Super Visa for Parents from India in 2026: Income, Insurance, Processing Time and the PGP Pause

For many Gujarati and Indian families in Canada, the Super Visa for parents from India is now the most realistic way to have parents and grandparents with them for long stretches. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) paused new intake under the Parents and Grandparents Program in July 2026, while a new rule that took effect on March 31, 2026 makes the Super Visa income test easier for some families, because parents can now add their own income.

This guide covers the 2026 requirements, the income table, insurance rules, fees and current processing times from India. All figures are taken from IRCC's official pages and are current as of October 2026.

Why the Super Visa matters more in 2026

Short answer: the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is paused. IRCC stopped accepting new interest to sponsor forms on July 15, 2026, so the Super Visa is the main option for long family visits.

In its July 15, 2026 notice, IRCC said it will keep processing existing PGP applications and plans to approve up to 15,000 people in 2026, in line with the 2026–2028 immigration levels plan. It will not invite new sponsors until further notice. If you already have a PGP application in process, it continues; our family sponsorship page explains the wider options.

Super Visa for parents from India: the 2026 requirements

Short answer: the applicant must be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, apply from outside Canada, pass a medical exam, buy qualifying Canadian-standard medical insurance, and have a host who meets the minimum income.

• Who can host:a child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or a person registered under Canada's Indian Act.
• Stay: up to 5 years at a time, with multiple entries for up to 10 years.
• One person per application: dependants cannot be included, so each parent applies separately.
• Apply from outside Canada: the applicant must be outside Canada when applying, online through the IRCC portal.
• Invitation letter: it must show the host meets the minimum income and list the family members counted, with names and dates of birth.
• Medical exam: with an IRCC-approved panel physician.

A practical order of steps for families in India and Canada:

1. Host side (in Canada): count your family size correctly and collect your CRA Notices of Assessment for the last 2 tax years.
2. Parent side (in India): complete the medical exam with a panel physician and gather proof of any pension or other income you plan to rely on.
3. Insurance: buy a policy that meets every rule below and keep the payment receipt, not just a quote.
4. Invitation letter: signed by the host, with the income details and family list.
5. Apply and give biometrics: submit online, pay the fees, then give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre if required.

Minimum income and the new 2026 rule

Short answer:the host's household income must meet IRCC's minimum for the family size. Since March 31, 2026, if the host earned at least 75% of the minimum last year, the parent's own income can make up the difference.

IRCC's table is marked "Updated July 29, 2025" and is the one in use as of October 2026 (source: IRCC host financial support page). Family size counts the Super Visa applicants, the host, the host's spouse or partner, their dependent children, other Super Visa holders the host still supports, and anyone the host sponsored whose undertaking is still active. Many families get this count wrong.

There are now two ways to meet the requirement:

1. Host income alone:the host's income meets the minimum in either of the 2 tax years before the application, usually shown with a CRA Notice of Assessment.
2. Host plus parent:the host's income last year was at least 75% of the minimum, and the parent adds their own income to cover the rest. The parent must prove the income will continue while they are in Canada, such as a pension, and the document must show the currency it is paid in.

Medical insurance rules

Short answer: the policy must give at least $100,000 of emergency coverage, be valid for at least 1 year from each entry, cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit. Quotes are not accepted.

• Minimum emergency coverage of $100,000
• Valid for at least 1 year from the date of entry, and valid for each entry to Canada
• Covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation
• Paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit
• Shows the name of the insurance company, and is available to border officers on request

A policy from an insurance company outside Canada must include a statement that it was issued or made while the company was doing insurance business in Canada. Check this wording carefully if you are considering a policy bought in India, and ask about refund terms in case the visa is refused.

Fees and processing time from India

Short answer: the Super Visa fee is $100 per person plus $85 for biometrics. As of October 1, 2026, IRCC estimated 65 days for Super Visa applications from India.

Processing times are IRCC's weekly estimates and do not include the time to give biometrics at a visa application centre. Parents over 79 do not need biometrics. Biometrics are valid for 10 years, and IRCC cannot issue a visa that lasts longer than them. If a parent already in Canada wants to stay longer, IRCC's estimate for an in-Canada visitor extension was 385 days as of October 1, 2026, so plan ahead.

Super Visa or regular visitor visa?

Short answer: choose the Super Visa for long, repeated stays. A regular visitor visa is faster and cheaper on paperwork for short visits, such as a wedding or a few months with a new grandchild.

With a regular visitor visa, the officer decides whether to issue a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and how long it is valid, up to 10 years or the expiry of the passport or biometrics. Most visitors can stay up to 6 months. Our visitor visa (TRV) service handles short visits, while our Super Visa service covers the income calculation, insurance check and the invitation letter. For a deeper explanation, read our complete Super Visa guide.

Planning a side trip to the United States while your parents are here? US visitor visa interviews from Canada now have long waits; see our US visa interview and wait-time update.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Super Visa rules, income tables and processing times change, and no consultant can guarantee approval. Always confirm the current rules on IRCC's website.

Want your parents' Super Visa file checked before you apply? Book a free consultation with a licensed RCIC. We work in Gujarati, Hindi and English, at a fixed, affordable fee.