Best IEC Travel Insurance for Canada (2026): Our Picks for Your Working Holiday

If you’re moving to Canada on the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, getting the right insurance isn’t optional. It can decide how long your work permit is. We spent two years in Canada on our own IEC visas (Vancouver, plus a full winter season in Whistler), and it’s one of the most-asked questions in our IEC Facebook groups. Here’s our 2026 guide.

Quick Answer: Our IEC Insurance Picks

• True Traveller: for Irish, UK and European residents. It’s what we used. Up to 24 months, unlimited home visits.
• Fast Cover: for Australian residents. 12 months, extendable to 24.
• BestQuote: for all nationalities, before or after you arrive in Canada. A Canadian broker with IEC-specific policies.

What the Canadian Government Requires

According to IRCC, when you arrive at the port of entry you must have health insurance valid for your entire stay, covering:

• medical care
• hospitalisation
• repatriation (getting you home in case of severe illness, injury or death)

The part that catches people out: if your insurance is shorter than your planned stay, your work permit will be issued to expire on the same date as your insurance, and you won’t be able to extend it later. Buy one year of cover and you’ll likely get a one-year permit.

A provincial health card isn’t enough, because it doesn’t cover repatriation, and you won’t have one on arrival anyway. IRCC recommends buying your insurance after you receive your port of entry (POE) letter.

Our own experience: one couple, two different permits

Your nationality decides how long your IEC visa is. Steve got a two-year work permit on his Irish passport. Sabina’s Polish passport only allowed one year, but thankfully she has dual citizenship and was approved for a second IEC with her other passport, which meant she could stay the full two years with Steve. Whatever length you’re approved for, match your insurance to it exactly.

What to Check Before You Buy IEC Insurance

Two years is a long time, so it’s worth reading the small print. Ask:

• Does it meet the IEC requirements? Medical, hospital and repatriation, for the full length of your stay.
• What activities are covered? Skiing, snowboarding, hiking and kayaking often need an add-on. We didn’t plan to snowboard when we landed in Vancouver, ended up doing a whole season in Whistler, and were very glad we’d added winter sports cover.
• Can you go home for a visit? Some policies limit trips home. Others allow unlimited visits.
• Are trips outside Canada covered? Think long weekends in the US, or Mexico in winter.
• What’s the excess? That’s how much you pay yourself on each claim.
• Can you buy it if you’ve already left home? Many insurers only cover you if you buy before departure.
• Save the emergency number in your phone as soon as you buy.

And please don’t just buy the cheapest policy. We know people who went bare-minimum and ended up with a broken bone and a huge bill.

The Best IEC Insurance in 2026

True Traveller: best for Ireland, the UK and Europe

This is who we used for our own two-year IEC cover, and who we’ve kept using as we travel. It’s the one we recommend most to European members of our groups.

• A dedicated IEC Canada policy for up to 24 months
• Unlimited home visits
• Can be bought even if you’re already in Canada
• Up to £10 million medical cover
• 92 activities as standard, with Adventure, Extreme and Ultimate packs for more
• Winter sports cover available. It covered us for our Whistler season.
• Available to UK and European residents only

Get a True Traveller IEC quote

Fast Cover: best for Australians

Most of our Australian friends and group members who moved to Canada went with Fast Cover.

• Buy a 12-month policy, then extend it by another 12 months from your policy dashboard. You can extend from 30 days after the policy starts.
• Covers overseas emergency medical and hospital costs, evacuation and repatriation, plus 24/7 emergency assistance
• Optional winter sports cover
• Can be started if you’ve already left Australia (check the conditions)

Get a Fast Cover quote

BestQuote: for all nationalities (and if you’ve already arrived)

BestQuote is a Canadian insurance broker. Its site lets you compare IEC policies side by side, with prices, benefits and refund rules, so it’s a good option whatever passport you hold. Its own MedEC policy for IEC participants is underwritten by Lloyd’s.

• IEC policies for 12, 18 or 24 months
• Covers emergency medical and repatriation, as IEC requires
• Optional winter sports version
• Good for nationalities that True Traveller and Fast Cover don’t cover

To get a quote, enter your dates in Canada, any other countries you’ll visit, the number of travellers and their dates of birth.

Compare IEC policies on BestQuote

IEC Insurance FAQ

Do I need IEC insurance for the whole two years?

If you want a two-year work permit, yes. The permit is issued to match your insurance end date, and it can’t be extended later.

Will border officers actually check?

They can ask to see proof at the port of entry, so don’t risk it. Carry a printed and a digital copy of your policy showing the dates and cover.

Is my provincial health card enough once I’m working?

No. Provincial healthcare doesn’t cover repatriation, and there’s often a waiting period before you’re enrolled.

When should I buy it?

After you get your POE letter, and so the policy starts on or before the day you land in Canada.

Other Useful Links for Your IEC Move

• Wise: our everyday money transfer service. Your first transfer is free.
• TorFX: for moving $5,000+. No transfer fees, and your own account manager.
• SendMyBag: usually cheaper than excess baggage.
• Hostelworld and Booking.com: for your first few nights.

More guides: 15 things to know about a working holiday in Canada, choosing a Canadian bank, the cheapest way to send money to Canada and moving to Vancouver.

Insurance details change, so always check the policy wording with the insurer before you buy. We’re not insurance advisers. This guide is based on our own experience and the insurers’ published information as of October 2026. Some links are affiliate links: if you use them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Steve and Sabina

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