Canadian Medicare

Not every part of Canada is the same. Under the Canadian healthcare system (called Medicare), each Province and Territory administers its own health plan.

In some Provinces (currently British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec), and in all Territories, new residents may wait up to 3 months before being eligible for public healthcare. During the waiting period even the high cost of hospitalization for an emergency would be your liability!

Temporary Residents & Visitors should know…

• Work permit and study permit holders are eligible for Medicare in most (not all) Provinces and Territories, but it can depend on the type and duration of your permit, and in some cases you will need to provide proof of your employment contract or school registration. Expiration of your work/study permit will affect your Medicare eligibility.

• Visitors and other “Non-residents” are not eligible for Medicare and need private insurance for the duration of their time in Canada.

• For certain immigration visas (such as PG-1 Super-Visa, and IEC Visa) Citizenship and Immigration Canada have specific criteria for private medical insurance that must be presented upon entry into Canada.