If you’re applying for a Working Holiday Visa (visa Vacances-Travail) to France, you might be wondering about the health insurance requirement and how to satisfy it.
This requirement is very important because if you don’t get the right insurance, your application could be rejected.
This article will explain everything you need to know. If you are from Quebec, make sure to read to the very end.
The requirement – all nationalities
Applicants of all nationalities (including residents of Quebec) must present proof that they will be covered for the following for the entire duration of their working holiday in France:
- Medical expenses
- Hospitalization
- Repatriation
This is because as a Working Holiday Visa holder, you are not eligible for French health care.
Proof of coverage must be included as a part of your visa application, which means you need to purchase insurance before receiving your visa.
You can easily fulfill this requirement by taking out a private insurance that covers the above items. We’ve been recommending Globe WHV by ACS since 2005. They meet France’s requirements for the Working Holiday Visa and have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
French authorities require you to present proof of insurance as a part of your visa application. So you must purchase insurance for the intended duration of your stay even before obtaining your visa.
In case of visa denial, you can try to request a refund from your insurance provider. Refund policies vary from insurer to insurer. Globe WHV is an insurance that can reimburse you in case of visa denial.
Refund policies for early returns also vary from insurer to insurer. For the greatest flexibility, choose one that offers this kind of refund.
Globe WHV is an insurer that can reimburse you for unused months of coverage, as long as there are at least 2 months left (minus a €30 administrative fee).
The start date of your insurance should match the desired date of arrival in France that you indicate in your visa application. The coverage should last for 12 months from the starting date.
For example, if you indicate January 1 as your planned date of arrival in France, then your insurance coverage should begin on January 1 as well.
Specifications for residents of Quebec, Canada
Like we explained above, residents of Quebec too must be covered for
- Medical expenses
- Hospitalization
- Repatriation
However, unlike other applicants, you have two ways to prove your coverage:
- Comprehensive working holiday insurance (such as Globe WHV by ACS) OR
- RAMQ année septennale + repatriation insurance
Option 2 is possible for Quebec residents because every seven years, Quebec residents are permitted to spend up to one year abroad (année septennale) while maintaining RAMQ coverage. And since the RAMQ covers medical expenses and hospitalization but NOT repatriation, you would be required to purchase just repatriation insurance (see ACS repatriation insurance).
- Medical expenses – covered by the RAMQ
- Hospitalization – covered by the RAMQ
- Repatriation – NOT covered by the RAMQ
Repatriation insurance is cheaper than comprehensive private insurance, so option 2 can help you to save some money.
Our recommendation for Quebec readers
While it is possible to save money by going with option 2, most Working Holiday Visa holders from Quebec still opt for comprehensive working holiday insurance. This is because:
- There is less likely to be coverage gaps with comprehensive insurance.
- The RAMQ’s claims processing times can be significantly longer than that of private insurers.
For these reasons, our recommendation, as former working holiday makers ourselves, is to go with option 1 (comprehensive working holiday insurance) for greater peace of mind.
If you already used your année septennale by living abroad within the last seven years, then option 2 is not possible for you.
As such, you need to obtain comprehensive coverage like everyone else to be covered for medical expenses, hospitalization, and repatriation.
Though this specific case is not specified by the French government, you should still provide the RAMQ attestation. In any case, it is always safer to proactively inform the RAMQ of extended absences from the province.
No. Like any other Working Holiday Visa holder, those from Quebec are not eligible for French health care.
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