How to Buy Visitors to Canada Insurance: 2026 Complete Guide

Key Concepts

When it comes to "how to buy visitors to Canada insurance", the Canadian visitors insurance market has six major insurers, each with distinct strengths. The right choice depends on age, health, length of stay, and budget.

Visitors to Canada insurance terms and prices come from each insurer's official rate card — prices are consistent across channels and rarely change. Policy terms, however, differ significantly between insurers, so a side-by-side comparison matters.

Choosing a Coverage Amount

The coverage amount is the maximum the insurance company will pay. Common levels for visitors to Canada are $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $150,000, $250,000, and $500,000. When choosing, consider Canadian medical costs: an ER visit runs about $500-$1,000, a hospital day $3,000-$5,000, and surgery can cost tens of thousands of dollars. At least $100,000 in coverage is recommended. Super Visa insurance requires a minimum of $100,000 (an IRCC requirement).

Pre-existing Conditions

Pre-existing conditions are health issues that existed before the policy was purchased, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. Coverage for pre-existing conditions depends on the "stability period" definition — if the condition has been stable (no worsening, no medication changes, no hospitalization) for a set time before the policy start date, typically 90 to 180 days, related claims are covered. Stability requirements and definitions differ between insurers, and pre-existing conditions must be declared honestly when applying. Some insurers offer no-medical-questionnaire plans (pre-existing conditions not covered) alongside medical-questionnaire plans (pre-existing conditions covered if stable).

Deductible

The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket on each claim. A higher deductible means a lower premium. Common deductible levels are $0, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, and $2,500. There are two ways deductibles are applied: Per Policy (charged once per trip) and Per Claim (charged on every claim). Per Policy is better for consumers because a single trip with multiple medical visits only triggers one deductible. Most insurers use Per Policy, but a few products use Per Claim — always check.

How to Choose

When comparing visitors to Canada insurance, review at least 3-5 insurers and focus on these dimensions:

• Pre-existing condition stability period: ranges from 90 to 180 days — longer is better
• Deductible type: Per Policy beats Per Claim
• Waiting period: buying before arrival usually means no waiting period
• Follow-up visit limits: some insurers restrict repeat visits for the same condition
• Direct billing network: avoids paying out of pocket first

See our plan comparison overview to check all 6 insurers' terms and prices in one place instead of visiting each website.

How to Buy

1. Enter the visitor's age and length of stay in the comparison table to see prices from each insurer

2. Based on the visitor's health, decide whether pre-existing condition coverage is needed

3. Choose a deductible (higher deductible for budget-sensitive buyers, lower for maximum protection)

4. Fill in the application details and pay the premium

5. Receive the electronic policy, effective immediately or on a chosen date

6. For a Super Visa application, submit the policy to IRCC as supporting material

Things to Watch Out For

Pre-existing conditions must be declared honestly. Concealing them can lead to denied claims.

Buy before the visitor lands in Canada to get no or shorter waiting periods.

After the policy takes effect there is a free-look period (usually 10-15 days) during which you can cancel for a full refund.

Keep all medical receipts and records — you will need them for any claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps

See the plan comparison overview for what this site covers, or open the full comparison table (page in Chinese) with terms and prices from all 6 insurers.