Canadian Working Holiday Visa: Insurance & Requirements

Quick summary for busy readers:

• New Zealanders can apply for a Canadian working holiday visa through International Experience Canada (IEC).
• To be eligible, you need to be aged 18 to 35, hold a valid passport, have at least CAD$2,500 in accessible funds, and be able to show proof of health insurance covering your entire stay.
• That insurance needs to cover healthcare, hospitalisation and repatriation, and Canadian immigration won’t let you into the country without it.
• Because Kiwis can get a visa for up to 23 months, finding a single policy that covers the full stay can be tricky, since most standard travel insurance only runs for 12 months.

 

Thinking about swapping the daily grind for a couple of years in Canada? Every year, thousands of young Kiwis head over on a working holiday visa. And we totally get why. The ski slopes are insanely good, and both the Rockies and Niagara Falls are bucket list landmarks. Not to mention, Vancouver and Toronto are genuinely cool cities.

However, getting to Canada on a working holiday visa obviously involves paperwork, and the insurance requirements are what trip people up most. So, below we’ve covered everything New Zealanders need to know including how to get a working holiday visa and what kind of insurance you’ll need.

Can New Zealanders get a working visa in Canada?

Yes, through a program called International Experience Canada (IEC), Kiwis aged 18 to 35 can apply for a working holiday visa that allows up to 23 months in Canada. It’s a pretty good deal by international standards, since a lot of other countries only get a 12-month allowance under the same scheme.

What are the requirements for the IEC Visa?

To be eligible for the working holiday category of the IEC, you generally need to:

• Be a New Zealand citizen with a valid passport that covers the full length of your intended stay.
• Be between 18 and 35 years old at the time you apply.
• Have at least CAD$2,500 in accessible funds to support yourself when you arrive.
• Have a return ticket or enough additional funds to buy one.
• Not be travelling with dependants.
• Be admissible to Canada, which generally means passing background and health checks.
• Pay the required government fees, which currently total around CAD$369.75 once you add up the IEC participation fee, the open work permit fee and the biometrics fee.
• Be able to prove you have insurance covering your entire stay when you arrive at the border.

That last point is super important; Canadian border officials will ask to see evidence of insurance when you land, and without it, you can be refused entry even if every other part of your application was approved.

What insurance do I need for a working holiday visa in Canada?

Canadian immigration requires you to hold insurance for the entire duration of your stay, and it needs to cover healthcare, hospitalisation and repatriation, at the very least. A medical-only policy will usually satisfy that baseline requirement, but it’s worth thinking beyond the bare minimum if you plan to stay for several months.

A few things worth factoring into your decision of whether to get a medical-only or comprehensive policy (and/or an add-on pack):

• Comprehensive cover adds protection a basic policy won’t. Medical-only policies are the cheapest option, but a comprehensive policy also covers things like travel delays and cancellation, including if a family member back home falls seriously ill while you’re away.
• Check you’re covered outside Canada too. If you’re planning any other trips for your working holiday, like a weekend in New York, make sure your policy extends to every country you intend to visit, not just Canada. Especially as it typically doesn’t add much to the cost.
• Adventure activities aren’t always included automatically. If you’re planning to hit the slopes on your days off, which a lot of IEC travellers do given how many end up working at resorts like Whistler or Sun Peaks, check that winter sports and any other high-risk activities you’re into are actually covered before you assume they are.
• Personal liability cover matters more than people expect. If you accidentally injure someone or damage property while you’re in Canada, liability cover protects you from the costs that follow.

Beyond choosing the right level of cover, there are a few things worth knowing that apply no matter which policy you land on:

• Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded by default. Most policies won’t automatically cover a condition you had before you left, though many insurers let you pay extra to have specific conditions included. It’s worth checking your Policy Wording rather than assuming either way.
• Alcohol-related incidents can void a claim. A drink or two isn’t an issue, but insurers can and do reject claims where reckless behaviour under the influence played a part.
• Your belongings need to be looked after, not just insured. Most policies cover theft, damage and loss, but claims are often rejected if items were left unattended, so leaving a bag on a train or in a taxi generally won’t be covered even if it's stolen.

You should also be aware that not every job on your working holiday will be automatically covered. Higher-risk work, like construction involving heavy machinery, may fall outside standard travel insurance, and personal liability while working usually isn’t covered either, as that’s generally your employer’s responsibility. Lower-risk jobs like hospitality, retail, admin, tourism, childcare and teaching typically don’t cause any issues.

Where can I get insurance for a lengthy Canadian working holiday?

Because Kiwis can be approved for up to 23 months in Canada, this is where things get genuinely tricky. Most standard New Zealand travel insurance policies only cover trips up to 12 months, and the few insurers who cover more than that usually cap out at 18 months.

If you want to stay in Canada for the full 23 months (just under two years), you’ll need to specifically look for a provider that offers extended-duration cover, rather than assuming your usual travel insurer will stretch to match your visa length.

But don’t worry, we’ve done the legwork and put together where you can find longer-stay cover for a Canadian working holiday below:

How much will travel insurance for a working holiday in Canada cost?

Cost varies a lot depending on your age, how long your trip is, and whether you go for a basic medical-only policy or something more comprehensive. As a general rule, the longer your stay and the more inclusions your policy has, the more you’ll pay. And given Kiwis can be approved for up to 23 months, that duration alone can make a meaningful difference to your quote compared to a standard 12-month holiday policy.

A few things that typically push the price up or down:

• Your age. Premiums tend to increase gradually as you get older, even within the 18 to 35 IEC eligibility window.
• Policy type. Basic, medical-only policies are the cheapest option. Comprehensive policies cost more but add cancellation cover, luggage protection and other benefits on top of medical care.
• Add-ons like winter sports cover. If you’re planning to work or play on the slopes, adding adventure or snow sports cover will increase your premium.
• Trip length. A 23-month policy will naturally cost more than a 12-month one.

Because prices shift regularly and vary a lot between providers, it’s worth using our comparison tool to get a live quote rather than relying on a general estimate.