IEC (Working Holiday) Visa Insurance for Canada in 2026

To ensure a smooth arrival in Canada, IEC participants must meet the government's mandatory insurance requirements. Under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, having comprehensive insurance is required ahead of your entry. Presenting a valid policy at the border is the best way to ensure your work permit is issued for its full duration without any complications.

Your policy must cover your entire stay and include all three of the following:

As a Canadian-based agency, BestQuote works with many of the country's top-rated insurance providers. We specialize in comparing hundreds of policies to ensure you get the best coverage at the best price. While we offer a wide range of plans from these industry giants, we have developed our own specialized solution to fix the most common problems IEC travellers face: BestQuote MedEC.

The MedEC policy (underwritten by Lloyd's) is a specialized insurance plan designed specifically to meet Canada's IEC entry requirements. It is the only IEC plan on the market that combines government-compliant emergency coverage with a unique set of additional benefits you will not find in any other visitors-to-Canada policy.

1. Standard MedEC Policy: Essential medical, hospital, and repatriation coverage. The right choice for most IEC participants.

2. MedEC + Winter Sports Policy: Everything in Standard MedEC, plus coverage for skiing and snowboarding. Recommended if you plan to hit the slopes during your stay.

The BestQuote MedEC Visitors policy is the only policy in the world that will provide a partial refund of premium when a policyholder enrolls in provincial GHIP. Once enrolled, 25% of the remaining premium is refunded (less a $25 admin fee), which can help lower your IEC insurance costs by several hundred dollars.

The BestQuote MedEC policy is the only IEC plan that includes 24/7 access to Canadian doctors via Maple. Skip the clinic waiting rooms and get medical advice from your phone - included with your policy at no extra cost.

Note: While the doctor's consultation is 100% free, the cost of any prescribed medication or follow-up tests is only covered by MedEC if the situation is a qualifying medical emergency.

The cost of IEC insurance depends primarily on your age, how long you plan to stay in Canada, the coverage amount (sum insured), your deductible, and if you wish to include Winter Sports Coverage. Unlike most travel insurance products, the BestQuote MedEC policy is one of the few that can effectively reduce in cost after arrival through the GHIP refund feature. Below are indicative price ranges for the BestQuote MedEC policy with $100,000 in coverage with.

Prices vary based on the sum insured ($100,000 , $150,000 , $200,000 , $300,000 , $500,000), deductible selected ($0, $250, $500, $1000, $2500, or $5000), your age at the date of purchase and if you wish to include coverage for Winter Sports. Choosing a higher deductible reduces your upfront premium, but means you pay more out-of-pocket if you make a claim.

The GHIP Refund Advantage: Once you're enrolled in a provincial health plan (OHIP, MSP, AHCIP, etc.), you can apply for a 25% refund of your remaining premium. For a 2-year policy, this can reduce your effective cost by several hundred dollars - a benefit unique to BestQuote MedEC in the Canadian market.

Canada's IEC program is open to citizens of more than 30 countries. While the insurance requirements are the same regardless of where you're from, there are a few country-specific things worth knowing before you buy.

United Kingdom: Most UK-issued IEC policies are completely non-refundable after their 14-day "free look" period, so if your plans change after arrival, you can't get your money back. BestQuote MedEC offers an early return refund and a GHIP refund option that UK-issued policies typically don't.

Australia & New Zealand: Current premiums from domestic Australian and New Zealand insurers for Canada coverage tend to be significantly higher than what's available through a Canadian-based agency. Purchasing through BestQuote gives you access to competitively priced Canadian policies.

Ireland, France, Japan, South Korea & Taiwan: Most domestic insurers in these countries either don't offer Canada-specific IEC policies or charge substantially more. A Canadian-based policy from BestQuote ensures you meet IRCC requirements exactly and at a competitive price.

Note on reciprocal health agreements: Canada does not have reciprocal healthcare agreements with most IEC-participating countries. Your home country's health coverage (NHS, Medicare, etc.) does not apply once you're in Canada. Private IEC insurance is essential from day one.

When you arrive at a Canadian port of entry, a CBSA officer may ask to see proof of valid health insurance as part of activating your IEC work permit. Being prepared avoids delays or complications at the border.

What to bring:

• Your Certificate of Insurance or Declaration of Insurance (emailed to you after purchase)

• A printed or digital copy showing your name, policy number, coverage dates, and sum insured

• The document must clearly show coverage for hospitalization, emergency medical care, and repatriation

Tips: Print a physical copy and also save a digital copy on your phone. Don't rely solely on email access at the border. Your policy must cover your entire planned stay; partial coverage may result in a shorter work permit being issued.

After purchasing from BestQuote, your policy confirmation documents are emailed immediately. You can also contact BestQuote at 1-888-888-0510 to request a replacement copy.

BestQuote also offers various policies from Canadian (and/or American) insurance companies that cover stable pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes or chronic heart conditions, etc.), or more hazardous extreme sports (from rock climbing, backcountry skiing, bungee-jumping or rodeo!), although many of these are usually only available for one year at a time. Please note that Canadian insurance companies do not offer travel insurance policies that offer personal liability coverage, although some USA companies will.

There may be many IEC travel insurance policies to look through depending on whether you are arriving from Europe or the United Kingdom (although most UK policies are completely non-refundable after their 'free look' period (14 days) - so if you change your plans about staying in Canada you can't get your money back), Australia or New Zealand (where current premiums are prohibitive), or other Asian countries like Japan, Taiwan, or South Korea (usually also much higher).

International travel insurance companies will often package together their medical emergency coverage with other coverage for things such as personal effects and/or luggage or expenses related to trip cancellation/interruption - although once the contract details are looked at carefully, you may find that the coverage doesn't quite justify a higher cost. For example, trip cancellation/interruption costs related to COVID may not be covered, or baggage items won't be replaced without a police report and/or original receipts.

The quote engine seen on this page allows travellers to get a free instant quote and view a list of available policies under the 'IEC Visa Insurance' category and then purchase a policy online. Useful policy information (prices, benefits, important secondary benefits, refund policies, etc.) that you can review and compare is provided on the quote presentation page. If you came to this website to research your insurance options, you can't do that without getting a quote!

We'll also email you a link to your quote for future reference. If you have any problems receiving a quote or have some specific questions you need to ask, don't hesitate to call us (1-888-888-0510). After purchasing online, confirmation of coverage policy document(s) will be emailed to you as soon as your purchase is processed. We suggest that you keep a copy for your records, print out a copy and carry it with your other travel documents to show as proof of insurance at the border when you enter Canada.

1. Get a Quote: Enter your trip details into the quote tool on this page. You will see real prices, deductible options, and key coverage details from multiple providers side by side.

2. Compare Plans: Review the available policies. Pay attention to the sum insured, deductible options, refund conditions, and any secondary benefits like Maple virtual care.

3. Purchase and Receive Documents: Complete your purchase online and receive your proof of insurance documents by email. We recommend printing a copy and carrying it with your other travel documents to show as proof of insurance at the border when you enter Canada.

Stay informed with our latest guides and blog posts on International Experience Canada (IEC) insurance. From working holiday coverage to tips comparing health plans, we cover everything you need to know to make the right choice.