What to know about travel insurance for your working holiday abroad

Chapter 3 of 7

Spotlight on insurance requirements for Canada

Canada takes insurance requirements very seriously, and rightly so. It is one of the destinations where proof of insurance will have to be shown upon arrival—have it ready or else your Working Holiday permit won’t be issued!

Canada also keeps a close eye on the duration of your coverage. If you applied for a 12- or 24-month Working Holiday permit, buy coverage for the entire duration of your stay, i.e. one or two years. Otherwise, you will be issued a Working Holiday permit that expires when your insurance coverage expires. For instance, if you’re buying travel insurance for six months, you will be issued a six-month Working Holiday permit. “I was planning to renew my insurance coverage during my trip!” isn’t a valid excuse to get a longer permit.

The Government of Canada is very clear when it comes to insurance requirements:

For International Experience Canada, you must have health insurance for the entire time you are in Canada. The health insurance must cover

• medical care;
• hospitalization; and
• repatriation.

We recommend you buy this insurance only after you receive your port of entry (POE) letter. We can’t recommend specific insurance companies or plans, but you can search online for something that meets your needs.

You may be refused entry if you don’t have insurance. If your insurance policy is valid for less time than your expected stay in Canada, you may be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance.

(See What type of insurance do I need for International Experience Canada?)

The border services officer may ask you for proof of health insurance.

You may be refused entry if you do not have insurance.

Your insurance must cover:

• medical care
• hospitalization and
• repatriation (returning you to your country in the event of severe illness, injury or death)

When you arrive at the port of entry, you must have health insurance valid for your entire stay in Canada. Having a valid provincial health card is not enough. Repatriation is not covered by provincial health insurance.

If your insurance policy is valid for less than your expected stay, you will be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance.

If this happens, you will not be able to apply to change the conditions of your work permit at a later date.

(See Prepare for arrival)

Yes, insurance coverage costs money. No, it’s not a scam or a waste of your precious travel funds—it’s a mandatory requirement for your Working Holiday adventure in Canada and your insurance validity will impact the validity of the permit issued upon landing.

If you’re not sure how long you will stay in Canada, buy insurance coverage for the maximum duration of your Working Holiday permit (i.e. 12 or 24 months) and check if your insurance company offers the option to refund the remaining months on your policy (Globe WHV does!).

Note that Canada requires health insurance coverage for all three International Experience Canada (IEC) permits, i.e. Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op. Even temporary workers who may become eligible for provincial or territorial healthcare coverage must purchase health insurance. As the Government of Canada states, “Having a valid provincial health card is not enough. Repatriation is not covered by provincial health insurance.” (Source)