Parents and relatives visiting Canada
Coverage for family members visiting for weeks or months, including options for older travellers.
Visitors to Canada insurance
Emergency medical insurance for visitors to Canada
Protect parents, relatives, tourists, new immigrants waiting for coverage, and returning Canadians with visitor insurance options explained by Cover & Protect.
CanadaVisitors, relatives and newcomers
FreeNo-obligation quote review
OnlineSecure TruStone links available
Who this coverage is for
Visitor insurance helps reduce the financial risk of unexpected medical emergencies while someone is in Canada.
Tourists and temporary residents
Emergency medical coverage for people visiting Canada who are not covered by provincial health insurance.
Newcomers waiting for coverage
Protection during the waiting period before provincial health coverage starts, where applicable.
Why it matters: OHIP won't cover your visitor
Visitors aren't covered by provincial health insurance, and Ontario hospitals bill non-residents directly. See the full OHIP & visitors guide.
Serving visitors and families across Ontario
Cover & Protect helps sponsors, relatives and visitors compare insurance options by phone, email and online.
Toronto
Mississauga
Brampton
Vaughan
Markham
Richmond Hill
Scarborough
Etobicoke
North York
Oakville
All Ontario
Simple visitor quote process
The best visitor insurance option depends on age, stay length, medical history, coverage amount and deductible preference.
Send the visitor details
Age, arrival date, length of stay and any pre-existing condition notes.
Compare suitable options
Cover & Protect reviews visitor insurance options based on your situation.
Choose guided or online
Ask for help first or use the secure TruStone online links when you know which option fits.
How much does visitor insurance in Canada cost?
Unlike Super Visa insurance, visitor to Canada insurance is normally priced per day, so a short visit costs far less than a long one. The premium is driven mainly by the visitor's age, then by the coverage amount, the deductible you choose and any pre-existing conditions.
Age
The single biggest factor. Premiums rise gradually to about age 60, then more steeply through the 70s and 80s.
Length of stay
Priced per day, so a three-week holiday and a six-month stay are very different totals. You insure only the days you need.
Coverage amount
Options commonly range from about $10,000 up to $150,000 or more. Higher limits cost more but protect against a serious emergency.
Deductible
Choosing a deductible — the first portion of a claim you pay yourself — is the most reliable way to bring the premium down.
As a rough illustration for $100,000 of coverage in 2026, a healthy visitor in their 40s might cost a few dollars a day, while a visitor in their mid-70s can cost several times that. Figures vary significantly by insurer and medical history — use the free cost calculator for an estimate, or ask us for an exact quote.
How much coverage should you choose?
There is no legal minimum for general visitor insurance — unlike a Super Visa, where $100,000 is mandatory. That flexibility is useful, but it also means the decision is yours.
$10,000 – $25,000
The lowest-cost tier. It can cover a modest emergency, but it will not go far against a serious hospital stay. Suitable mainly for very short, low-risk visits on a tight budget.
$50,000 – $100,000
The range most families choose. $100,000 is also the level Canada requires for a Super Visa, which makes it a sensible benchmark for older visitors even when it is not mandatory.
$150,000 and above
Worth considering for older visitors, longer stays, or families who want more room if something serious happens. The extra premium is often smaller than people expect.
A useful way to think about it: emergency care in Canada is expensive for anyone without provincial coverage, and a single hospital admission can run well past a low coverage limit. Buying the cheapest tier is a real saving only if it would still be enough in an actual emergency.
Pre-existing conditions
Many visitors — especially parents and grandparents — manage an ongoing condition such as blood pressure, diabetes or a heart condition. Most insurers can still cover them, provided the condition is stable.
"Stable" generally means no new symptoms, no new tests, no change in medication or dosage and no new treatment during the insurer's stability period before coverage begins — commonly 90 to 180 days, depending on the insurer and the visitor's age.
Two rules protect you: answer every medical question accurately, and buy before any change in treatment. An inaccurate answer is the most common reason a large claim is later denied, and a recent medication change can restart the stability clock.
When coverage should start
Coverage normally begins on the date the visitor arrives in Canada, so the policy should be arranged before they travel. Buying in advance also means the price and eligibility are settled while the visitor is still healthy and at home.
If plans shift, many insurers allow the start date to be adjusted before the policy begins — confirm each insurer's rules on changes, extensions and refunds before you buy.
Extensions are often possible if a visit runs longer than planned, but they usually must be arranged before the original policy expires, and any new medical issue that arose during the stay may not be covered under the extension.
What visitor insurance covers — and what it does not
Visitor to Canada insurance is emergency medical coverage, not a substitute for a provincial health plan. Knowing the boundary avoids costly surprises.
Typically covered
Emergency hospital and physician services, treatment of a sudden and unexpected medical emergency, ambulance transport, prescription drugs related to an emergency, limited emergency dental relief, and repatriation. Stable pre-existing conditions are commonly covered where the insurer's stability requirements are met.
Typically not covered
Routine check-ups and preventive care, ongoing management of a known condition, elective or non-emergency treatment, most pregnancy and childbirth costs, and treatment the visitor came to Canada specifically to obtain. Payouts can also be reduced if the insurer's 24/7 emergency line is not called before treatment.
Exact benefits, limits and exclusions are set by each insurer's policy wording. If your visitor is a parent or grandparent applying under the Super Visa program, the rules are stricter — see Super Visa vs visitor insurance and our Super Visa insurance page.
Visitor insurance questions
Is visitor insurance required?
It depends on the visitor’s status and purpose, but emergency medical coverage is strongly recommended because visitors are not covered by provincial health insurance — see our guide Does OHIP cover visitors to Canada?
Can visitors with pre-existing conditions apply?
Often yes. The right option depends on the condition, stability period, age and insurer rules. Ask Cover & Protect if you are not sure.
How much coverage should we choose?
Families often compare different coverage amounts and deductibles. The right balance depends on risk comfort, visitor age, travel dates and budget.
How much does visitor insurance in Canada cost?
Visitor insurance is normally priced per day, so the total depends on how long your visitor stays. Age is the biggest factor, followed by the coverage amount, the deductible and any pre-existing conditions. Try the cost calculator for an estimate, or request a free exact quote.
Is visitor insurance the same as Super Visa insurance?
Not quite. Super Visa insurance is a specific type of visitor insurance that meets the government's requirements — at least $100,000 in coverage, valid for 365 days, from an approved insurer. All Super Visa insurance is visitor insurance, but not every visitor policy qualifies for a Super Visa. See the full comparison.
When should the policy start?
Coverage should begin the day your visitor arrives in Canada, so arrange it before they travel. Buying early also settles the price and eligibility while the visitor is still healthy and at home.
Can we extend the policy if the visit runs longer?
Often yes, but the extension usually has to be arranged before the original policy expires, and any medical issue that arose during the stay may not be covered under the extension. Contact us before the expiry date rather than after.
What happens if we don't buy any coverage?
Your visitor would be personally responsible for the full cost of any emergency care, since provincial health plans do not cover visitors. Emergency treatment and a hospital stay in Canada can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Can I apply online?
Yes. Secure TruStone Health online links are available above. If you are unsure which one fits, request a quote or call before applying.
Who needs visitor to Canada insurance?
Visitor to Canada insurance can help tourists, parents, relatives, temporary residents, new immigrants waiting for provincial coverage, and returning Canadians who need emergency medical coverage while in Canada.
Do you help clients outside Toronto?
Yes. Cover & Protect helps families across the GTA, Ontario and Canada by phone, email and online.
Need visitor coverage before arrival?
Send the visitor details and Cover & Protect will help compare suitable options before you buy.