Three ways to bring parents to Canada

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Many immigrants in Canada face the question: how to bring their parents who remained in their home country? There are three main ways to do this — a tourist visa, a super visa, and the parent sponsorship program. Each option has its pros, cons, costs, and potential pitfalls. Let's look at them in detail.

Over the years of practice, we've encountered various situations and know where mistakes that lead to refusals most often occur. Understanding these nuances will help avoid common problems.

Option One: Tourist Visa

The simplest way to bring parents to Canada is by obtaining a tourist visa. It allows parents to come to Canada as tourists or to visit their children for a short period.

Formally, an officer can issue a multiple-entry visa for several years, but recently, single-entry permits have become more common. Even with a multiple-entry visa, a border officer decides how long to admit parents at each entry. It's usually six months, but it can be less.

If parents want to stay longer than six months without leaving Canada, they need to apply for a status extension — called a visitor record. It's important to submit documents before the permitted stay expires. In this case, parents can remain in Canada while the application is being processed, even if it takes several months. Currently, the average processing time is about six months. However, approval isn't guaranteed: if rejected, they'll have to leave urgently, even if they've already been in Canada for more than six months.

In practice, many families successfully use this method for years. For example, when parents immediately receive a 10-year multiple-entry visa (valid for the passport's duration), there's no need to spend money on visas for each arrival.

It's important to note that working officially on a tourist visa is not allowed, and it's highly advisable to get medical insurance, although it's not mandatory.

Option Two: Super Visa

The super visa is a special visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. It allows staying in the country for up to five years at a time, and the visa itself is valid for up to ten years. This means parents can come and go without restrictions for many years.

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The super visa has strict requirements. Parents must pass a medical exam by a doctor accredited by the Canadian government. A regular certificate from a local GP won't suffice!

A mandatory condition is insurance coverage of at least $100,000 CAD for a minimum of one year. Previously, it had to be obtained only from Canadian insurance companies, but now policies can be purchased from some foreign insurers. The cost of insurance depends on age, health condition, and other factors.

There are also requirements for the host. The annual income must not be below the established minimum, which depends on family size. Even if you're short $100 CAD from the minimum — it's an automatic refusal. But there are ways to work around this, which we'll discuss in the practical advice section. In exchange, parents get years of peaceful living near their children.

The super visa is an advanced version of the tourist visa, which we strongly recommend.

Option Three: Sponsorship Program

The third option to invite close relatives to Canada is the parent sponsorship program. This is a path to obtaining permanent residency. Parents will have Canadian permanent resident status and can quickly apply for Canadian citizenship. This provides access to free healthcare and other benefits.

This option is very attractive, but it's extremely difficult to use. There are limitations on the number of applications accepted and long processing times.

Additionally, the sponsor takes on financial obligations for twenty years. If parents need social assistance from the government, all expenses will be charged to the sponsor. This is a serious responsibility.

Therefore, for most families, this is more of a long-term goal rather than a way to quickly reunite with parents.

Comparison of Processing Times

Let's compare all three options by key parameters, starting with processing times.

According to current Canadian government data as of September 2025:

• Tourist visa processing takes from 20 days to four months, depending on the country of application and visa office workload. On average, for CIS countries, the process takes one to three months.
• The super visa situation is ambiguous. For U.S. residents, the average processing time was 89 days, but data for Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan is unavailable.
• The parent sponsorship program is a different story. First, you need to wait for an invitation from the pool, then another 26 months for processing, and in Quebec — 44!

It turns out that for quick results, the tourist visa leads, the super visa is the golden mean, and sponsorship is a years-long marathon.

Comparison of Length of Stay

Let's consider how long parents can stay in Canada.

• A tourist visa usually grants six months upon entry, with the possibility of extension, but without guarantee.
• A super visa allows staying in Canada for up to five years at a time without leaving! The visa itself is valid for ten years, so parents can come and go multiple times.
• The sponsorship program provides permanent status — parents become permanent residents of Canada indefinitely, with the right to healthcare and social programs.

In terms of stability and length of stay, sponsorship leads, but the super visa is an excellent alternative for years to come.

Comparison of Total Cost

Now for the most interesting part — how much each option really costs.

Tourist visa: $100 CAD for the application, $85 CAD for biometrics, totaling $185 CAD. But add flights every six months — at least $1,000 USD each time. Over ten years, this could be $20,000-30,000 USD just for tickets! If status extension beyond 6 months is needed, there's an additional fee of $100 CAD.

Super visa: $100 CAD for the application, $85 CAD for biometrics, plus insurance. Insurance costs vary, but prepare for amounts from $3,000 CAD to $8,000 CAD, depending on the parents' age and health. For people over seventy with chronic conditions, it can reach up to $10,000 CAD per year.

The positive side is that if parents stay less than a year in Canada, some companies allow refunds for unused months.

Sponsorship program: over $1,200 CAD in government fees, plus twenty years of financial obligations. If parents fall ill or need social assistance — all expenses fall on the sponsor.

It turns out that the tourist visa seems cheap but becomes very expensive with flights. The super visa requires significant insurance expenses but provides stability. Sponsorship means long-term commitments with unpredictable costs.

Comparison of Reliability and Guarantees

And the final criterion — how confident can one be in the outcome.

Here's the English translation:

• Visitor visa — uncertainty each time. The officer may give a month instead of six months, visitor records may not be approved, parents risk getting stuck in their home country.
• Super visa — if approved, parents get stability for years. Of course, questions may arise at the border, but a visa in the passport is a strong argument.
• Sponsorship program — first a lottery with invitations, then a long review process, but ultimately permanent status without restrictions.

In terms of speed of obtaining and reliability of results, the super visa is optimal for most families. It's also ideal for the period while waiting for a sponsorship decision.

Common Application Mistakes

Now let's look at where people most often make mistakes and get rejected when inviting parents to Canada.

It's important to choose the right coverage amount and suitable insurance company. Underestimating income requirements is common. Many think "I'm almost there" and submit pay stubs below the minimum. Canada is unforgiving here — automatic rejection. Worse, they don't find out immediately, which is frustrating and wastes time.

A poorly written invitation letter for visa applications often leads to rejection. Applicants write two lines without specific plans, dates, or commitments. Yet this is the key document for decision-making! Incomplete relationship documents are another issue. People forget to notarize translations, certify copies, or include translations altogether.

Choosing the wrong program is also common. Families apply for a visitor visa when they need a super visa, or vice versa. Some try to apply for a super visa while already in Canada. This is impossible! Parents must apply from their home country.

This is why many families consult specialists — checking insurance, income, and preparing the right invitation letter saves months of time and protects against costly rejections. We can help you prepare documents for Canadian visas!

Practical Tips

How can you increase the chances of approval when inviting parents to Canada?

Realistically assess your situation. If your income barely meets the super visa minimum, it's better to first improve your financial position or consider a visitor visa. If your income is borderline, include statements showing savings, investments, or property. Show that you can support your parents even in difficult situations. This approach often saves applications with borderline incomes.

Apply at the optimal time of year. From September to February, visa offices are less busy, and processing is faster. Always check the current lists of accredited doctors and insurance companies on the government website.

Don't skimp on document quality. It's better to seek professional help than to get rejected and start over in six months.

When to Consult Specialists

Many ask: can I do everything myself? Theoretically, yes. Practically, it depends on the complexity of the case.

If you have stable high income, healthy parents, fluent English, plenty of free time, and no fear of dealing with official documents — you can try on your own. As they say, you can treat your own teeth, but most prefer visiting a dentist.

If there are issues with income, health, previous rejections, or document complexities — it's better to consult professionals.

We handle such cases daily, know all the pitfalls, and can immediately identify weak points in documents. A consultation with a Canadian licensed immigration consultant can help determine the best option for your specific family situation.

Conclusions and Next Steps

A visitor visa is suitable for short regular visits but can be very expensive considering frequent flights. The super visa is an optimal balance between cost and result for long-term stays. The sponsorship program is a lottery with years of waiting but provides permanent resident status in Canada.

The main thing is to honestly assess your capabilities and choose the right path. Don't try to "stretch" your documents to fit a program that doesn't match your criteria. It's better to follow a realistic path and get a guaranteed result.

When planning to bring parents to Canada, it's important to carefully weigh all options, consider financial capabilities, and long-term family plans. Choosing the right strategy will help avoid mistakes and reunite with loved ones as quickly as possible.

Book a consultation with one of our licensed specialists and we'll help you bring your parents to Canada!