Can You Buy Super Visa Insurance from a Foreign Company?

Effective January 28, 2025, IRCC changed the rules: super visa applicants can now purchase health insurance from non-Canadian insurers. But there is a catch — not just any foreign company qualifies. Here is exactly what changed, what the requirements are, and what it means for your application.

What Changed on January 28, 2025

Before this date, super visa insurance had to come exclusively from a Canadian insurance company. There were no exceptions. If your parent's policy was with an insurer based outside Canada, it did not qualify, regardless of how reputable that company was.

IRCC's January 2025 update removed the Canadian-only restriction. Applicants may now purchase from a non-Canadian insurer — provided that insurer meets specific federal requirements.

The OSFI Requirement

A foreign insurer qualifies for super visa purposes only if it is authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI)under the Insurance Companies Act, and if the policy is issued under the company's Canadian insurance operations.

OSFI authorization requires the insurer to have a physical branch in Canada, a resident chief agent, vested Canadian assets of at least CAD $5 million, and membership in Assuris (the industry protection fund). This is a high bar.

You can verify whether an insurer qualifies by checking the OSFI list of federally regulated financial institutions (opens in new tab).

Who Actually Qualifies?

In practice, the pool of qualifying “foreign” insurers is very small. The OSFI requirement effectively means the insurer must already be operating as a licensed Canadian company. Most of the names applicants search for — like Indian domestic insurers — do not meet this standard.

Core Requirements Are Unchanged

The January 2025 change only affects which companies can issue the policy. All other requirements remain the same:

• Minimum $100,000 CAD in coverage
• Covers healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation
• Valid for at least one year from the date of entry to Canada
• Must be paid in full (or have a confirmed installment plan with deposit) — a quote is not accepted

Why Canadian Insurers Are Still the Safer Choice

Even with the 2025 rule change, working with a licensed Canadian insurer removes all ambiguity. You know the policy is IRCC-compliant. You get support in Canada if there is a claim. The policy language is clear. And IRCC officers processing applications are familiar with Canadian insurers, which reduces the chance of a compliance question delaying your application.

If you are bringing a parent from India, China, the Philippines, or any other country, the insurer they may already have at home almost certainly does not qualify for super visa purposes. You will need a Canadian-compliant policy regardless.