CANADA

Applying for a Canada Visitor Visa for your parents can raise many questions, especially when different opinions create confusion about what actually affects visa approval.

There are three major myths that many applicants believe when applying for a parents’ visitor visa:

Parents should not apply together because separate applications increase visa approval chances.
Parents must have long-term savings in their savings account, otherwise the application will be refused.
If the purpose of travel is pregnancy, the visitor visa application is likely to be refused.

These are some of the most common concerns applicants have before submitting a parents’ visitor visa application. This guide discusses these three myths and explains them through a real application.

1. Understanding Parents' Visitor Visa Applications

Parents’ visitor visa applications are usually straightforward.

Some parents are working, while others are retired. Both situations are perfectly acceptable when applying for a parents’ visitor visa.

Sometimes there is a very strong reason for travel, while in other cases there is no special reason at all. Both situations are possible, and parents’ visitor visas can be approved in different kinds of scenarios.

At present, the overall refusal rate for visitor visas is on the higher side.

Because the overall refusal rate is higher, parents’ visitor visa applications are also receiving refusals.

Earlier, in 2022 and 2023, parents generally did not receive many refusals. However, the current situation is different, and parents’ applications are also being refused.

2. What Should You Do After a Refusal?

A refusal does not mean the process is over.

The simplest approach is to reapply.

The application fee is 100 Canadian dollars, which is approximately ₹6,500.

If the application has decent documentation, a well-prepared Statement of Purpose (SOP), and appropriate financial capacity, there is a strong possibility of receiving approval.

There is no permanent denial for a parents’ visitor visa application.

Some applicants receive approval on the first attempt, while others receive approval after the second, third, fourth, or even fifth application.

It is impossible to know exactly when approval will come, but the important thing is to remain patient and continue reapplying.

3. What a Typical Parents' Visitor Visa Application Looks Like

Most parents’ visitor visa applications look very similar.

Parents usually have some funds available, either in a savings account or in fixed deposits.

The son or daughter in Canada may also have funds available.

There is usually a reasonable purpose for travel, such as:

Pregnancy
Convocation
Father’s birthday
Mother’s birthday
Parents’ anniversary
Son’s birthday
Daughter’s birthday

A travel itinerary is also prepared, generally for 15 to 20 days, showing the planned visit to Canada.

Parents may also have property in their own names.

Because most applications contain similar information, the overall structure of parents’ visitor visa applications is generally very similar.

4. Documentation and SOP Matter the Most

Applications are prepared using proper documentation and a well-prepared Statement of Purpose.

Some applications receive approval on the first attempt, while others require multiple submissions.

Exactly when approval will come is beyond anyone’s control.

However, submitting the application with complete documentation and a strong SOP is something that can always be controlled.

The same level of documentation is prepared for applicants who receive approval on the first attempt as well as for those who require additional applications.

5. Reapply Instead of Giving Up

If a visitor visa application is refused, a reconsideration request can be submitted.

After approximately 7 to 10 days, another application can be submitted.

If another refusal is received, the same process can be followed again by submitting a reconsideration request and then reapplying.

For parents’ visitor visa applications, there is usually no major issue with the application itself.

Most refusals are generic refusals.

The important thing is to continue reapplying if the documentation, SOP, and financial capacity are in place.

Ultimately, applicants who continue the process instead of withdrawing their plans have the opportunity to receive approval.

6. A Real Application Example

In one case, the parents’ visitor visa application was submitted on 23 June 2026.

The application was approved within 15 days, and both parents received their visas on the first attempt.

Just as approval can happen on the first application, refusals can also happen.

Both situations are possible, and neither guarantees what will happen in another case.

Every application is assessed individually, but having complete documentation and submitting the application correctly remains the most important part of the process.

7. Should Parents Apply Together or Separately?

One of the biggest myths about a Canada parents’ visitor visa is that parents should apply separately because it increases their chances of approval.

According to this application, that is not necessarily the case.

In this particular case, both parents’ visitor visa applications were submitted together, and both applications were approved on the first attempt.

Parents’ applications can be submitted together, and they can also be submitted separately.

There is no single correct method of submitting a parents’ visitor visa application.

The approach generally followed is to submit both parents’ applications together unless one parent has served in the army or police.

If one parent has served in the army or police, it is better to submit the applications separately because the application may go for additional verification, which can delay both applications.

Apart from this situation, there is usually no need to separate the applications.

Whether the applications are submitted together or separately, both parents can receive approval, and both parents can also receive refusals.

Simply separating the applications does not automatically increase the chances of getting a visitor visa.

In this particular case, both parents applied together and received their visas.

If someone prefers to submit the applications separately, that can also be done.

However, submitting both applications together is also a common approach, and approvals have been received through this method as well.

8. Choosing the Primary Applicant

When both parents apply together, the primary applicant is generally the parent who has higher income, more funds, or greater assets.

In most cases, the father becomes the primary applicant, while the mother is included as the secondary applicant in the same application.

The only exception discussed is when one parent has served in the army or police, where separate applications may be more appropriate because of the possibility of additional verification.

9. Do Parents Need Long-Term Savings in Their Savings Account?

Another common myth is that parents must have long-term savings in their savings account before applying for a visitor visa.

In this application, that was not the case.

The amount available in the savings account was only $44.

Most of the available funds were kept in fixed deposits.

The application was still approved.

This shows that funds can be presented through fixed deposits.

Another situation is when applicants do not have old fixed deposits.

In that case, a new fixed deposit can be created before submitting the application.

Many people believe that a fixed deposit should be three or four months old.

The general principle is that older funds are better and larger funds are better when applying for any visa, whether it is a study visa, spouse visa, or visitor visa.

However, if old funds are not available, a fresh fixed deposit can still be used when submitting the application.

The worst-case scenario is that the application may be refused, but it can always be submitted again.

By the time additional applications are submitted, the fixed deposit will naturally become older.

Because of this, there is no need to delay the application simply to wait for the fixed deposit to age.

Applications have been submitted with fresh fixed deposits, and approvals have also been received.

At the same time, applications with six months of savings history and older funds have also received refusals.

Both situations have been seen.

For this reason, applicants should not wait several months simply because their funds are newly deposited.

10. How Much Money Is Enough?

Another common concern is the amount of money required for a parents’ visitor visa application.

In this case, approximately $30,000 was available between Canada and India at the time of application.

However, it was explained that applicants do not necessarily need to show such a large amount.

If the combined funds available with the parents and their son or daughter are around $10,000, that is considered sufficient to submit a visitor visa application.

Visitor visas have also been approved with approximately $8,000 to $9,000.

There is no fixed rule regarding the exact amount required.

The financial requirement depends on the planned visit.

If the parents are visiting for 15 to 20 days, they will stay with their son or daughter.

Because accommodation is already arranged, they do not need to spend money on housing.

Their grocery expenses are also expected to be limited.

Even if they stay for approximately 30 days, grocery expenses are not expected to exceed $1,000.

If they also visit a few places during their stay, the total expected expenses may be around $2,000.

With flight tickets already included in the application and accommodation provided by their child, the total amount required for the visit is estimated to be approximately $3,000 to $4,000.

Because of this, showing $10,000 to $15,000 in combined funds is generally considered more than enough for the application.

11. Do Not Keep Increasing Funds After Every Refusal

Financial capacity is a common refusal reason in visitor visa applications.

However, this does not mean applicants should keep adding another $10,000 after every refusal.

If that approach is followed repeatedly, after several refusals the application could end up showing $60,000 or $70,000, which is unrealistic.

Instead of continuously increasing the funds, it is better to ensure that the application has complete documentation, appropriate financial evidence, and a properly prepared Statement of Purpose before reapplying.

12. Can Pregnancy Be a Valid Reason for a Parents' Visitor Visa?

One of the most common concerns raised by applicants is whether a parents’ visitor visa application can be refused if the reason for travel is pregnancy.

The concern is that if a mother or mother-in-law travels to Canada during the pregnancy period, it may be viewed as taking the place of a nursing assistant or nurse.

At the same time, there is another perspective.

During pregnancy, many people naturally want their mother or mother-in-law to be with them for support and care.

Both viewpoints may seem logical.

Because of this, there was also some uncertainty about whether pregnancy could affect the outcome of a visitor visa application.

However, applications were submitted using pregnancy as the purpose of travel.

This was not done only once but in multiple applications because many clients are married and often have children in Canada.

Recently, this concern was raised again, creating some doubt about whether pregnancy could become a reason for refusal.

Even with that concern, applications continued to be submitted using pregnancy as the reason for travel, and one of those applications received approval.

Based on these applications, pregnancy can still be used as a reason when applying for a parents’ visitor visa.

13. Applying Together and Financial Requirements

Two important points have already been discussed.

The first is that both parents can apply together.

The second is that parents do not need to have long-term savings in a savings account before submitting the application.

These situations were present in the application discussed, and the visitor visa was still approved.

14. Other Reasons to Apply for a Parents' Visitor Visa

There are many reasons why parents may travel to Canada.

Happy family events can include:

A child’s birthday in Canada.
A grandchild’s birthday in Canada.
The birthday of either parent travelling to Canada.
The parents’ wedding anniversary.
The wedding anniversary of a child living in Canada.
A convocation ceremony.
The birth of a child.
The marriage or finalization of a child’s marriage in Canada.

There can also be situations involving family health or personal circumstances.

Examples include:

The death anniversary of a family member.
Hospitalization or a health issue involving the child in Canada.

Pregnancy is also presented as one of the reasons for travel because the expected due date is in the future.

In the application discussed, pregnancy was the reason for travel, and the parents still received their visitor visas.

15. Emotional Reasons Can Also Be a Reason

A visitor visa application does not always require a major event.

Sometimes the only reason is that parents simply want to meet their child.

Parents may not have seen their son or daughter for two years and may wish to spend time together in Canada.

This can also become the reason for travelling on a visitor visa.

16. Do Not Assume the Reason for a Refusal

Many applicants try to guess why their visitor visa was refused.

They may believe the refusal happened because there was little money in the savings account.

Others may think the purpose of travel caused the refusal.

These are often assumptions.

One application may receive a refusal even when everything appears to be in order, while another application with similar circumstances may receive approval.

For example, if the application discussed had been refused, it would have been easy to assume that the savings account balance was the reason.

However, the application was approved even though there was very little money in the savings account.

Because of this, applicants should avoid making assumptions after receiving a refusal.

Instead, the focus should remain on meeting the basic requirements of the visitor visa application.

If the documentation, Statement of Purpose, financial capacity, and other required elements are properly prepared, there is still a possibility of receiving approval.

The important thing is not to worry unnecessarily about assumptions that cannot be confirmed.

17. The Three Myths Explained

Three common myths about parents’ visitor visa applications have been discussed.

The first myth is that parents should apply separately because it increases their chances of getting a visa.
The second myth is that parents must have long-term savings in their savings account before submitting the application.
The third myth is that using pregnancy as the reason for travel will result in a visitor visa refusal.

Based on the application discussed, both parents applied together and received their visas.

The funds available in the savings account were minimal, while most of the funds were shown through fixed deposits.

The reason for travel was pregnancy, and the application was still approved.

These situations show that these common assumptions do not necessarily determine the outcome of a parents’ visitor visa application.

18. Continue Reapplying If You Receive a Refusal

A visitor visa refusal does not mean the application process has ended.

If everything in the application is properly prepared and the basic requirements have been met, the recommendation is to continue reapplying.

If a refusal is received, a reconsideration request can be submitted.

After approximately seven to ten days, another application can be submitted.

If another refusal is received, the same process can be followed again by submitting a reconsideration request and then reapplying.

For parents’ visitor visa applications, there is usually no major issue with the application itself.

Most refusals are generic refusals.

The important thing is to ensure that the documentation, Statement of Purpose, financial evidence, and all required documents are properly prepared before submitting each application..

18.1 Focus on the Basics

Applicants should not spend too much time trying to identify hidden reasons behind a refusal.

If all the required elements of the application are in place and the basic eligibility requirements are met, the application still has the possibility of being approved.

The three common assumptions discussed—submitting applications together, showing funds through fixed deposits instead of long-term savings, and applying because of pregnancy—should not discourage applicants from submitting their applications.

Rather than focusing on assumptions, applicants should focus on preparing a complete application and continuing the process when necessary.

Conclusion

Parents’ visitor visa applications can be approved in many different situations.

Some parents are working, while others are retired.

Some applications have strong reasons for travel, while others are based on simply wanting to meet family members in Canada.

Some applicants receive approval on their first attempt, while others receive approval only after several applications.

The timing of approval cannot always be predicted.

What can be controlled is the quality of the documentation, the Statement of Purpose, the financial evidence, and the overall application.

If the application is properly prepared and all the required elements are included, the process should continue even if a refusal is received.

The three myths discussed should not prevent applicants from applying for a parents’ visitor visa.

Ultimately, if the basic requirements are met and the application is complete, applicants should continue the process without worrying about assumptions.

If you need assistance with a parents’ visitor visa, Spouse Open Work Permit, Canada study visa, study permit extension, permanent residence application, Post-Graduation Work Permit, or any other Canada immigration application, support is available for these application processes.