IEC Travel Insurance
for Working Holidays in Canada
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IEC Insurance - Quotes Calculator
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International Experience Canada program, or simply IEC, is available to eligible young adults from participating countries and territories, with age limits and program options varying by citizenship.
As an IEC participant you have a unique opportunity to work and travel in Canada exploring its nature, its culture and its people, who have come here from all over the world!
IEC / Working Holiday Travel Insurance provides emergency medical coverage for International Experience Canada participants while they live, work and travel in Canada.
Before arriving in Canada, IEC participants must have insurance covering their entire intended stay, including medical care, hospitalization and repatriation.
International Experience Canada participants must have IEC / Working Holiday Travel Insurance to help cover the cost of unexpected medical emergencies during their stay in Canada.
IEC / Working Holiday travel insurance MUST:
– Be valid for the entire duration of your intended stay
– Cover emergency medical care, hospitalization and repatriation
– Be valid for each entry to Canada
– Be available for review by a POE officer at the Canadian border
Depending on the plan, additional advantages may include:
- Local claims support: Working with a Canadian insurer can simplify communication and claims assistance while you are in Canada.
- Emergency medical coverage: Plans include coverage for eligible emergency medical care and hospitalization, along with repatriation benefits required for IEC participants.
- Recreational activities: Many plans already include coverage for common recreational sports and activities.
- Direct billing assistance: In some cases, the insurer or assistance provider may be able to arrange direct payment with a hospital or medical facility, reducing the amount you need to pay upfront.
- Canadian-based assistance: You can access support from companies familiar with the Canadian healthcare system rather than relying solely on an overseas provider.
At Arbetov Insurance, you can compare IEC travel insurance options from Canadian insurers and choose coverage that matches the length of your intended stay and your individual needs.
If your IEC participation allows you to stay in Canada for up to 24 months, your health insurance must be valid for the entire period you intend to stay when you arrive in Canada.
IRCC recommends purchasing one insurance policy covering the full length of your work permit. However, if a single policy for the entire period is not available, two consecutive policies are also accepted, provided they offer continuous coverage with no gap between them.
For a two-year stay, this can mean arranging two consecutive 365-day policies. Together, the policies must provide the required coverage for medical care, hospitalization and repatriation throughout your intended stay in Canada.
It is important to have coverage for the full period before arriving. If your insurance expires earlier than your intended stay, your IEC work permit may be issued only until the insurance expiry date.
Purchasing additional insurance afterward generally will not allow you to extend a work permit that was shortened because of insufficient insurance coverage at entry.
Cost and Apply?
Coverage varies by insurer and plan, but IEC insurance options typically include the following emergency medical benefits.
– Emergency Medical Care
– Hospitalization
– Repatriation
– Ground and Air Ambulance
– Emergency Dental Repair
– Dental Pain Relief
– Non-competitive Sports Injuries
– Prescription Medications
– Laboratory Diagnostics
– Services of a Medical Specialist i.e. chiropractor, osteopath, etc.
– Services of a Registered Nurse
– Rental or Purchase of Medical Appliances
Side-trips to other countries are also covered with your IEC / Work Visa insurance as long as you remain in Canada for the majority of your policy period.
For a detailed coverage description please read the Policy Wording of the insurance plan you select.
International Experience Canada (IEC) program was exclusively designed for young adults, who want to explore Canada while gaining international working experience for a period of up to 2 years.
IEC visa holders have a great choice of program options in and out of Canada that vary depending on the country of the participant’s citizenship.
IEC eligibility, age limits, available categories and permitted lengths of stay vary by citizenship. Check your country or territory on the official IRCC IEC eligibility page for the latest requirements.
– Working Holiday:
Working Holiday program grants you a great opportunity to earn some money and cover your personal expenses for your trip, accommodation as well as other costs, while you are staying in Canada.
– Young Professionals:
With a Young Professionals visa, you can expand your career opportunities by gaining a professional working experience that is internationally recognized as well as enjoy living in one of the most culturally diverse country in the world.
– International Co-op Internship:
As a post-secondary institution student, an International Co-op Internship will be a great addition to your CV as well as a unique opportunity to gain a real work experience related to your field of study.
The International Experience Canada application process varies by citizenship and IEC category, but generally follows these steps:
1. Create Your IEC Profile
Check that you meet the eligibility requirements for your country and IEC category, then create and submit an online profile to enter the appropriate IEC pool. If selected, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for an IEC work permit.
2. Accept Your Invitation and Apply
Once you receive an ITA, you have 10 days to accept or decline it.
After accepting the invitation, you have 20 days to complete and submit your work permit application, supporting documents and applicable fees.
Biometrics or additional documents may also be required.
For the 2026 IEC season, the participation fee is $184.75 CAD. Working Holiday applicants must also pay a $100 open work permit holder fee, while an $85 biometrics fee may apply. Fees are subject to change, so always confirm current amounts with IRCC before applying.
3. Receive Your Port of Entry Letter
If your work permit application is approved, IRCC will issue a Port of Entry (POE) Letter of Introduction.
This letter confirms that your application has been approved, but your actual IEC work permit is issued when you enter Canada and meet the entry requirements.
Before travelling, arrange IEC / Working Holiday Travel Insurance for your entire intended stay in Canada. Your policy must include medical care, hospitalization and repatriation coverage.
4. Arrive in Canada
When entering Canada, be prepared to show the border services officer your passport, POE Letter, proof of health insurance, proof of sufficient funds and a departure ticket or enough money to purchase one.
If you meet the entry requirements, the border services officer will issue your IEC work permit.
If your insurance covers a shorter period than your intended stay, your work permit may be limited to the expiry date of your insurance policy.
IEC eligibility, fees and application procedures can change. Check the official IRCC website for the latest program requirements before applying.
View the official list of International Experience Canada questions – IEC FAQ
A: IEC is available to eligible young adults from participating countries and territories. Age limits vary by citizenship, so applicants should check their country-specific eligibility with IRCC.
If you are uninsured, you may be denied entry to Canada until you purchase an International Experience Canada travel insurance policy. Moreover, if you decide to skip out on purchasing appropriate coverage, you are potentially exposing yourself to a great risk as medical costs in Canada can easily run up to several thousands of dollars just for a single day in the hospital.
A: Absolutely! With a health insurance policy from a Canadian provider it is much easier to file a claim, receive comprehensive sports coverage, as well as have direct billing.
With this you do not have to pay for medical assistance yourself and get reimbursed later; rather, there are local branches of the company where you can meet a representative.
A: No, that is why it is very important that IEC visitors purchase appropriate travel insurance for the duration of their stay in Canada.
Moreover, IEC / Working Holiday participants who are about to get their Canadian Work Visa, are not covered by government health insurance plans. This is why, it is a key requirement to purchase travel insurance for a Working Visa in Canada for the whole duration of your stay in Canada.
However, IEC / Working Holiday participants can become eligible for provincial healthcare if he/she is employed. Please note that eligibility requirements vary depending on the Health Ministry within the Canadian province or territory of your temporary stay.
A: Yes, all Canada Working Holiday Visa medical insurance plans that we offer cover recreational sports injuries including winter ones such as ski and snowboard, etc. as long as it is not competitive.
Please note that high-risk recreational activities such as bungee jumping, rock climbing, etc. are not covered. For more details, please contact our insurance advisors.
A: Yes, you will be covered by this policy anywhere around the globe as long as you are not in your permanent residence country.
In order to maintain this benefit, you must remain in Canada a certain amount of your coverage period per policy, which depends on the insurance policy of your choice.
A: When shopping for health insurance for Working Holiday Visa Canada, you should include a Canadian street address in the application. If you do not have one, you may enter the address of a hostel or a friend/family member you are going to stay with.
In case you have not yet decided where to stay, just contact one of our insurance advisors and we will work something out.
If you were unable to find what you were looking for, please take a look at our General FAQ for more information, or talk to our advisors and we will be happy to assist you!
Her instructions were clear; she cleared all our doubts and the process was very quick.
I can’t recommend Arbetov enough - Even using on-line messaging over different time zones, my customer service experience was excellent.
If you’re looking for a really good service and unbeatable rates for IEC health insurance - these are the guys to use!
Thank you Lea for all your help x
