Canada Visa Insurance Requirements for Indians

Many Indian families arrive at this question after applying for Schengen visas, where an insurance policy is a fixed part of the file. Canada splits the answer by visa type. Here is what Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) asks for, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For the full process and centre list, see our Canada visa guide for Indians.

Is travel insurance required for a Canada tourist visa from India?

No. IRCC's visitor visa pages list a passport valid at least 6 months from your travel date and, where relevant, a letter authorizing a minor child to travel. They then recommend travel history, an itinerary, bank statements, an employer letter and a letter of invitation. Travel insurance is not on that list.

The final word for your file is the personalized document checklist that the IRCC Portal generates when you apply, and IRCC also asks you to check whether the local visa office requires additional documents. Applications from India are handled by the visa office in New Delhi. If your checklist does not name insurance, you do not need to upload a policy. Buying cover for the trip remains your own choice.

What IRCC does ask Indian tourists to prove is money and ties. Bank statements show you have enough to support yourself during your stay, and an employer letter confirms a stable job you will return to. That is where a visitor file is won or lost, not on an insurance certificate.

What insurance does the super visa require?

The super visa is for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents or registered Indians. It allows stays of up to 5 years at a time and can be valid for up to 10 years, which is why IRCC insists on health cover.

A policy from an Indian insurer qualifies only if that insurer is authorized by OSFI; otherwise buy from a Canadian company.

What else goes into a super visa file alongside the policy?

• Host: your child or grandchild, aged 18 or over, living in Canada, and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
• Letter of invitation: signed by the host, with proof that they meet or exceed the minimum necessary income and a list of the people counted in their family size. A spouse or common-law partner may co-sign.
• Medical exam: an immigration medical exam with an approved panel physician.
• Relationship and status: for example, the host's birth certificate naming you, plus proof of the host's status in Canada.
• Fees: CAN$100, the same as a visitor visa, plus CAN$85 for biometrics.

You apply online from outside Canada, and the visa is printed by a visa office outside Canada. Biometrics are given at one of ten VFS-run centres in India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi or Pune.

IRCC's processing-times data showed 77 days for super visa applications from India (last updated October 14, 2026), compared with 29 days for a regular visitor visa. Buy the policy so that its 1-year validity runs from your planned entry date.

Do study or work permit applicants need insurance for the application?

The IRCC study permit and work permit pages in our record do not list health insurance among the application documents. A study permit file centres on a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution, a provincial or territorial attestation letter in most cases, and proof of funds of CAN$23,448 for a single applicant (applications from 1 September 2026), plus a police certificate and medical exam if required. An employer-specific work permit centres on the job offer and, where needed, the LMIA. Follow your personalized checklist and your institution's or employer's instructions.

How much does the Canadian visa itself cost?

IRCC publishes fees in CAD only. Optional VFS charges at Indian centres are paid in rupees, such as one-way passport courier at INR 858. VFS has announced new service charges from 1 November 2026, with amounts not yet published.

Super visa insurance mistakes to avoid

• Uploading a quote instead of a purchased policy.
• Cover that runs for less than 1 year from entry.
• An emergency limit below CAN$100,000, or a policy without repatriation.
• A foreign insurer that is not OSFI-authorized.
• Treating the policy as a substitute for the medical exam. The immigration medical exam with a panel physician is a separate requirement.

For a regular visitor visa file, IRCC recommends an itinerary rather than a policy. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for all four. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can super visa insurance be paid in monthly instalments?

Yes. IRCC accepts a policy paid in full or by instalments. It must still be a purchased policy valid at least 1 year from entry; a quote is not accepted.

Can I buy super visa insurance from an Indian company?

Only if the company is a foreign insurer authorized by OSFI. Otherwise the policy must come from a Canadian insurance company, with at least CAN$100,000 emergency coverage.

How long can my parents stay in Canada on a super visa?

Up to 5 years at a time. The super visa allows multiple entries and can be valid for up to 10 years.

Is the super visa fee higher than a visitor visa fee?

No. The super visa uses the same CAN$100 fee as a visitor visa, plus CAN$85 for biometrics.