Working holiday insurance

A working holiday is an opportunity for Canadians to travel and work in a different country for an extended period of time. Popular destinations for working holidays include Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan.

As a condition of getting a visa or work permit, Canadians may be required to buy working holiday insurance to cover the costs of emergency medical care for illness and injuries sustained while abroad. Even if it’s not mandatory, it’s a good idea to buy travel insurance when travelling far from home for an extended period of time.

With the world feeling smaller, closer and more accessible than ever before, working holidays are a right of passage for most young Canadians. The Ratehub.ca team has included several working holidayers over the years, and they've all had amazing experiences. 

If you’re under the age of 35, working holidays are a way to support yourself while travelling for a longer period of time. Common working holiday jobs include working in restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, retail stores, teaching English or French, or doing agricultural work. Most working holiday visas are valid for up to one or two years.

Since Canada has a universal healthcare system that is publicly funded by taxes, Canadians aren’t used to paying upfront costs for medical care. However, your Canadian government health insurance won’t cover out-of-country costs, so you’re responsible for paying for any medical care you receive abroad. That’s where working holiday insurance comes in: it protects both travellers and the host country from paying out-of-pocket costs for non-residents. 

Working holiday insurance generally provides coverage for medical care for emergency or accidental injury or illness, ambulance, prescription drugs, hospitalization, doctors’ fees, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. If your working holiday will include participating in recreational sports and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, surfing, mountain biking, skiing or snowboarding, check that your insurance policy includes coverage for these activities - you might have to pay extra.

Because of the transient nature of working holidays and the fact that you’ll be outside Canada for a long period of time, it’s a good idea to buy travel insurance even if it isn’t mandatory. Some countries may have a minimum coverage amount requirement, but it’s best to find what’s right for you based on how long you’ll be travelling and what you’ll be doing.