this change in policy, many people felt it was unfair to require payment upfront for a whole year, as they felt it would be financially burdensome. Furthermore, fewer Super Visas were granted to deserving families because they felt that it was punitive towards families that were seeking to reunite but were unable to afford to pay for medical insurance upfront.

IRCC announced in December that it would be reversing its policy and that applicant would once again be able to pay for their insurance in monthly instalments. According to an IRCC spokesperson, the new rule was reversed in recognition of Canada’s strong emphasis on reuniting families.

What is the Super Visa?

• A Super Visa is a Type of visa issued by the Canadian government to parent and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. It allows eligible individuals to visit and stay in Canada for extended periods of time, up to a maximum of two years at a time, for a period of up to 10 years.
• The Super Visa is different from a regular visitor visa in that it allows for longer stays, and is typically valid for a longer period of time. In addition, it requires applicants to meet certain eligibility criteria, including providing proof of medical insurance coverage, and meeting certain financial requirements. – To be eligible for a Super Visa, the applicant must provide a letter of invitation from their Canadian child or grandchild, proof of medical insurance, and evidence of their ties to their home country, among other requirements. The Canadian government reviews Super Visa applications on a case-by-case basis, and may request additional documentation as part of the application process.
• Overall, the Super Visa is designed to make it easier for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit and spend time with their family members in Canada.

Super Visa Eligibility, In order to be eligible for the Super Visa, you must

• Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• Have a signed letter from your child or grandchild inviting you to Canada;
• Provide documents that can prove the child or grandchild meets the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) minimum;
• Have proof of parental relationship with child and grandchild, such as a birth certificate; and
• Have proof of medical insurance coverage.
• An applicant may not be eligible if they are inadmissible to Canada based on criminality or medical issues.