Travel Insurance Requirements for IEC

[lynnca]

Hello,

Thankful to all who can provide assistance in this area. My husband and I will soon (within the next month or so) be moving Calgary, Canada from Australia. Isaac has been offered a two year contract working in the health care industry. He has applied for a Young Professional Visa through the IEC, and they have requested for proof that he has purchased comprehensive travel insurance cover (including repatriation) for that two year time period.

I was just wanting to find out the level in which he needs to go to in purchasing this cover. We are looking at about $1500 for the insurance (if we took it out for two years), and it seems to me that it is more of a formality than a necessity. Because we will be residing in Canada for more than 6 months, we will be eligible for Alberta's Public Health Care scheme, which would void the need for a private insurance plan. Does Isaac need to have this level of cover? And if he does, does he need to take it out for the full term of his Visa?

Thank you again

 

[scylla]

It's possible the CBSA officer may request proof at the border that you have a full year of insurance as instructed (this does sometimes happen). If you don't have a full year of insurance, the CBSA officer can chose not to issued the work permit for failing to meet one of the program requirements. Or it's possible you may get in without issue. Ultimately it's up to the CBSA officer and none of us can guarantee what will happen at the border. Up to you if you want to take the risk.

 

[Bs65]

It's possible the CBSA officer may request proof at the border that you have a full year of insurance as instructed (this does sometimes happen). If you don't have a full year of insurance, the CBSA officer can chose not to issued the work permit for failing to meet one of the program requirements. Or it's possible you may get in without issue. Ultimately it's up to the CBSA officer and none of us can guarantee what will happen at the border. Up to you if you want to take the risk.

just to clarify the OP needs to show travel insurance for the full term in the OPs case 2 years else CBSA may issue a shortened time for the permit regardless of any contract the OP has. So turning up with 12 months may result in only getting a 12 month permit.

The main issue with any provincial plan of course is does not include any repatriation to home country which under IEC is deemed mandatory given after all IEC is in effect a working holiday not PR. So that is medical repatriation or the worst case death. So the insurance is there to ensure the OP is not faced with a massive bill should such circumstances occur..

 

[lynnca]

Thank you for this information. Could anyone suggest a cost friendly insurance that we could look at for this kind of cover?

 

[lynnca]

Just one other question, Isaac's flight is now less than two weeks and his Young Professional Visa still hasn't been approved. What can he do if it isn't approved in time? Can he request for it to be a priority? Can his Visa be activated while he is already in Canada, or will he have to leave the country and return?

Many Thanks

 

[scylla]

Just one other question, Isaac's flight is now less than two weeks and his Young Professional Visa still hasn't been approved. What can he do if it isn't approved in time? Can he request for it to be a priority? Can his Visa be activated while he is already in Canada, or will he have to leave the country and return?

Many Thanks

There is no priority processing. Generally speaking, you should never book your flight until after the visa has been approved.

He will need to exit the country and re-enter to trigger the work permit if it's approved after he arrives in Canada.

If he's flying on a one way ticket, there's also some chance the airline will give him a hassle if he doesn't have the IEC visa yet.

 

[lynnca]

Ok, good to know . And in regard to the travel health insurance for my question above. Any suggestions?