How to Verify an Insurer Is Currently OSFI-Approved
How to Verify an Insurer Is Currently OSFI-Approved
The list of eligible insurers isn't fixed forever — here's how to confirm an insurer's status directly before you buy a Super Visa policy.
✓ Quick Answer
- OSFI maintains the authoritative list: the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions publishes which insurance companies are federally regulated and authorized to operate in Canada
- Provincial regulation is also valid: some insurers are regulated provincially rather than federally — both routes can satisfy the Super Visa requirement, as long as the insurer is properly licensed in Canada
- Don't rely on a comparison site's word alone: cross-check any insurer you're considering against the official regulator list if you have any doubt about their status
Super Visa insurance must come from a Canadian insurance company that's authorized to sell insurance in Canada, which in practice means it is regulated federally by OSFI or by an equivalent provincial insurance regulator. Which specific companies hold this status can change over time as insurers enter the market, merge, or exit — so a list published in an old article may no longer be fully accurate.
How to Confirm an Insurer's Status Yourself
🏛️ OSFI's public register
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions publishes a list of federally regulated insurance companies directly on its website — this is the most authoritative source for federal status.
🍁 Provincial regulators
An insurer regulated at the provincial level (rather than federally) can also be a valid choice — check the relevant provincial financial services regulator if the insurer isn't listed with OSFI.
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📄 Ask the insurer or broker directly
A legitimate insurer or broker should be able to confirm their regulatory status and licensing without hesitation — treat reluctance to answer as a red flag.
🔎 Cross-check before you buy, not after
Verifying status takes a few minutes and is worth doing before purchasing, since a policy from an improperly licensed provider could be rejected by IRCC.
Why This List Isn't Static
Insurance companies occasionally merge, rebrand, exit the Canadian market, or newly enter it. A "top insurer" list published even a year or two ago may reference a company that has since merged into another brand or changed its regulatory status. This is normal industry turnover, not a sign of instability in the Super Visa program itself.
What Happens If You Buy From an Unlicensed Provider
A policy from a company that isn't properly authorized to sell insurance in Canada does not satisfy the Super Visa requirement, regardless of how the coverage amount or duration looks on paper. This is one of the more serious mistakes an applicant can make, since it can only be discovered after submission — always confirm licensing status before paying for a policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find the official list of OSFI-approved insurers?
OSFI publishes a list of federally regulated insurance companies on its own website — check there directly rather than relying on a third-party article.
Does an insurer have to be OSFI-regulated specifically, or can it be provincial?
Either can work — the requirement is that the insurer is properly authorized to sell insurance in Canada, whether that's federal (OSFI) or provincial regulation.
Can an insurer lose its approved status after I buy a policy?
This is uncommon, but if you have concerns about an insurer's ongoing status, contacting them directly or checking the regulator's site is the most reliable way to confirm.
Is a foreign insurance company ever acceptable for a Super Visa policy?
No — the insurer must be a company authorized to sell insurance in Canada specifically, not a foreign insurer without Canadian licensing.
Compare Quotes From Verified Canadian Insurers
See Super Visa insurance options from properly licensed, OSFI-regulated providers.
Compare Quotes →See also our full Super Visa insurance requirements guide and 2026 provider comparison.
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