When planning a trip to Canada, understanding the various visa options can help ensure you choose the one that best suits your needs. The two popular choices for international visitors are the Super Visa and the Regular Visitor Visa. A foreign national seeking to enter Canada for leisure, family reunion, or short business trips, requires a Visitor visa (temporary resident visa). It is an official document that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) affixes in the passport. It demonstrates that the foreign national meets the requirements needed to enter Canada (note that the Canada Border Services Agency officers must also be satisfied of your purpose to visit Canada).

Although both Visitor and Super visa allow entry into Canada, they are designed for different purposes and come with distinct requirements and benefits. Below we explore the key differences between these two visa types.

Eligibility and Duration of stay

Super Visa:

The Super Visa is exclusively designed for the parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Its primary purpose is to allow the family members to visit Canada for 5 years at a time (for applications on or after June 22, 2023), and provides for multiple entries for a period of up to 10 years.

Regular Visitor Visa:

In contrast, the Regular Visitor Visa is available to a broader audience. Whether you are visiting Canada for tourism, business, or family reasons, this visa caters to a wide range of international travelers. It does not target any specific group, making it a more generalized option for short-term visits. Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada. At the port of entry, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months. The officer has the discretion to issue a single or multiple entry visa.

Insurance Requirements

Super Visa:

A key requirement for obtaining a Super Visa is the purchase of medical insurance. Applicants must provide proof of insurance that covers health care, hospitalization, and repatriation for at least one year from the date of entry into Canada, for a minimum coverage of CAD 100,000. This condition is in place to ensure that visitors have adequate coverage during their extended stay, relieving some of the financial burden on Canada’s public health system.

Regular Visitor Visa:

For a Regular Visitor Visa, there is no mandatory requirement to obtain long-term medical insurance. While it is always advisable for travelers to have some form of health coverage, it is not a strict condition of the visa application process for regular visitors.

Application Process and Documentation

Super Visa:

The application process for a Super Visa is more rigorous compared to the Regular Visitor Visa. In addition to standard documentation, applicants are often required to submit:

- An invitation letter from a child or grandchild residing in Canada, detailing the relationship and purpose of the visit.

- Evidence of the host’s financial ability to support the visitor.

- Proof of medical insurance that meets the stipulated requirements.

- Additional evidence of ties to the applicant's home country.

Regular Visitor Visa:

While the Regular Visitor Visa application also requires supporting documentation, the process is generally less complex, as compared to a Super Visa. The emphasis is on demonstrating the purpose of the visit, financial means to support oneself during the stay, and sufficient ties to the home country to ensure the visitor will leave Canada at the end of the visit.

Choosing the right visa depends on your relationship to the host in Canada, the intended duration of your stay, and your ability to meet the specific requirements. Understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision and ensure a smoother journey as you plan your visit to Canada.

 

Disclaimer: Please note the policies and the regulations are subject to change. The information provided in this article is intended for general guidance and may not reflect the most current legal developments at the time of your application. If you intend to seek personalized advice and guidance pertaining to your application, feel free to reach out to us at below details:

Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Website: www.visavicanada.com

Phone: +1(226)-966-4658

VisAvi Immigration Inc.