Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents have a new option for visiting Canada. In 2011, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced that they would address the backlog of permanent resident applications for parents and grandparents (processing times were exceeding seven years at the time), by temporarily cancelling further PR applications and introducing a new class of visitor visa. The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa allows visits for up to two years without the need to renew your status.

Click here or on the image below to visit the most recent CIC super visa information page.

CIC announced on February 3, 2014 that they have changed the application fees for single and multiple-entry temporary visitor visas – both will now cost $100.The main differences between the super visa (which is also a multiple-entry visa) and the regular multiple-entry visitor visa is that the super visa allows the visitor to stay in Canada for up to two years at a time without having to leave Canada, or pay additional fees to apply for an extension. One requirement for applying for the super visa is that the applicant must purchase one year of emergency health insurance from a Canadian insurance company and submit that with their application.

The regular multiple-entry visa allows for a stay of up to 6 months at a time. No insurance is required. However, CIC has advised that no matter how long the visit, visitors to Canada should have health insurance to protect them from the high costs associated with the Canadian medical system. Over the last few years, we have been contacted numerous times by clients that have applied to extend their multiple-entry visa beyond the 6 months maximum stay from within Canada and have been asked by CIC to obtain one year of insurance.

Apparently, CIC views such a prolonged stay in Canada (at least for older travelers) the same way it views the super visa. For any temporary visa issued on a longer term basis, such as a working holday visa, International Experience Canada visa, or the super visa, CIC will ask to see proof of health insurance. One advantage of Canadian insurance (required for super visa application) compared to using a plan from one’s home country is that Canadian insurance companies will often include coverage for expenses related to pre-existing medical conditions – whereas lower priced policies from overseas will not.

For some people, the costs of obtaining super visa insurance will outweigh the additional hassle (and costs) of having to ask for multiple visa extensions. Others will see the benefit of using the super visa which allows for longer stays with no risk of an extension denial.

Regardless of whether you will be applying for the super visa or a regular temporary visitor visa, you’ll find all the policies from Canadian insurance companies listed here on BestQuote’s online resource.