Super Visa Medical Exam for Parents and Grandparents: What Your Family Needs to Know

If you are bringing a parent or grandparent to Canada on a super visa, the answer to the most common question is simple: yes, a medical exam is always required. To be eligible for a super visa, the applicant must take an immigration medical exam, and this applies to every applicant regardless of age, country of citizenship or health history. The exam must be done by a panel physician authorized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — a family doctor cannot do it.

This guide explains when and how your parent or grandparent should complete the exam, what to bring, and how families in Brampton, Mississauga and the west GTA can arrange the visit. It is general information only, not legal or medical advice.

Why the super visa always requires a medical exam

Most visitors to Canada do not need a medical exam. The super visa is different because it allows a much longer stay than a regular visitor visa. If the applicant passes the identity check and meets the entry requirements, the border services officer will stamp their passport, allowing them to stay in Canada for 5 years per entry.

Because of that long stay, IRCC treats super visa applicants more like long-term residents for health screening. An applicant planning to stay more than 6 months needs a medical exam if they have lived in or travelled to certain designated countries for 6 months or more in the year before coming to Canada — or, in every case, if they are applying for a parent and grandparent super visa. In other words, for the super visa there is no exemption: the exam is a core requirement, alongside others. The applicant must be outside Canada when they submit the application, show proof of private health insurance valid for a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry — from a Canadian insurance company or from a company outside Canada that has been approved by the minister — and take an immigration medical exam.

Note one more point for planning: a super visa doesn't authorize the holder to work or study in Canada.

When to do the exam: the upfront option

Super visa applicants do not have to wait for IRCC to ask for the exam. IRCC recommends getting the medical exam before you apply — this is called an upfront medical exam — and it is available to people applying to visit (including the parent and grandparent super visa), work or study. To get one, you contact a panel physician directly.

Doing the exam upfront has a practical benefit for routine applications: when medical results are submitted up front, routine cases benefit from faster processing since IRCC does not have to ask for them at a later date. The exam is done at the applicant's own cost and does not influence the final decision on the application.

After an upfront exam, the clinic gives the applicant proof of completion. The panel physician will provide a document confirming the immigration medical exam (IME) was completed, and a copy of this document must be included with the application — uploaded at submission if applying online. IRCC's document checklist for the super visa specifically asks for proof that the applicant had a medical exam with an approved panel physician.

At Complete Immigration Medical Centre, an IRCC-authorized panel physician clinic, exams are processed through eMedical, so results are transmitted to IRCC electronically rather than by paper.

What your parent or grandparent should bring

Based on IRCC's guidance for temporary resident exams, the applicant should bring:

A valid passport or other acceptable travel document
Eye glasses or contact lenses, if they wear them; any medical reports or test results for previous or existing medical conditions; a list of current medications; and the Medical Report form (IMM 1017E or IMM 1020E) if the exam is not an upfront exam

For older parents and grandparents, the medication list and specialist reports matter most. Bringing complete records of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or past tuberculosis treatment helps the panel physician record an accurate history the first time and can reduce follow-up requests.

Many families also find it helpful for the host child or grandchild to come along to the appointment, especially if the parent is more comfortable in another language. Our clinic team serves patients in English, Hindi and Punjabi.

How long the results last — and why timing matters

Medical exam results are valid for 12 months, so it makes sense to book the exam close to when the application will actually be submitted rather than many months in advance. If the applicant does not come to Canada as a visitor within that time, they may need to do another exam.

One timing wrinkle for super visa families: the applicant must be outside Canada when they submit the application. The medical exam itself must be done by a doctor on IRCC's list of panel physicians — the applicant's own doctor cannot do it. Check the instructions for your situation on the official IRCC pages, and speak with the clinic if you are unsure which documents to bring.

Completing everything in one Brampton visit

For families in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon and the west GTA, the goal is usually to finish the whole exam in a single trip — particularly for an elderly parent. At Complete Immigration Medical Centre:

Blood testing is done at the clinic and there is an X-ray clinic in the same building, so every test for the exam is completed in one location, with same-day on-site testing.
Appointments can be booked online, and walk-ins are welcome.
There is free parking for patients, the clinic is close to Highways 410, 401 and 407, and it is about a 10-minute walk from the Brampton GO station.
Service is available in English, Hindi and Punjabi.

Exam fees are listed on our prices page, and you can reach the team through the contact page with any questions before the visit.

Quick answers for super visa families

Does a healthy 75-year-old still need the exam? Yes. Taking an immigration medical exam is an applicant requirement for every super visa applicant, regardless of health.

Can our own family doctor do it? No. IRCC requires proof of a medical exam with an approved panel physician.

Does passing the exam mean the visa is approved? No. The exam addresses only the medical admissibility part of the application; IRCC assesses the full application, including host requirements that the child or grandchild must meet, such as income and the letter of invitation.

What if we were thinking about sponsorship instead? If you've already submitted a sponsorship application, your parent can apply for a super visa while waiting for a decision. You can read more in our post on the medical exam for family sponsorship.

Book the exam

If your parent or grandparent is ready for their super visa medical exam, you can book an appointment online at our Brampton clinic — or simply walk in. To see how the appointment unfolds step by step, read our guide on what to expect at an immigration medical exam in Brampton.

This article is general information only and is not legal or medical advice. Always confirm current requirements on the official IRCC pages below.