With Canada’s Parent and Grandparent sponsorship immigration program (PGP) currently closed for new applications, parents and grandparents who want to join their children and grandchildren in Canada may do so through the Super Visa program, which remains open.

The Super Visa allows individuals multiple entries to Canada for a period up to 10 years. The key difference between a Super Visa and a visitor visa is that a Super Visa allows its bearer to stay for up to two years on initial entry into Canada, while a 10-year multiple entry visitor visa would only have a status period for six months on each entry.

Nearly 90,000 Super Visas have been issued since the program was first launched in late 2011, with around 40 percent of visas granted to citizens of India. Other Asian countries, including China, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Bangladesh also dominate the most common nationalities of Super Visa holders.

However, it should be noted that the Super Visa program places no requirement on an applicant’s nationality.

To apply for the Super Visa, applicants must:

Have a child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada;

Provide a written commitment of financial support from a Canadian child or grandchild in Canada who meets the Minimum Necessary Income for the Super Visa (see below);

Purchase Canadian medical insurance coverage for at least one year; and

Be medically, criminally and otherwise admissible to Canada.

Super Visas granted since 2012, top source countries

India    35,761

China   16,651

Pakistan           5,047

Philippines       5,326

Bangladesh     2,234

Sri Lanka         1,867

Iran      1,623

Vietnam          1,524

Nepal   1,279

Russia  1,036

All countries    88,891