Super Visa insurers expanded to OSFI-authorized foreign insurers

What changed — and the exact date

Effective 28 January 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) expanded the list of eligible Super Visa insurers to include foreign insurers authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) to operate in Canada. Until then, a Super Visa medical policy had to come from a Canadian-licensed insurer. Now an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer qualifies just as well, provided the policy meets the existing coverage rules.

The change was confirmed in the Government of Canada's announcement on updates to the Super Visa program. If you cite it on a customer-facing page, point to the Government of Canada's newsroom rather than a deep link that may move.

Why it matters

More eligible carriers means more competition, and more competition tends to mean sharper pricing. Since the rule took effect, quotes across the marketplace have dropped roughly 8–15% on like-for-like coverage for the 60–69 age band — the group that buys the most Super Visa policies. For a one-year, $100,000 policy, that difference can run into the hundreds of dollars.

The practical upshot for families: the same coverage you compared in 2024 may now be available from a wider set of insurers, some at a lower price. It also gives applicants with specific needs — for example, around pre-existing conditions — a better chance of finding a policy that fits.

What stayed the same

The coverage rules did not change. A compliant Super Visa policy still has to clear the same four bars:

• At least $100,000 in medical coverage.
• Valid for one year from the date of entry into Canada.
• Covers healthcare, hospitalization, and repatriation.
• Issued by an approved insurer — a Canadian insurer, or, since 28 January 2025, an OSFI-authorized foreign insurer. The certificate must name an OSFI-authorized entity.

So the eligibility test for the insurer loosened, but the test for the policy did not. For the full breakdown, see the Super Visa insurance requirements.

Should you re-shop if you were quoted before January 2025?

Yes. If you compared or purchased before the change, your quote was drawn from a narrower set of insurers and may no longer reflect the best available rate. With more carriers now eligible and prices easing on the 60–69 band, re-shopping costs nothing and can surface a lower premium for identical coverage. If you've already bought a policy that isn't locked in for the year, it's worth checking whether a switch makes sense before renewal.

For a sense of where prices land by age today, see Super Visa insurance cost by age, or start from the complete Super Visa guide.