Updated October 21, 2026 · By Pankaj Bhatia
What changed January 28, 2025
IRCC expanded eligibility for some policies issued by insurance companies outside Canada, subject to specific regulatory conditions. Read the official notice.
Requirements for eligible foreign insurance
IRCC requires the foreign insurance company to be authorized by OSFI to provide accident and sickness insurance, to appear on OSFI’s publicly available list of federally regulated financial institutions, and to issue or make the policy while carrying on insurance business in Canada.
A broker is not the insurer
Check the actual underwriting insurance company listed on the certificate. A foreign broker, claims administrator or comparison website is not necessarily the licensed insurer.
What documents should show
The certificate should identify the insurance company, coverage start and end dates, coverage limit, covered benefits, payment status, and for foreign policies the required Canadian-business issuance statement. See IRCC document guidance.
Reviewed October 21, 2026. Immigration requirements may change; check IRCC before applying.