In 2021, Canada has welcomed the highest number of immigrants on record in a single year, reaching its target of 401,000 new permanent residents, according to data from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This pushed the nation’s total to about eight million, or 21.5% of its overall population.
The IRCC also pointed out the crucial role immigration plays in driving the country’s economy and supporting its ageing population, citing that a third of Canadian businesses are owned by immigrants while a quarter of healthcare workers are newcomers.
It’s a fact that most Canadian citizens and permanent residents started their life in the country as immigrants and that many of them had to leave their loved ones behind to come to Canada – something that the federal government recognizes.
To help reunite them with their families, the government implemented several programs that would allow Canada’s visitors to stay for longer than a standard visa would allow. One of these programs is the super visa.
A super visa works differently than a typical visitor’s visa, which only allows non-Canadian citizens to stay in the country for up to six months. Designed for parents and grandparents, a super visa grants the holder multiple entries to the country for a period of 10 years. As of July 4, 2022, super visa holders can stay in the country for up to five years, with the ability to apply for a two-year extension.
To be eligible for this type of visa, applicants must satisfy the following requirement laid down by the IRCC:
Apart from these, applicants are required to provide documents proving that they have sufficient medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company – or what is called super visa insurance.
But how does this type of coverage work and are there alternatives to this kind of protection? In the following section, Insurance Business will answer the top 10 questions people have about super visa insurance.
Having sufficient medical coverage is an important requirement in determining a person’s eligibility for a Canadian super visa.
According to Jiten Puri, founder and chief executive of insurance brokerage platform PolicyAdvisor, super visas are granted with the understanding that applicants will not be a financial burden to the country’s publicly funded healthcare system.
“An applicant needs super visa insurance as proof to show the Canadian government they have adequate medical insurance coverage should they become ill or suffer an accident while visiting the country,” he explained.
The IRCC has set the following minimum requirements for a super visa insurance policy:
Puri added that a policy must be enough to cover emergency medical care, possible hospitalization, and repatriation. It must also be available for review by an immigration officer each time the visa holder enters Canada.
Several Canadian insurers are offering super visa insurance, each providing different types of protection. Most policies, however, cover the following:
Each insurance company treats pre-existing conditions differently. Some insurers offer coverage provided that policyholders meet certain stability requirements. Typically, if a visa holder has not shown symptoms and received treatment for a condition for at least 180 days prior to the effective date of the policy, it will not be considered a pre-existing illness during the coverage period.
Super visa insurance, however, does not usually cover conditions for which the insured is getting ongoing medical care.
Unlike when applying for a super visa, for which the IRCC requires an immigration medical exam, medical testing is not compulsory when taking out super visa insurance. Applicants are instead given a set of medical questionnaires that they are required to answer honestly and accurately.
“If it is discovered that you misrepresented yourself on your application, your coverage could be revoked, and in turn, your super visa application or status could be in jeopardy,” Puri noted.
Super visa insurance is purchased in one-year increments and lasts for the same period. For visa holders leaving the country and returning, they will need to secure a new policy.
Just like in other types of insurance, premium prices for super visa policies are influenced by a range of factors, including the applicant’s age and medical history, the amount of coverage and deductible, and the policy’s length.
According to PolicyAdvisor, monthly premiums for a single parent or grandparent coverage typically go from $100 to $200. If purchasing super visa insurance for parents and grandparents as a couple, getting a joint policy costs less compared to buying separate coverage.
The below table from the insurance brokerage website shows the relative costs for a one-year super visa insurance policy with $100,000 in coverage and a $1,000 deductible for applicants of different ages.
|
Age |
Premium |
|---|---|
|
55 |
$1,110 |
|
60 |
$1,241 |
|
65 |
$1,588 |
|
70 |
$2,187 |
|
75 |
$2,713 |
Source: PolicyAdvisor.com
The IRCC requires super visa insurance to have $100,000 worth of coverage, but this is just the minimum. Applicants can purchase up to $1 million in coverage. Given the exorbitant cost of medical treatment in Canada, especially for those without public healthcare coverage, taking out a policy with a higher sum insured is recommended.
Proof of having adequate medical coverage is among the requirements the IRCC has set for super visa approval, so there is no getting around it. However, the department has other visa programs that do not require super visa insurance, including the standard six-month visitor’s visa.
Although rarely done, policyholders can cancel their super visa insurance in certain situations without getting their super visa revoked. If a visa holder, for instance, needs to cut their visit short and will not be able to utilize the coverage that they paid for, they can cancel the remainder of their policies and receive a prorated refund. Cancellation, however, may be subject to an administration fee. Applicants who have already purchased a policy but were denied a super visa, meanwhile, can get a full refund.
Canada is home is several insurance providers offering super visa policies. The table below shows some of the country’s major super visa insurance providers, along with the key benefits.
|
Insurer/Policy name |
Coverage features |
|---|---|
|
21st Century Travel Insurance Coverage for Super Visa & Visitors to Canada (Basic Pan) |
|
|
Allianz Global Super Visa Insurance |
|
|
Destination Canada Super Visa Insurance |
|
|
GMS Super Immigrants & Visitors Insurance |
|
|
Manulife Super Visa Insurance |
|
|
Travelance Super Visa Insurance (Essential Plan) |
|
|
TuGo Super Visa Insurance |
|
