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Jump straight to:
- What is travel insurance for visitors to Canada
- Different types of travel insurance for visitors to Canada
- What is covered by medical insurance for visitors to Canada?
- Potential exclusions
- How much does a medical travel insurance cost for visitors to Canada?
- Who needs travel insurance when visiting Canada?
- Resources from the Government of Canada
- Frequently asked questions about visitors to Canada travel insurance
Content Manager
What is travel insurance for visitors to Canada?
Travel insurance for visitors to Canada is medical coverage meant for individuals coming from outside of Canada.
Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for entering Canada, for most visitors. Though some travel visas require proof of medical insurance coverage, many other travellers will be permitted entry without it.
Nevertheless, visitors to Canada should be aware that the universal health care coverage available to Canadian residents is not extended to them. For instance, visiting a walk-in clinic could cost about $40 to 70$, while emergency treatment at a hospital could be many thousands of dollars. According to the latest data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), the average cost of a standard hospital stay in Canada is $7,826, though this, of course, varies from province to province.
This means that visitors to Canada should seriously consider purchasing travel insurance in order to avoid costly medical care bills. It will protect you from unexpected costs due to sudden illness, accidents or other health and medical emergencies, including those treated at a hospital.
Why you should go with a Canadian provider
Canadian insurance companies have a thorough understanding of the medical expenses you might face while in the country and can help coordinate coverage for care.
A Canadian insurance company will also be easier to reach and deal with compared to a provider from your home country, as you won't have to worry about time zones, legal issues and other inconveniences.
Different types of travel insurance for visitors to Canada
Travel insurance type | What it covers |
|---|---|
Emergency medical insurance | Most travel insurance plans include it. This coverage will protect against the cost of hospital treatment for an unexpected medical event. |
Trip cancellation protection | Covers you for some, or all, of the cost of a trip that’s cancelled before the scheduled departure. |
Trip interruption insurance | Covers you for costs such as food and accommodation if your trip is delayed or altered after you leave your home country. Some insurance companies will also include protection if your tour operator goes bankrupt while you’re on your trip. |
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance | Protects you financially if you’re in an accident that results in death or dismemberment. Like a life insurance policy, a lump sum is paid out to the beneficiary of the policyholder’s estate. |
What is covered by medical insurance for visitors to Canada?
Policies vary from provider to provider, but standard coverage for medical emergencies includes:
- Emergency hospital accommodation and medical services
- Diagnostic services such as X-rays
- Emergency transportation
- Emergency dental work
- Prescription drugs needed as a result of a covered emergency
Potential exclusions
Most travel medical insurance policies have exclusions for high-risk sports activities. We recommend that you check your policy and buy extra coverage depending on what you plan to do during your trip.
Activities not usually covered by standard policies include:
- Bungee jumping
- Kayaking
- Mountain biking
- Mounting climbing
- Scuba diving
- Snowmobiling
- Whitewater rafting
- Windsurfing
- Zip lining
If your trip to Canada includes boating, make sure you don’t inadvertently venture into international waters where your coverage may not be applicable.
How much does travel insurance cost for visitors to Canada?
As with all travel insurance, the cost of your visitors to Canada policy will depend on many factors, including your age, gender, pre-existing medical conditions, selected coverage limits, visit duration and provider.
On average, a 30-year-old woman with no pre-existing conditions, travelling to Canada on her own can expect the following insurance costs:
- Travelling for 7 days, you can get $50,000 in coverage starting as low as $15.79 CAD
- Travelling for a month, you can get the same coverage for as low as $56.58 CAD
- Travelling for 6 months, you can get the same coverage for as low as $268.74 CAD
At Rates.ca, we show you quotes from several companies offering travel medical insurance for visitors to Canada, so you can determine which policy best suits your needs.
Who needs travel insurance when visiting Canada?
You should consider getting travel insurance if you're any of the following:
- A tourist planning to come to Canada for up to a year
- A foreign national coming to stay with your family or friends for up to a year
- A recent immigrant who has moved to Canada and is awaiting coverage under a provincial health insurance plan
- A foreign national who will be working in Canada on a temporary basis
While many visa visitors to Canada can remain in the country for no longer than six months, visitors arriving under the super visa program, such as for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, are not subject to the same limit. They may be allowed multiple entries for up to ten years. However, one of the requirements for getting a super visa is that you have emergency medical insurance.
Resources from the Government of Canada
Looking for more information about trip insurance for visitors to Canada? The Government of Canada has many resources to help:
How to get travel insurance in Canada
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Frequently asked questions about visitors to Canada travel insurance
What is the best travel insurance for visitors to Canada?
The best travel insurance policy for visitors to Canada is the one that’s tailored to your specific needs. Cost is determined by several factors – which vary between visitors – including: the coverage you seek, the coverage limits you select, the length of time for which you need protection, your age, gender, whether you have any pre-existing conditions and the provider you choose to purchase a policy from.
To get the best visitor to Canada insurance coverage, use our free online tool to compare costs from the most-trusted insurance providers in Canada.
Are there other types of insurance for foreigners in Canada?
There are different types of insurance available to different types of travellers to Canada:
- If you are planning to stay in Canada for up to one year either for work or a vacation, visitors to Canada insurance is your best bet.
- If you are a recent immigrant but not yet eligible for a health card in your province, you should also get visitors to Canada insurance until your coverage kicks in.
- If you are a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen and staying for longer than six months, you should look into super visa insurance.
- If you coming to Canada to study, consider international student insurance instead.
Why should newcomers to Canada get emergency travel health insurance?
If you are immigrating to Canada, or are a recent immigrant, you will find that most provinces have a waiting period before you are eligible for public health insurance.
The length of time you must wait will vary by province. To protect yourself, newcomers to Canada should get emergency medical health insurance coverage, to ensure you’re covered as you wait for your provincial coverage to kick in.
A visit to the hospital, even for a minor injury, could set you back thousands of dollars. Don’t gamble on your financial future in Canada. Compare visitors to Canada quotes today.
Taras Trofimov, Content Manager
Taras has over nine years of content marketing experience across multiple industries in B2B and B2C spaces. He has produced thought leadership content for organizations like Constellation Software, Facebook and Yellow Pages as well as outlets like Huffington Post and MSN Canada.
He graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and studied Technical Communication at Seneca College.
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