Common IEC Insurance Mistake That Could Shorten Your Stay in Canada

After you receive your POE Letter of Introduction and before you land in Canada, you will have to take out the right insurance.

This is because when you land in Canada, the immigration agent will ask to see proof of insurance before issuing you your IEC permit (Working Holiday or otherwise).

When applying for a IEC permit, make sure to read our IEC Canada application guide (for all nationalities and categories).

How long should the insurance last?

Your insurance should:

Cover you from day 1 of your stay in Canada.
Last the entire duration of your IEC permit (VERY IMPORTANT).
Cover medical expenses, hospitalization, and repatriation.

Point 3 is covered in IEC Working Holiday Permit: the Insurance Requirement Explained.

Let’s explore points 1 and 2 in more detail.

1. Cover you from day 1 of your stay in Canada

This point is simple to understand: you should not arrive in Canada before your insurance coverage starts.

For example, if you purchase insurance that starts on July 1, you cannot arrive early on June 20, as you would be uninsured.

“Insurance” can mean different things depending on whether you applied for the Working Holiday category or another IEC category. To learn more, read IEC Working Holiday Permit: the Insurance Requirement Explained.

2. Last the entire duration of your IEC permit

Remember that your POE Letter of Introduction is not your permit. It is what the immigration agent will look at when issuing your permit once you arrive in Canada.

As a part of the process, he/she will ask to see your proof of insurance. Canada makes it very clear that you must be ready to show proof of insurance that lasts the entire duration of your work permit in Canada.

This means that

If you want a 12-month permit, you must present proof of insurance for 12 months.
If you want a 23-month permit, you must present proof of insurance for 23 months.
If you want a 24-month permit, you must present proof of insurance for 24 months.

Here is the IEC Working Holiday permit duration that you are eligible for based on your country of citizenship, assuming that it is your first participation in IEC:

Australia: 24 months
New Zealand: 23 months
United Kingdom: 24 months
Ireland: 24 months
Germany: 12 months
Japan: 12 months
South Korea: 24 months
Taiwan: 12 months
Other nationalities

In order to benefit from the full allowance available for your nationality, your insurance must be for that duration upfront.

AVOID THIS COMMON MISTAKE: If you are eligible for 24 months (as an example) but only show insurance for 6 months, you will only be issued a permit for 6 months and it will be impossible to extend your permit later on. Source.

What if I might not stay the full duration?

If you’re not 100% sure about how long you’ll stay in Canada, it is highly recommended that you buy insurance for the full allowable duration anyway.

We recommend Globe WHV by ACS because if you end your stay in Canada early and return to your country, you can request a refund for unused months of coverage.

What if I intend to stay in Canada longer than my IEC permit?

If you plan to stay in Canada beyond your IEC permit, you are only required to purchase insurance for the duration of the permit that you have been approved, not all future possible renewals or extensions.

If you extend your stay at the end of your working holiday (or other IEC category), you can buy the appropriate insurance again at that point.

Help! My insurance coverage is too short.

If you didn’t buy enough insurance but haven’t arrived in Canada yet, simply contact your insurer to change the dates. Alternatively, you can purchase another policy that starts on the day that your existing policy ends. That way, when combined, they can cover you for the appropriate period.

Second participation in IEC (incl. Recognized Organizations)

If you are participating in IEC a second or even third time (whether by IEC lottery pool or Recognized Organization), the same rule applies: your insurance must last the same duration as the permit that you qualify for. Otherwise, your permit will be cut short.

What insurance is accepted by IEC?

We’ve been recommending Globe WHV by ACS since 2005. They’ve insured thousands of working holiday makers and meet Canada’s requirements.

Advantages of Globe WHV insurance

Meets requirements set forth by IEC (International Experience Canada).
Unlimited coverage of medical expenses and hospitalisation in Canada.
Medical repatriation: 100% of actual costs are covered if you need to be transported back to your home country for medical reasons.
Tourism outside of Canada is covered up to €150,000 worldwide with no limit on duration of travel.
On-piste skiing and snowboarding are covered.
Refund in case of visa denial: In the unlikely event that your application is rejected, you can request a refund for your policy.
Refund on unused months if you decide to end your working holiday early and go back to your home country (as long as you have a minimum of two months left on your policy).
Zero excess/deductible: This means less out of pocket costs for you in case of illness or injury.