Starting May 21, Canada will send invitations to 35,700 people who showed interest in sponsoring their parents or grandparents in 2020. These invitations will be sent out over about two weeks. If you filled out a form to sponsor your parents or grandparents in 2020, keep an eye on your email because you might get an invitation.

If you didn’t fill out a form in 2020 but still want your parents or grandparents to visit you in Canada for a long time, they can apply for something called a super visa. With a super visa, they can visit you for up to five years at a time and even extend their stay while they’re here. This visa allows them to make multiple trips to Canada for up to 10 years.

To be eligible for a super visa, your parents or grandparents must have a host who is either your child or grandchild and is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian. They need to show proof of their relationship with you and meet certain financial requirements.

A super visa is different from a regular visitor visa because it allows your parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for a much longer time – up to five years per visit. A regular visitor visa only lets them stay for up to six months at a time. If they want to stay longer, they would have to apply for an extension, which would cost extra.

Only your biological or adopted children can invite your parents or grandparents on a super visa. They can also invite their spouses or partners.

If your host child or grandchild is a registered Indian, they don’t need to provide extra proof of citizenship or residency. They just need to show their Certificate of Indian Status.

To make sure your host child or grandchild can support you financially during your visit, they need to prove they have enough money based on certain income requirements.

Your parents or grandparents also need to have health insurance from a certified Canadian or non-Canadian insurance company to cover any medical costs while they’re in Canada.