Who are Visitors to Canada and What Visitor Visas and Insurance Do They Use?

One of the most significant markets for brokers who sell travel insurance is visitors to Canada. According to Destination Canada, a government research source, and Statistics Canada, as many as 20.8 million visitors entered Canada in 2017. Whether these visitors are coming from a visa exempt country, such as the US, or they require a visitor visa for entrance, insurance is still a key component of their trip.

Travel insurance is important for everyone, including visitors to Canada, and Travelance specializes in this field. Read on to learn more about this growing market.

Who are visitors to Canada?

With 20.8 million visitors entering Canada in 2017, it’s interesting to take note of where these people travelled from. According to government statistics, most visitors came from the US, with approximately 14.3 million travellers, followed by the UK, with approximately 801,000 travellers, and China, with approximately 682,000 travellers. The most growth came from Mexico, with 47% more travellers than the previous year, followed by Brazil with 22% more travellers, and India with 18% more travellers.

Special events may encourage more visitors to come from certain places. In 2018 we may see an increase in visitors from China, as 2018 is the Canada-China Year of Tourism. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote the benefits of visitors travel insurance to a large audience. Depending on their reason for travelling, these visitors may require different visas and different types of insurance.

What visas might visitors to Canada require?

Travelance inquired with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to find out more details on the visas most commonly used by visitors to Canada. If a visitor from a non-visa exempt country is coming as a tourist or to visit friends and family, they will likely apply for a V-1 visa. Over 1 million of these visas were issued in 2017.

As we have discussed in many of our previous blog posts, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents may be eligible for a super visa. This visa is valid for up to 10 years and allows the visitor multiple entries into Canada, for up to two years at a time. Visitors applying for the super visa will require emergency medical insurance from a Canadian insurance provider, in addition to other requirements, to be accepted. Over 17,000 of these super visas were issued in 2017. To learn more about the super visa, requirements and conditions, visit the IRCC’s website.

If a visitor is coming to work or study, different visas, including work or study permits may be required. Emergency medical insurance is still important to these kinds of visitors.

If you are planning to visit Canada and want to find out if you need a visa and what type of visa is required, you can use this government of Canada tool or contact an immigration professional.

What insurance do visitors to Canada need?

There are a variety of plans available to meet the emergency medical insurance needs of visitors to Canada. Travelance offers three different plans, with a variety of sum insured options and deductibles. To learn more, visit our product page or contact a licensed Travelance partnered insurance broker.

The super visa requires emergency medical insurance that covers health care, hospitalization, and repatriation, with a minimum sum insured of $100,000. It must be valid for each entry into Canada and purchased from a Canadian insurance provider.

Visitors travelling on other visas may choose other insurance options, such as a lower sum insured or a shorter policy period, however it is recommended for many reasons (a few of which are outlined in one of our blog posts) that visitors consider increased sum insureds. Talking to a licensed insurance broker will help visitors find a plan that meets their needs.

As you can see, visitors to Canada are a diverse market who arrive on a variety of visitor visas and have different insurance needs. If you are planning to visit Canada, check visa requirements with the government of Canada first, or find an immigration official near you to ensure you are travelling with the appropriate documents. When you’re planning for your trip, ask your licensed insurance broker for a Travelance policy! Or contact us to find a licensed broker who can help meet your insurance needs.

Note: Travelance is not an authority on immigration. For the most accurate, detailed advice on visa requirements, contact an immigration professional or consult the IRCC directly.

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