Insurance requirements,in full.
Every Super Visa applicant must show proof of qualifying private health insurance. This is where more files fail than almost anywhere else — here is exactly what the policy must do.
- $100,000
- Minimum emergency coverage (CAD)
- 1 year
- Minimum validity from date of entry
- Issued policy
- A quote is never accepted
- Eligible insurer
- Canadian, or OSFI-authorized
Overview
Which insurers are eligible?
A policy may be issued by a Canadian insurance company. A company outside Canada may also qualify, but only when it meets IRCC's conditions.
A foreign insurer must be authorized by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) under the Insurance Companies Act to provide accident and sickness insurance, appear on OSFI's public list of federally regulated financial institutions, and issue the policy while carrying on insurance business in Canada. The policy must state that it was issued while the company was doing insurance business in Canada.
Brokers and claims administrators are not insurers. Arranging or administering coverage does not make a company eligible to issue it.
Pre-existing conditions and stability periods
Many policies cover certain pre-existing conditions only when they have remained stable for a specified period before coverage begins. Stability may require no new symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, medication change, dosage adjustment, test or referral during that period.
The definition varies by insurer, plan, age and condition. Answer the medical questions truthfully and read the definition in the actual policy — not the marketing page.
Deductibles, effective dates and renewals
A higher deductible lowers the premium but increases out-of-pocket cost. Confirm whether it applies once per policy, once per condition, or to every claim, and in which currency.
Coverage should begin on the planned date of entry — a visitor should never arrive before coverage starts. If insurance will expire before the visitor leaves Canada, renew it before the existing policy ends. A renewal may carry different premiums, stability rules or benefits.
The detail
What you need to know
Requirements checklist
- Identifies the insurance company that issued or underwrote the policy.
- Valid for at least one year from the date of entry.
- Paid in full, or through instalments with a deposit.
- Covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation.
- At least CAD $100,000 in emergency coverage.
- Valid for each entry to Canada, and available for a border officer to review.
What a policy usually covers
- Emergency physician and hospital services.
- Ambulance transportation, diagnostic testing and emergency surgery.
- Medication required during a covered emergency.
- Limited emergency dental care.
- Medically necessary return to the home country.
- Repatriation of remains, subject to the policy.
Proof to submit and carry
- The insured person's correct legal name.
- The insurer or underwriter's name.
- Policy number, effective date and expiry date.
- The coverage amount and the required benefits.
- Payment in full, or an accepted instalment arrangement.
- For a foreign insurer, the required Canadian-business statement.
Common insurance mistakes
- Submitting a quotation instead of an issued policy.
- Buying less than CAD $100,000 of emergency coverage.
- Selecting a term shorter than one year from entry.
- Using a company that does not meet IRCC's insurer rules.
- Omitting the required statement from a foreign insurer's policy.
- Letting names, dates or coverage details conflict with the application.
- Ignoring pre-existing-condition stability provisions.
- Letting coverage expire while the visitor is still in Canada.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Proof of qualifying private medical insurance is required for every applicant.
No. IRCC does not accept quotes. You need an issued policy or insurance certificate.
IRCC accepts a policy paid in full or through instalments with a deposit. The issued documents should clearly show the payment arrangement and confirm the policy is in force.
Only if it meets IRCC's conditions, including OSFI authorization and issuing the policy while carrying on insurance business in Canada.
Refund eligibility is controlled by the policy. Some insurers refund after a visa refusal or cancellation before coverage begins, but documentation and administrative fees may apply.
Next step
Have your insurance documents checked
We verify that the policy actually satisfies IRCC — insurer eligibility, coverage, dates, names — before the application is filed.
This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Program rules change and individual circumstances matter. Confirm current IRCC requirements before applying.
Talk to a regulated consultant
We confirm eligibility, flag the risks, and build the document plan before anything is filed.
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