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Last Updated On – 24-09-2026
A parents visitor visa Canada application allows a parent or grandparent to visit family members in Canada temporarily.
Depending on the length and purpose of the stay, families may consider a standard visitor visa, a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa, or, for permanent immigration, the Parents and Grandparents Program.
These routes are different. A standard visitor visa is normally suitable for shorter stays, while a Super Visa is specifically designed for qualifying parents and grandparents who want longer visits with their children or grandchildren in Canada.
The Parents and Grandparents Program, meanwhile, is a permanent residence pathway rather than a visitor visa.
Applicants should also check their existing Canadian immigration status before applying.
Someone who became a Canadian permanent resident many years ago may still hold PR status even when their PR card has expired, which can affect whether they can receive a visitor visa.
What Is a Parents Visitor Visa in Canada?
There is no separate immigration document officially called a “parents visitor visa”. The term usually refers to a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa used by a parent or grandparent to visit family in Canada.
A standard visitor may usually be permitted to remain in Canada for up to six months per entry unless a border services officer authorizes a different period.
Parents considering a short stay can learn more about the wider Temporary Resident Visa process in Canada, including eligibility and supporting-document requirements.
For longer family visits, an eligible parent or grandparent may consider a Super Visa, which can permit stays of up to five years at a time and multiple entries during the visa’s validity.
| Route | Main Purpose | Typical Stay | Permanent Residence? |
| Visitor Visa | Short family visits | Usually up to 6 months per entry | No |
| Super Visa | Extended visits by eligible parents or grandparents | Up to 5 years at a time | No |
| Parents and Grandparents Program | Family sponsorship | Permanent | Yes |
The Parents and Grandparents Program is currently paused for new intake, although IRCC continues processing existing applications.
Who Can Apply for a Parents Visitor Visa in Canada?
A parent or grandparent applying for an ordinary visitor visa generally needs to satisfy Canada’s standard visitor requirements.
This can include demonstrating that they:
- Have a valid travel document.
- Have a genuine reason for visiting Canada.
- Have enough money for the proposed stay.
- Will leave Canada at the end of their authorized visit.
- Have relevant family, employment, financial or other ties outside Canada.
- Are admissible to Canada.
- Will follow Canadian immigration conditions.
There is no fixed minimum bank balance specifically prescribed for every ordinary parent visitor visa application. Financial evidence should instead demonstrate that the proposed trip is affordable.
For example, an applicant planning a two-month stay may need to show how airfare, accommodation, food, local travel and other costs will be covered.
If the son or daughter in Canada is paying some expenses, that arrangement should be clearly documented.
What Happens If the Parent Is Already a Canadian Permanent Resident?
This is one of the most important issues to check before submitting a parents visitor visa application.
A parent or grandparent may have become a Canadian permanent resident many years ago, returned overseas and incorrectly assumed that their permanent residence automatically ended when their PR card expired.
An expired PR card does not necessarily mean that permanent resident status has ended.
Canadian permanent residents generally cannot simply apply for a Temporary Resident Visa as though they were foreign visitors.
A person who remains a permanent resident but is outside Canada without a valid PR card may need to consider a Permanent Resident Travel Document or another appropriate immigration process.
BusinessIn.ca’s information about the Canada Permanent Resident Card explains how the PR card relates to permanent resident status and travel.
Where someone genuinely wishes to give up Canadian permanent resident status and visit Canada only as a temporary resident, they may need to formally resolve or renounce their PR status before a TRV can be issued.
This can be particularly relevant to people who “landed” in Canada decades ago but did not permanently settle there.
What Documents Are Needed for a Parents Visitor Visa?
The exact documents depend on the applicant’s nationality, personal circumstances and purpose of travel.
However, a family-visit application commonly includes:
- Valid passport or travel document.
- Visitor visa application information.
- Passport-style photograph where required.
- Proof of relationship.
- Invitation letter from the family member in Canada.
- Purpose-of-visit explanation.
- Proposed travel itinerary.
- Financial documents.
- Bank statements.
- Employment, pension or business evidence.
- Evidence of accommodation.
- Previous travel history where relevant.
- Proof of the host’s Canadian immigration status.
- Evidence of ties to the applicant’s home country.
Applicants should make sure their documents support the same story.
For example, the application should not say that the parent is paying all travel expenses while the invitation letter says the child in Canada is responsible for every cost unless the arrangement is properly explained.
A large unexplained bank deposit shortly before applying can also raise questions. Evidence showing regular income, savings and the source of substantial deposits may create a clearer financial picture.
How Should an Invitation Letter for Parents Be Prepared?
An invitation letter can help explain why the parent is coming to Canada and what arrangements have been made.
It should normally include the host’s:
- Full name.
- Canadian address.
- Contact details.
- Relationship to the applicant.
- Immigration or citizenship status.
- Reason for inviting the parent.
- Proposed dates of the visit.
- Accommodation arrangements.
- Financial-support arrangements where applicable.
A purpose-of-visit letter can separately explain the trip from the applicant’s perspective.
The strongest applications usually provide a clear and realistic temporary purpose, such as visiting children and grandchildren, attending a wedding, meeting a new grandchild or spending a defined holiday period with family.
Can Minor Children Travel to Canada With Their Grandparents?
Yes, but families should prepare additional documents when a minor child travels with a grandparent instead of one or both parents.
Relevant documents may include:
- The child’s passport.
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate.
- A signed authorization or consent letter from the parents or legal guardians.
- Contact details for the parents or guardians.
- Information about the adult responsible for the child during the trip.
The documentation should clearly explain who has permission to travel with the child and who will be responsible for the child in Canada.
This is also relevant where a grandparent is visiting a minor grandchild. There is no separate “grandparents visa for grandchild”. The grandparent generally applies under the normal visitor visa or Super Visa route depending on the circumstances.
How Does the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa Work?
The Super Visa is designed specifically for eligible parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and certain registered Indians.
It allows qualifying visitors to remain in Canada for considerably longer periods than an ordinary visitor visa. IRCC currently states that a Super Visa can allow a stay of up to five years at a time and provide multiple entries for up to ten years.
Host Requirements
The host generally needs to:
- Be the applicant’s child or grandchild.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Live in Canada.
- Have qualifying Canadian status.
- Meet the applicable minimum necessary income.
- Provide a signed invitation letter.
The applicant must generally apply from outside Canada, undergo an immigration medical examination and have qualifying private health insurance.
Insurance and Financial Requirements
Super Visa insurance must meet IRCC’s requirements and generally provide at least one year of qualifying health coverage from the date of entry.
Families should also calculate household size carefully when checking the minimum necessary income because spouses, dependent children, visiting parents or grandparents and certain previous financial commitments may affect the calculation.
Do Visa-Exempt Super Visa Applicants Pay the Same Fees?
No. This is an important exception that is easily overlooked.
An ordinary visitor visa currently costs CAD $100 per individual, while biometrics generally cost CAD $85 per individual when required.
However, Super Visa applicants from visa-exempt countries are treated differently.
Visa-exempt applicants can still qualify for Super Visa status even though they do not require a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada.
After approval, they receive documentation confirming their Super Visa eligibility. If travelling to Canada by air, they may also need an electronic travel authorization, commonly called an eTA.
Applicants therefore should not assume that every Super Visa application involves exactly the same TRV and biometrics charges.
Can Existing Biometrics Affect Super Visa Validity?
Yes. Applicants who previously provided biometrics may be able to reuse them while they remain valid.
However, the remaining validity period matters.
IRCC cannot normally issue a Super Visa beyond the validity of the biometrics being used for the application. Someone hoping to obtain a long-validity Super Visa should therefore check how long their existing biometrics remain valid.
Passport validity can also affect how long a visa can be issued.
This means applicants should check both passport and biometrics expiry dates before submitting an application rather than assuming that every approved Super Visa will automatically receive the maximum possible validity.
How Do Parents Apply for a Visitor Visa or Super Visa?
Most visitor visa applications are completed online through an IRCC portal.
The basic process involves determining the correct immigration route, gathering supporting documents, creating the appropriate account, submitting the application, paying applicable fees and completing biometrics where required.
Choosing the Correct IRCC Portal
A common source of confusion is the difference between the standard IRCC Portal and the IRCC Portal – New version.
The New version currently has limited eligibility.
For a visitor visa or Super Visa, an applicant may use it if they meet all applicable conditions, including being at least 18, applying alone, having never previously applied to IRCC and not using a representative.
Applicants who do not meet those conditions can use the standard IRCC Portal where appropriate.
Accessibility and Paper Applications
Online applications are the standard route, but applicants who cannot use the normal online system because of a disability may have alternative options.
Accessible formats can include paper, large-print or braille materials where applicable.
This can be particularly important for elderly parents or grandparents who have accessibility requirements.
How Can Parents Track Their Visa Application?
Processing-time estimates and application-status tracking should not be confused.
A processing-time tool provides an estimated timeframe for a category of applications. An application account or tracker can provide information relating specifically to the applicant’s case.
Depending on the application, applicants may see updates concerning:
- Biometrics.
- Medical examination.
- Eligibility review.
- Background verification.
- Additional-document requests.
- Passport requests.
- Final decisions.
Applicants should monitor the email address and online account associated with the application because IRCC may set deadlines for supplying additional information.
In some cases, a visa office may also ask an applicant to attend an interview. An interview can be used to clarify information, verify documents or assess issues such as the purpose of travel, finances, family circumstances or immigration history.
An interview request does not automatically mean that an application will be refused.
What Happens If a Parent Wants to Stay Longer in Canada?
A visitor who wants to remain in Canada beyond their currently authorized stay may be able to apply for a visitor record.
This should normally be dealt with before visitor status expires.
BusinessIn.ca has further information on how to extend visitor status in Canada, including the role of a visitor record.
A visitor record is not the same as a new visitor visa. It documents the person’s authorized stay inside Canada and normally provides a new date by which the visitor must leave.
What Happens If a Parent’s Visitor Status Has Already Expired?
Once visitor status has expired, the person generally cannot deal with the situation as a normal extension.
In many circumstances, they may be able to apply to restore their temporary resident status within 90 days of losing it.
Restoration is not automatic. The person must remain eligible, explain their circumstances and submit the appropriate application and fee.
The current restoration fee for visitor status is CAD $246.25.
This is different from applying before status expires. Someone who applies for an eligible extension before their existing status expires may have different rights while waiting for a decision.
If the 90-day restoration period has passed, the situation can become considerably more complicated.
Which Route Should Parents or Grandparents Consider?
Families should first decide whether the real objective is a short visit, a longer temporary stay or permanent immigration.
A visitor visa may be suitable for a parent coming to Canada for a relatively short holiday or family event.
A Super Visa can be more suitable where an eligible parent or grandparent wants repeated or extended stays and the Canadian host satisfies the additional financial requirements.
The Parents and Grandparents Program is different because it is intended to provide permanent residence rather than temporary visitor status.
New intake is currently paused, so families should check the latest programme status before making plans around sponsorship.
Choosing the correct route at the beginning can prevent avoidable problems. Applicants should also verify previous Canadian immigration history, particularly where a parent once held permanent resident status.
A strong parents visitor visa Canada application ultimately depends on consistency: the reason for travelling, finances, family relationship, length of stay and supporting documents should all make sense together.
FAQs
How long can parents stay in Canada on a visitor visa?
Parents are commonly allowed to stay for up to six months per entry, unless a border services officer authorizes a different period.
How much bank balance is required for a parents visitor visa in Canada?
There is no fixed minimum amount. The applicant should show enough credible funds to cover travel, accommodation and living costs for the planned stay.
Can parents work in Canada on a visitor visa?
No. A visitor visa does not normally allow a parent or grandparent to work in Canada without separate work authorization.
Can parents extend their stay in Canada?
Yes. They may apply for a visitor record before their current status expires if they want to remain in Canada longer.
What happens if a parent’s visitor status has already expired?
They may be able to apply to restore their visitor status within 90 days of losing it, although approval is not guaranteed.
Can a former Canadian permanent resident apply for a visitor visa?
Not while they still legally hold permanent resident status. They may first need to resolve their PR status or obtain the appropriate travel document.
Is a Super Visa better for long visits?
A Super Visa can be more suitable for eligible parents and grandparents who want longer stays, as it can allow visits of up to five years at a time.
