Travel Insurance for Canada 2024: Your Ultimate Guide

Entry requirements for Canada in 2024

In order to enter Canada by air, you need an Electronic Travel Authorization, or eTA. On this website, you will find information about Canada’s entry requirements.

You can apply for an eTA online, and it costs 7 Canadian dollars. You will typically get a response within 72 hours.

As of January 5, 2023, proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test is no longer mandatory to enter Canada, except for travellers arriving on flights originating in China, Hong Kong, Macao, or Taiwan.

Is travel insurance to Canada mandatory?

The Canadian Government does not explicitly require you to have travel insurance to enter the country.

However, it is highly recommended that you do so, especially for long stay travel insurance to Canada, as costs for medical care in Canada are very high for non-residents, and not even the most urgent cases are spared.

If you want to avoid a financial nightmare, taking out medical travel insurance to Canada is essential.

Furthermore, if you’re going to take part in the International Experience Canada program, you do need insurance, and may even be denied entry into the country without it. Your insurance must cover hospitalisation, medical care, and repatriation.

What should my travel insurance to Canada cover?

Here is a list of the main benefits that your insurance policy should cover. This is to ensure that you are covered for any unforeseen events during your trip.

• Medical expenses: the insurer must cover your medical expenses if you get sick or have an accident in Canada. This is paramount for the adventurers and extreme sportspeople!
• Lost luggage: can be reimbursed in case of loss, or theft of luggage, personal belongings, or travel documents.
• Flight cancellations and delays: if you experience flight cancellations or delays, you will be entitled to a refund.
• Medical emergency (accident or illness). This is extra important if you will be exploring in nature in Canada, whose vast forests can be dangerous and unforgiving!
• Repatriation or funeral expenses abroad.
• Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essentials).
• Travel delays due to weather.
• Adventure sports add-ons.

Adventure sports in Canada

Here’s a quick tip for backpackers and adventurers travelling to Canada:

Canadians love spending time in nature, and there are tons of thrill-seeking opportunities all over the country. Here are just a few activities you can expect to find:

• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Snow scootering
• Canoeing
• Ziplining
• Bungee jumping
• Downhill mountain biking

These are all popular activities in Canada. Some will be covered by your regular plan, but for the riskier activities, you may need to purchase an adventure-sports add-on. Remember to check your policy’s terms and conditions carefully!

When contracting travel insurance for Canada, it’s important to do your research to ensure that you’re covered for the activities you want to try. The best way to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun is to have the right coverage.

How much does travel insurance to Canada cost?

The price of travel insurance to Canada will depend on various factors, such as the duration of the trip, and the type of cover you take out.

Because health care costs are so high in North America, most insurance companies include the US and Canada in their own category, which, unfortunately, is more expensive.

Here is a set of average prices for travel insurance for visitors to Canada:

• 30-47 € per week for short trips.

• 76-141 € per month for long trips, nomadic or business travel.

• 39-111 € per month for business travel (Working Holiday).
  
  
• 39-104 € per month for overseas study travel.

Choosing the option with the highest level of coverage is the best way to ensure a smooth trip, hassle-free. Remember that taking out travel insurance is an investment, and will allow you to rest assured that you are covered while in Canada.

How to take out travel insurance to Canada

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to contract your travel insurance for Canada:

The websites of the insurance companies I’ve mentioned are straightforward and intuitive, so don’t worry!

1. Go to the website of the insurer of your choice and click on the insurance plan that you want to contract.
2. Once you have selected the insurance, you will see a “Contract” button, or something similar. Click to start the contracting process.
3. Once there, you will need to fill in your trip details. This includes the duration of your trip, the number of travellers contracting insurance, and the countries you’ll be visiting. Remember to check the policy’s renewal terms for trips lasting longer than 12 months. For travel to Canada, select the option that says, “North America,” or “World including US/Canada.”
4. Fill in the details of each traveller and add a supplement if necessary. This is usually the cancellation or adventure sports option. Remember, these may be very useful when travelling to Canada.
5. Read the insurance conditions carefully, and that’s it. You now have your travel insurance to Canada!

Is it safe to travel to Canada?

Canada is one of the safest countries in the world. In fact, the country has a very low crime rate and a high quality of life. However, in major cities, it is advisable to be wary of theft, as tourists are often targeted.

Open drug-use and homelessness are common in places like Vancouver and Toronto, so keep your wits about you, and take sensible precautions at nighttime. If you run into trouble, call 911, or 0, and contact your country’s Consulate in Canada.

It is also a country where natural disasters and bad weather are common. For this reason, travel insurance to Canada must be part of your travel plan. Always check your Government’s official travel advice before going to Canada.

Whether you’re going to Canada to experience their winter sports, big cities, or their countless stunning national parks, I’m certain that you’ll have an incredible time.
Just remember to take out insurance! ✈️🇨🇦