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The short answer
IRCC requires super visa applicants to hold private medical insurance with at least $100,000 of emergency coverage, valid for at least one year from each entry, covering health care, hospitalisation and repatriation, and issued by a Canadian insurer or an OSFI-authorised foreign insurer. It must be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit; quotes are not accepted. IRCC sets no price, and premiums are set by insurers, typically rising with age and health history.
For many Nigerian families the insurance is the single largest cost of bringing parents over on a super visa, often more than the visa fee and the flights together. It is also the requirement most often misunderstood, because policies sold as "visitor insurance" do not all meet IRCC's rules. This page sets out those rules as IRCC published them on its super visa forms and documents page, last modified on 30 July 2026.
What IRCC requires
- Minimum emergency coverage
- $100,000
- Length
- At least one year from the date of entry, valid for each entry; renew if it will run out before the parent leaves
- What it must cover
- Health care, hospitalisation and repatriation
- Payment
- Paid in full, or in instalments with a deposit; quotes are not accepted
- Insurer
- A Canadian insurance company, or a foreign company authorised by OSFI for accident and sickness insurance that issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada
- Proof
- The policy must name the insurer and be available to border officers on request
What about a Nigerian insurer?
A policy from an insurer in Nigeria qualifies only if that company is authorised by OSFI, appears on OSFI's list of federally regulated financial institutions and issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada. IRCC notes that OSFI does not keep a list of foreign insurers unless they are registered as Canadian branches or subsidiaries, and a foreign-issued policy must state that it was issued while the company was doing insurance business in Canada. In practice most families buy from a Canadian insurer.
What it costs
IRCC sets no price. Premiums are set by each insurer and commonly depend on:
- the parent's age at the start date, usually in bands;
- pre-existing medical conditions and whether they are stable;
- the deductible you choose: a higher deductible lowers the premium but means you pay more of each claim;
- the coverage amount, if you choose more than the $100,000 minimum;
- whether the policy covers one parent or both.
Because the price for a 72-year-old with diabetes can differ sharply from that for a healthy 58-year-old, any figure you read online is only an example. Get written quotes for your parent's actual age and health, then compare the policy wordings, not only the price.
A worked example of the deductible trade-off
Example only, with invented prices. Policy A costs $2,400 a year with a $0 deductible; Policy B costs $1,900 with a $1,000 deductible. If your father has no claims, B saves $500. If he has one $3,000 emergency visit, A costs $2,400 in total and B costs $1,900 + $1,000 = $2,900. Choose the deductible you could pay without strain on the worst day, not the one that makes the premium look smallest.
When a claim happens
Super visa policies are emergency policies. They usually exclude routine check-ups, ongoing treatment for a condition that was not stable, and care that could wait until the parent returns to Nigeria. Many insurers expect you to call their assistance line before or soon after treatment, and some pay the hospital directly while others reimburse you. Save the assistance number in your phone and your parent's, and keep every invoice and discharge summary. If a claim is refused, ask the insurer for the reason in writing and the clause relied on.
Other costs to budget
IRCC's fee list, modified 21 September 2026, shows a visitor visa fee, including the super visa, of $100 per person and biometrics of $85 per person or $170 for a family applying together. The immigration medical exam with a panel physician is paid to the physician; ask the clinic for its current charge.
Reading the policy before you pay
- Check the stability clause for pre-existing conditions: how long must a condition have been stable, and what counts as a change in medication?
- Check the refund terms if the visa is refused or your parent leaves early.
- Check that the policy start date matches the planned entry date.
- If paying monthly, confirm the deposit and instalments meet IRCC's rule.
- Keep a copy in your parent's hand luggage as well as yours.
For a fuller look at pre-existing condition clauses and shorter visits, see visitor health insurance for parents, and for what happens if your parent does need hospital care, who pays when a super visa parent is admitted.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme does not sell insurance. If parents contribute to premiums from naira savings, Swap shows the rate and fee before you approve a conversion, and a verifiable receipt through VerifyDoc.ai records who paid what. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are provided through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
How much medical insurance is required for a super visa?
IRCC requires at least $100,000 of emergency coverage, valid for at least one year from each entry.
Can I pay super visa insurance monthly?
IRCC accepts a policy paid in instalments with a deposit. A quote alone is not accepted.
Can my parents buy super visa insurance in Nigeria?
Only if the insurer is authorised by OSFI and issued the policy while doing insurance business in Canada, according to IRCC.
Why is super visa insurance so expensive for older parents?
Insurers set premiums, commonly by age band and health history. IRCC does not regulate the price.
Sources
- IRCC: Super visa, forms and documents (modified 30 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Super visa for parents and grandparents, who can apply (modified 6 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRCC: Citizenship and immigration application fees, fee list (modified 21 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.