What comes to mind when you think of Canada? Glaciers and mountains? Grizzly bears andmoose?
The great outdoors isn’t all Canada has to offer. If you’re as much a fan of vibrant cities and delicious food as you are of getting back to nature, Canada could be the perfect destination foryou.
Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers
Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of theevent.
Travel Insurance Canada
If you’re taking a trip to Canada, it’s a good idea to go prepared with travel insurance. It isn’t compulsory, but it protects you if the worst were to happen suchas:
- Having to cancel or cut short yourtrip
- Theft of personalbelongings
- The airline losing yourluggage
Medical treatment in Canada can be very expensive. As there are no special arrangements for travellers from the UK, Canada travel insurance is vital to make sure you’re not hit by high treatmentcosts.
Our basic level of travel insurance gives you up to £10 million of cover for emergency medical treatment and repatriation, and this rises to up to £20 million with ourPlatinumlevel.
Read the full list of benefits in the policy summarybooklet.
Holiday insurance Canada: what cover do I need?
Travel cover is divided up into different geographical areas. We use threezones:
- Europe
- Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean andMexico
- Worldwide
For trips to Canada, you’ll need the third option – worldwide travel insurance. Make sure you don’t choose the second option, worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico, as you won’t becovered.
Canada travel tips
To make life easier when travelling in Canada, there are a couple of things you should bear inmind:
- One parent travelling with children must carry a letter of consent from the parent who isn’t travelling. Immigration officers can question children if there’s any concern around childabduction.
- If you’re travelling on to the United States, you should check the entry requirements of the US to make sure you won’t be deniedentry.
Driving inCanada
If you’re planning to drive when you’re in Canada, you can usually do so as long as you have a full UK driving licence. Make sure you always carry it withyou.
Some car hire companies may need you to have an International Driving Permit, though, so make sure you check before you travel so you don’t get caught out. The FCDO recommends you take out full insurance when hiring acar.
If you’re planning on driving during the winter, be aware that conditions can be extreme. Roads in some provinces, such as Alberta and British Columbia, can be closed due to avalanches and snowstorms.
Follow the weather forecast and make sure you’re prepared – that includes checking if you need snow tyres for the province you’rein.
Skiing andsnowboarding
If you’re heading to Canada to hit the slopes at one of the many legendary ski resorts, you’ll need our Winter Sports upgrade to be covered for the trip. This makes sure you’re covered should the worst happen and you’re injured or your equipment is lost ordamaged.
We cover a range of popular wintersports:
- Pisteskiing
- Snowboarding
- Glacierskiing
- Big footskiing
- Tobogganing
There’s a full list of all the activities we cover in the policydocument.
Hiking andcamping
If you’re intending to go hiking or camping while travelling in Canada, take care and be considerate. Follow any park rules and regulations, take your rubbish with you and don’t feed any animals yousee.
Be wary of animals with young as they’ll be more likely to act aggressively to protect them. Research how to deal with any animals you might encounter, and make sure you know if you’re going to be in an area where you might seebears.
Do you need a visa for Canada?
Canada visa requirements for British citizens are straightforward – if you’re travelling to Canada for a short period of time you don’t usually need a visa. If you’re travelling to Canada for a longer period of time – to work or study, for example – you should check if you need a visa with the Canadian HighCommission.
If you’re flying into the country, as many British travellers do, you’ll need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA). You won’t be able to board your flight without one. Any travellers entering Canada by land or sea don’t need an eTA, but they’ll still need the usual valid traveldocuments.
For more information about the eTA and to apply online, visit the official Canadian governmentwebsite.
What if I have a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance. This includes having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment for acondition.
You can declare your pre-existing conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 03332349913.
Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unlessyou’ve:
- Declared them all on yourpolicy
- Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medicalcondition
- Paid any additional premium infull
Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on yourpolicy.
If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim yousubmit.
For a quote with us, click the green button above.
The MoneyHelper directory
If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medicaldirectory.
If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online. (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bankholidays.)
