Is travel insurance worth it for visitors to Canada?
For visitors to Canada, yes — and for some it is required. Visitors are not covered by provincial health plans like OHIP, so any medical care here would be paid out of pocket. Visitors to Canada insurance covers that risk, and Super Visa applicants must hold at least $100,000 of emergency medical coverage.
Key takeaways
- Visitors are not covered by OHIP or other provincial plans.
- Canadian medical care is expensive without coverage.
- Visitors to Canada insurance covers emergency medical care here.
- Super Visa requires at least $100,000 coverage, valid 365 days, from a Canadian insurer.
- Plans can be bought for parents, grandparents and other visitors.
Visitors to Canada are in a particular position: they are not covered by provincial health plans, so the cost of any medical care here falls entirely on them unless they are insured. For most visitors the coverage is worthwhile, and for Super Visa applicants it is a legal requirement.
Visitors are not covered by OHIP
OHIP and the other provincial health plans cover residents, not visitors. Someone arriving from abroad — a parent visiting their adult children, a grandparent coming to meet a new grandchild, a tourist on an extended stay — has no provincial coverage for medical care in Canada. That means a clinic visit, a hospital stay or a surgery would be billed directly to the visitor. Canadian medical care is not cheap, and an uninsured emergency can be a very large expense.
What visitors to Canada insurance covers
Visitors to Canada insurance is built for exactly this situation. It covers eligible emergency medical care during the visit, so an unexpected illness or injury does not turn into an unmanageable bill. Coverage is sized to the length of the stay and the coverage amount chosen, and there is no age limit — important for older parents and grandparents, who are among the most common people it protects. Travellers 60 and over complete a medical questionnaire that sets the premium rather than eligibility.
The Super Visa requirement
For families bringing parents or grandparents to Canada on a Super Visa, insurance is not optional. IRCC requires applicants to hold Canadian medical insurance that:
- Provides at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage,
- Is valid for 365 days from the date of entry, and
- Comes from a Canadian insurer.
A plan that does not meet all three conditions will not satisfy the visa requirement, so it is worth confirming the coverage amount, duration and insurer before relying on it for an application.
Why it is worth it even when not required
Even for visitors who are not applying for a Super Visa, the logic is the same as for any traveller facing a health-coverage gap: the care exists, but someone has to pay for it, and without coverage that someone is the visitor. A single emergency can cost far more than the premium. Coverage also brings access to assistance — TripCovered provides 24/7 help in multiple languages — which is reassuring for a visitor navigating an unfamiliar health system.
What to check when buying
- Coverage amount — at least $100,000 for a Super Visa; adequate for the stay otherwise.
- Duration — covers the full length of the visit (365 days for a Super Visa).
- Canadian insurer — required for Super Visa applications.
- Start date — aligned with the planned arrival.
Buy before arrival
It is generally best to arrange coverage before the visitor arrives, so protection is in place from the first day in Canada. For a Super Visa, the coverage also needs to be ready at the application stage, since proof of it is part of the application. Confirming the start date, coverage amount and duration in advance avoids an uncovered gap at the very beginning of the stay — which, for an older parent or grandparent, is exactly when you least want one.
The bottom line for visitors
For visitors to Canada, travel insurance is worth it because provincial health plans do not cover them and the cost of care here is real. For Super Visa applicants it is mandatory, with specific minimums. Confirm the coverage amount, duration and insurer meet your needs, and get a quote sized to the visit.
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Purchase now →Frequently asked questions
Do visitors to Canada need travel insurance?
It is strongly advisable, and for some it is mandatory. Visitors are not covered by OHIP or other provincial health plans, so any medical care during their stay would be paid out of pocket. Visitors to Canada insurance covers eligible emergency medical care and protects against a large unexpected bill.
Is it required for a Super Visa?
Yes. IRCC requires Super Visa applicants to hold Canadian medical insurance with at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, valid for 365 days, from a Canadian insurer. This is a condition of the visa, not an optional extra, so the coverage must meet those specifications.
Who can buy visitors to Canada insurance?
It is designed for people visiting Canada who are not covered by a provincial plan — including parents and grandparents coming to stay, and visitors on a Super Visa. Coverage is sized to the length of the visit and the coverage amount chosen, and there is no age limit.
TripCovered is a licensed insurance referral service operating in Ontario. Insurance is administered by North American Air Travel Insurance Agents Ltd., doing business as TuGo®, a licensed insurance broker in all provinces and territories. The issuer of the contract is Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. and Industrial Alliance Pacific General Insurance Corporation. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. This website provides general information only and is not a contract of insurance. Always read your policy wording before you travel.