IEC Working Holiday Permit: the Insurance Requirement Explained

If you’re planning to apply for an IEC permit to Canada or are already in the process, you may be wondering about the health insurance requirement.

It is essential that you take out the proper insurance before boarding your flight to Canada because without it, the immigration agent may

• Cut your permit duration short
• Refuse to grant you your permit
• Deny you entry into Canada

Read to the end to avoid a common mistake that leads to shortened permits.

The requirement – all IEC categories

It is clearly stated on the Government of Canada website that IEC permit seekers (of all categories and nationalities) must be in possession of adequate health insurance before entering Canada.

This means that you don’t need to buy insurance until your application is approved and you receive a POE letter of introduction. You just need to have your insurance ready before going through Canadian immigration.

You must be covered for

• medical care
• hospitalization
• repatriation

for the entire duration of the IEC permit that you are seeking.

You can meet this requirement in different ways, depending on your specific IEC category. Keep reading to learn more.

Specifications – Working Holiday

If you are approved for a Working Holiday permit, you must purchase private health insurance that covers you for:

• medical care
• hospitalization
• repatriation

Working Holiday permit holders are not automatically covered by provincial health insurance plans and must therefore obtain comprehensive private insurance meeting IEC requirements.

If you’re wondering which insurance to get, we’ve been recommending Globe WHV by ACS since 2005. They cover thousands of working holiday makers in Canada every year and meet IEC requirements.

Specifications – Young Professionals or International Co-op

If you are approved for a YP or International Co-op permit, you can meet Canada’s requirement (medical care, hospitalization, repatriation) in two different ways:

1. Comprehensive working holiday health insurance (such as Globe WHV by ACS)
2. Provincial health insurance + your employer’s insurance + repatriation insurance

Because the Young Professionals and International Co-op categories are closed work permits, you may be eligible for provincial insurance.

But even if you qualify for provincial health insurance, you still need to purchase private repatriation insurance, because repatriation is not covered by provincial insurance.

For greater peace of mind, we recommend option 1, as there is less likely to be any coverage gaps.

Avoid this common mistake – all IEC categories

Whatever insurance you choose, make sure to get it for the entire duration of the permit that you are seeking. For example,

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

This is because Canada will not issue you a permit whose duration is longer than your insurance period.

Every year, we see applicants make the mistake of purchasing insurance for 3 or 6 months even though they want to stay in Canada for 12 or 24 months. They end up receiving a permit valid for only 3 or 6 months (corresponding to the length of their insurance coverage) and it is not possible to extend or renew their permit.

What if I’m not sure how long I want to stay in Canada?

If you’re not 100% sure, you should buy insurance for the full allowable duration anyway.

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

For most IEC participants, purchasing insurance for the full duration of the permit is the safest option and helps avoid unpleasant surprises at the border.

Have fun in Canada, and stay safe!