Want Mum and Dad here for Christmas? What the super visa involves, when to start, and how to get them on the right flight.
At a glance: the super visa for parents from India
The super visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents stay up to five years per visit, and is valid for up to ten years. Your parents need private medical insurance with at least CAD $100,000 of emergency cover. You, the host, must meet a minimum income and write a letter of invitation. Processing times vary, so start now for a winter visit. Then let us take care of the flight.
A note before we start. Mann Travel is a travel agency, not an immigration consultant. This guide explains the basics so families can plan. For the rules that apply to you, use the official super visa page on canada.ca or a licensed immigration consultant. Figures were checked on 30 September 2026 and do change.
What the super visa is, and what it is not
A normal visitor visa allows up to six months at a time. The super visa is for families who want longer visits. Key facts, as published on canada.ca:
Question | Super visa answer |
Who can apply? | Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. |
How long can they stay? | Up to five years per entry. |
How long is the visa valid? | Multiple entry, valid for up to ten years. |
Medical insurance | From a Canadian insurer or an approved foreign insurer. At least CAD $100,000 emergency coverage, valid for at least one year from entry. |
Host income | The host child or grandchild must meet a minimum income based on family size (see below). |
Letter of invitation | Written by the host in Canada, promising financial support. |
Medical exam | May be required. |
It is a long visit, not a path to permanent residence.
Timing a winter or Christmas visit
This is where families get caught out. Everyone wants parents to land in early December for Christmas and New Year. Few start the paperwork early enough.
The application is made from India, usually online. Your parents will normally give biometrics at a visa application centre and may need a medical exam. Processing times are published by IRCC and vary. Nobody can promise a date.
If you are reading this in late September and hoping for Christmas, start Today. Get the insurance quote, gather the income documents, and submit as soon as it is complete. Do not book a non-refundable flight until the visa is approved. If it arrives in time, we can usually find a seat at short notice. If not, a January visit is still a proper Canadian winter, and fares are often softer after the holiday rush.
What you, the host in Canada, need to show
The host must meet a minimum income based on the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO). These figures are from canada.ca, updated July 2025. Check the page before you rely on them, as they are revised regularly.
Family size (including the visiting parents) | Minimum income (CAD, approx.) |
1 person | $30,526 |
2 people | $38,002 |
3 people | $46,720 |
4 people | $56,724 |
5 people | $64,336 |
6 people | $72,560 |
7 people | $80,784 |
One helpful change: from 31 March 2026, hosts can use either of the two tax years before applying, not just the most recent. Confirm the detail on canada.ca or with a licensed consultant. We do not give immigration advice, and we would rather say so plainly than guess.
The travel side: 6 tips for flying your parents from India
Once the visa is approved, this is the part we do every day: parents from Delhi, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi to Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal and Winnipeg.
1. Decide between one-way and return
Many families book one-way because they do not know how long the visit will last. That is fine, but compare it with a return that has a changeable date. A flexible return often costs little more than a one-way and gives you a seat home if plans change. We will show you both.
2. Choose a flexible fare
Older travellers get sick, a grandchild arrives early, plans move. A fare that allows date changes for a fee is worth it on a long visit. Ask us which fares allow changes and what the fee is before you book.
3. Pick the right airport pair
Air Canada and Air India fly non-stop from Delhi to Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. Parents in Punjab often prefer to leave from Amritsar on a one-stop routing through a Gulf hub rather than travel to Delhi first. Parents in Gujarat can fly one-stop from Ahmedabad. A non-stop is not the easiest choice if it means a six-hour road trip to reach Delhi.
4. Book wheelchair and meal assistance when you book
Wheelchair assistance is free and covers the airport in India, any connection and arrival in Canada. Tell us when we make the booking, not the day before. The same goes for vegetarian, Jain, diabetic or low-salt meals. If your parents are not confident in English, ask about meet-and-assist where the airline offers it.
5. Pack for a Canadian winter, from India
Landing in Toronto or Edmonton in December from Delhi is a shock. Have a proper coat, gloves, hat and boots waiting at the airport, or send them ahead. A cardigan is not enough for minus 20.
6. Arrange arrival help
Have someone at arrivals, with the flight status checked that morning. If nobody can meet them, we can arrange a hotel near the airport through manntravel.ca/hotels. If they land in Vancouver and continue to another city, keep the domestic leg on the same ticket so bags are checked through.
Winter arrival checklist for parents on a super visa
Tick this off with them a week before they fly.
Item | Why it matters |
Passport with the super visa | Check the passport is valid for the whole visit. |
Printed insurance policy | The border officer can ask to see it. Keep it in the hand luggage. |
Letter of invitation and host details | Your address and phone number, written down, in case the phone dies. |
Medicines and prescriptions | Enough for the visit, in original packaging, with a doctor’s letter for anything unusual. |
Winter clothing | Coat, gloves, hat and boots, either packed or waiting at the airport. |
Wheelchair and meal requests confirmed | Check they show on the booking a few days before departure. Call us if they do not. |
Going the other way this winter? See our guide to flights from Edmonton to Delhi, including the onward trip to Punjab.
Why book your parents' flight with Mann Travel?
We are a Canada–India specialist based in Surrey, BC. Our team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, so we can talk to your parents directly about seats, meals and what to expect at the airport. We are available 24/7, so when their flight is delayed at 3 am in Delhi, someone answers. We handle assistance requests, special meals and the airline paperwork. What we do not do is immigration advice. For that, use canada.ca or a licensed consultant. Let us handle the journey.
Let’s bring them home to you this winter.
Search live fares from India to Canada at manntravel.ca/flights or call our team on (604) 265-9000. Or use our contact form and tell us your parents’ city and rough dates.
frequently asked questions
How long can my parents stay in Canada on a super visa?
Up to five years per entry. The visa is multiple entry and valid for up to ten years. Check current rules on canada.ca.
How much medical insurance do they need?
At least CAD $100,000 of emergency coverage from a Canadian insurer or an approved foreign insurer, valid for at least one year from the date they enter Canada.
Can I still get my parents here for Christmas if I apply now?
Possibly, but nobody can promise it. Apply as soon as your documents are ready, and do not book a non-refundable flight until the visa is approved.
Should I book a one-way or return ticket for my parents?
Compare both. A return with a changeable date can cost little more than a one-way and gives you a seat home if plans change.
Does Mann Travel help with the super visa application?
No. We do not provide immigration or visa advice. Use canada.ca or a licensed immigration consultant. Once the visa is approved, we book the flight, assistance and hotel.
General information, not immigration advice. Super visa rules, income thresholds and processing times change; confirm current requirements on canada.ca or with a licensed immigration consultant. Fares change daily; check live prices before booking.
