Since IRCC confirmed on July 15, 2026 that the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is paused for new applications, many families in Kitchener-Waterloo are turning to the Super Visa instead. If you hope to bring a parent here before winter, the insurance is the part you can sort out first. Here is what IRCC requires in 2026, and the simple steps to get it right.
Getting the medical insurance right is one of the most common reasons Super Visa applications are delayed or refused. The rules are short, but every word matters. This checklist walks through exactly what Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) asks for in 2026, and the small details that trip families up.
According to IRCC, the health insurance policy for a parent or grandparent must:
Brokers (like Life Advice) and claims administrators are not insurance companies. What IRCC looks at is the company that issued the policy. A plan sold by a Canadian broker but underwritten by an unapproved foreign company can be refused. When you compare plans, check the insurer named on the policy document.
The policy must run for a full year from the day your parent lands in Canada. If the travel date changes after you buy, ask the insurer to move the start date so the 365 days still begin on arrival. Many families buy a plan with a flexible start date for this reason.
Since 2023, IRCC accepts monthly payment plans, as long as a deposit has been paid and the policy has been issued. A printed quote is not proof of insurance. If you choose monthly payments, keep the payment schedule and the policy confirmation together with the application.
A hospital stay in Canada for a heart attack or stroke can cost tens of thousands of dollars in a few days. $100,000 is what IRCC requires; many families choose $150,000 or more for older parents, especially in their 70s and 80s. The extra coverage usually costs less than people expect.
IRCC does not require pre-existing conditions to be covered, but your family needs it to be. If your parent takes medication for blood pressure, diabetes or heart conditions, choose a plan that covers stable pre-existing conditions and answer the medical questions honestly. A wrong answer can void coverage when you need it most.
For applications made on or after June 22, 2023, parents and grandparents can stay up to 5 years at a time. The insurance must be valid for each entry, so if your parent stays longer than a year, renew the policy before it ends to avoid any gap.
IRCC confirmed on July 15, 2026 that the PGP is paused for new applications, until further notice. Applications already in the queue are still being processed. For families who did not get in, the Super Visa is now the main way to have a parent or grandparent stay for a long time.
The insurance rules are the same whether or not you were in the PGP queue.
Insurance alone does not get the visa approved. IRCC also checks:
Plan these at the same time as the insurance, so one item does not hold up the others.
Most families we help in Kitchener-Waterloo are inviting parents from India. Before they buy, they ask the same four questions:
Compare plans online on our Super Visa insurance or visitor insurance page, or call 1-855-500-5041. Help in English, Hindi and Punjabi.
Visitors are not covered by OHIP. If your parent needs care at Grand River Hospital or St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener, Cambridge Memorial Hospital or Guelph General Hospital, the hospital will bill at non-resident rates. That is why IRCC asks for at least $100,000 of emergency coverage.
A Super Visa parent cannot get an Ontario health card at ServiceOntario. Only people who qualify for OHIP, such as new permanent residents, can apply there.
Our office is at 912 Isaiah Pl, Kitchener, ON N2E 0B6. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed Sunday). Call 1-855-500-5041. We have served families since 2015 and compare 20+ Canadian insurers, including Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, Desjardins, Allianz, TuGo and GMS.
Example: Imagine a Waterloo family whose PGP plans stopped in July. They want Mom here for the winter. They confirm their income, set her arrival for early December, get quotes that start on that date, and apply online with the policy attached.
Yes. You need proof of insurance to apply, so you buy it first. Most insurers give a full refund if the visa is refused and you send them the refusal letter.
Only if the company is authorized by OSFI and issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada. Most home-country travel plans do not meet this rule.
No. IRCC does not set a deductible. A higher deductible lowers the premium, but your family pays that amount first on each claim.
Talk to a licensed Life Advice broker
We compare plans from many Canadian insurers and explain the fine print in plain language. Call +1 855-500-5041 (Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–9 p.m.), get a quote on our Super Visa insurance page, or visit us at 912 Isaiah Pl, Kitchener, ON N2E 0B6.
This article is general information, not advice for your situation. Coverage, prices and rules vary by insurer and can change. Always read your policy wording.
Yes. The July 15, 2026 pause applies to new PGP sponsorship applications. The Super Visa is a separate visitor visa and still accepts applications online through IRCC.
Yes. The visa can be valid for up to 10 years with multiple entries. Each stay can be up to 5 years, and your parent needs valid insurance for each entry.
No. Visitors are not covered by OHIP, and Ontario hospitals bill them at non-resident rates. The Super Visa policy is what pays for covered emergencies.
Compare Super Visa insurance quotes from 20+ Canadian insurers on our Super Visa insurance page. You may also like our visitor insurance page. Or visit Life Advice Insurance Inc. at 912 Isaiah Pl, Kitchener, call 1-855-500-5041, Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Help in English, Hindi and Punjabi.