Yes — travel insurance is a requirement for the International Experience Canada (IEC) visa. You must have cover for the entire duration of your stay, including emergency medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation.
0333 003 3161
Designed to meet IEC Canada visa requirements, including medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
Where do you live
All persons to be insured must reside at a permanent address in the United Kingdom.
Can I take out this insurance if I am already travelling?
If you purchase cover after leaving the United Kingdom having started your trip, a 48-hour waiting period applies before your policy becomes active. For cover to be valid, the “Already Travelling” extension must be shown on your Booking Invoice or Validation Certificate. Illness that develops during this 48-hour period will not be covered, as it will be treated as a pre-existing medical condition. However, if you suffer a serious accident during this time, you’ll be covered straight away, provided it is independently witnessed and confirmed by a medical professional.
IMPORTANT
Please be aware that once you’ve started travelling,
the 14-day cooling-off period no longer applies and premiums are non-refundable.
family
family
Definition of a couple
A couple is defined as 2 adults who have been permanently living together at the same address for more than six months, who intend to travel together.
If you do not qualify as a couple, please select individual(s)
Annual Multi-Trip Durations
Annual Multi Trip policies are designed for multiple short holidays leaving from and returning to your home country.
Annual Multi Trip trip limits:
Standard policy - 35 days
Premier policy - 90 days
If you need continuous cover for a year (home visits allowed on policies over 4 months long) select Single Trip or One Way. You can travel around as much as you like, to as many different countries as you like, with a Single Trip or One Way policy.
Important Notice
Important Information
By selecting the "one-way" travel option or traveling without a pre-booked return ticket to your home country, note the following exclusion:
Curtailment, Section D: Return travel expenses to your home country will not be covered in the event of a curtailment claim if you do not have a valid return ticket to your home country.
Trip Type
Select the type of policy most suitable for your needs.
A flexible policy designed for travellers going abroad on a continuous trip, whether short-term or long-term. Suitable for backpacking, long stays and multi-country travel. There is no requirement to hold a return ticket at the time of purchase. Where a policy is longer than four months, temporary return visits to your home country are permitted in line with the policy terms.
Single Trip (IEC Canada):
This option is for travellers going to Canada on an International Experience Canada (IEC) visa (Working Holiday, Young Professionals or International Co-op). It is designed to meet IEC insurance requirements and should only be selected if you are travelling on an IEC visa. IEC visas are available to applicants aged 18–35, so this option is intended for travellers within that age range. If you are travelling to Canada but do not meet the IEC age criteria, please select the standard Single Trip option instead.
One Way Trip:
This option is suitable if you are emigrating to a new country where you intend to live permanently, or if you are returning to your home country on a permanent basis. Cover will end upon arrival at your final destination. Please note that there is no cover for emergency return travel expenses if you do not already hold an original return ticket.
Annual Multi-Trip:
This policy covers an unlimited number of trips within a 12-month period of insurance. Each individual trip has a maximum duration depending on the level of cover selected. For Standard policies, the maximum length of any single trip is 35 days, and for Premier policies the maximum length of any single trip is 90 days.
If you are already travelling, it is not possible to purchase an Annual Multi-Trip policy.
Geographical Areas
Europe:
Europe means the continent of Europe West of the Ural Mountains, and includes the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, Iceland, Jordan, Madeira, the Canary Islands, the Azores and Mediterranean Islands as well as all countries bordering the Mediterranean.
Australia & New Zealand:
a) For any period of cover purchased, a 48 hour stop-over anywhere in the World for both outward and return travel will be included.
b) If the period of cover purchased is two months or more, a stop-over of 7 days/nights anywhere in the World will be included.
Worldwide excluding North America & Mexico:
(North America means the USA, Canada & Mexico.)
a) For any period of cover purchased, a 48 hour stop-over anywhere in the World for both outward and return travel will be included.
b) If the period of cover purchased is two months or more, a stop-over of 7 days/nights anywhere in the World will be included.
Worldwide including North America & Mexico:
Worldwide means anywhere in the World including the USA, Canada & Mexico.
To
Automatic Trip Extension
If the Insured Person is prevented from completing their travel before the expiration of this Insurance as stated under the Period of Insurance on the Booking Invoice or Validation Certificate (as applicable) for reasons which are beyond their control, including ill health or failure of public transport, this Insurance will remain in force until completion but not exceeding a further 31 days on a day by day basis, without additional premium.
In the event of an Insured Person being hijacked, cover shall continue whilst the Insured Person is subject to the control of the person(s) or their associates making the hijack during the Period of Insurance of a period not exceeding twelve months from the date of the hijack.
Please ensure you arrange cover for the entire duration of your travel
Policy Duration Error
The maximum allowable policy duration is 731 days. Please adjust your travel dates to proceed.
Where you normally reside
Where do you normally reside? Where do you normally reside?
Please use the drop down box to choose your country of residence. Note we can only insure residents of the United Kingdom.
Can I take out this Insurance if I’m already abroad?
If you are normally a resident of the UK Country and your insurance has run out, you may take out cover online with us. This is on the understanding that nothing has occurred at the time of taking out the cover which has led to a claim or may lead to a potential claim. Note you cannot take out our Multi-Trip Insurance if you are already abroad.
Do you have minimum residency requirements?
No. If you are, for example, a British Passport holder and have right of abode in the UK, we are not concerned as to how many months in the past year you have been in the UK provided at the time of arranging this insurance you have a UK residential address.
Age Restriction Error
We are unable to quote, Please ring our Offices on 0333 0033 161 for further assistance.
Medical & Repatriation
All of our policies exceed the International Experience Canada (IEC) requirements. Our Premier policy covers you for up to £10m for hospitalisation, medical and repatriation expenses; up to £5m for our standard policy; and up to £2m for our budget policy
Up to 24 Months Cover
Choose a policy length that matches your full IEC visa duration so you don’t need to arrange additional insurance later.
Get Your Full Visa Duration
Having insurance for the full length of your stay helps ensure your IEC visa is granted for the maximum period.
Early Return Refund
If you return home early and no longer require your policy, we may be able to consider a partial refund of the unused premium, subject to terms and conditions.
Cover for Activities & Travel
Includes options to cover skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, trekking, and other activities commonly undertaken during an IEC stay.
Winter Sports
Add Winter Sports cover for skiing, snowboarding and ski instructor courses during your IEC working holiday in Canada.
Up to £10m Medical
Cover
No return ticket required
24 hour Emergency
Helpline
Claim while still
travelling
IEC Travel Insurance
IEC travel insurance is required for anyone travelling to Canada on an International Experience Canada (IEC) visa. To receive the full duration of your visa, your insurance must cover your entire stay, including emergency medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation.
You may need to present evidence of this insurance to the border services officer on arrival in Canada otherwise you might not be admitted into the country. The IEC insurance needs to cover you for hospitalisation, health care and (if necessary) repatriation to your home country. Remember, you must ensure that your IEC insurance policy covers the entire period of your stay in Canada, otherwise your work permit will expire at the same time as your insurance.
All Big Cat IEC Travel Insurance policies provide worldwide cover as standard, meaning you are insured not only in Canada, but also in the United States and other countries you may visit during your trip — without needing to purchase additional insurance.
Key Benefits for IEC Travellers:
- Up to 24 months cover to match your IEC visa.
- Helps you get full visa duration.
- Meets IEC insurance requirements
- Emergency Medical and Repatriation Expenses up to £10 million.
- Emergency Dental Cover up to £350.
- Baggage Cover.
- Gadgets & Valuables Cover up to £6000.
- Free Home visits.
- Policy Extensions whilst still travelling.
- 156+ Sports and Activities.
- Claim whilst Travelling.
- Winter Sports Cover.
- Loss of Passports & Visas replacement costs.
- Early Return Refund scheme, conditions apply, please see FAQ page.
IEC Travel Insurance FAQs
Yes — Big Cat Travel Insurance offers policies for up to 24 months, allowing you to match the full duration of your IEC visa without needing to arrange additional cover after arrival.
If your insurance does not cover your entire stay, your IEC visa may be limited to match the length of your policy. This means you may not receive the full duration you were eligible for.
Yes — you can add Winter Sports cover to include skiing, snowboarding, and other snow-based activities commonly undertaken during an IEC stay in Canada.
In many cases, cover can still be arranged if you are already abroad, although certain conditions and waiting periods may apply.
IEC travel insurance must include emergency medical expenses, hospitalisation, and repatriation cover for the full duration of your stay in Canada.
Yes — IEC participants may be asked to show proof of travel insurance when entering Canada. Your policy should cover the full duration of your stay, including medical care and repatriation.
Every Big Cat Travel Insurance policy includes baggage and personal effects cover as standard, subject to the policy terms, conditions, exclusions and policy limits.
If your baggage is accidentally lost, stolen or damaged during your trip, your travel insurance may help cover the cost of replacing or repairing your belongings. This can include clothing, footwear, luggage and other personal possessions that you take away with you.
If you're travelling on a ski holiday or ski season, your baggage may also include ski clothing and equipment such as ski jackets, ski trousers, gloves, goggles, helmets and other winter sports clothing carried as part of your personal luggage. Cover is subject to the policy wording, limits and exclusions.
In addition to baggage cover, your policy also provides protection for a range of other travel-related incidents. Depending on the circumstances and your level of cover, this may include loss or theft of personal money, replacement of lost or stolen travel tickets, delayed baggage if your luggage is temporarily held up by your carrier, and ATM theft, helping to protect cash withdrawn from an ATM that is stolen shortly afterwards, subject to the policy terms and conditions.
Travelling with expensive items? You can increase your level of protection by adding one of our optional Gadgets & Valuables packs. These provide additional cover for higher-value belongings such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cameras and other valuable items as well as sports equipement such as Skis, Bicycles, Golf Clubs that may exceed the standard baggage limits.
Yes — you can.
Many travel insurance policies do not offer refunds if you return home early, but Big Cat may provide a partial refund for unused time on eligible IEC policies, subject to terms.
How does the EARLY RETURN REFUND work?
Let’s say you buy a 24-month policy to cover your time in Canada. But after nine months, you decide that Canada’s not for you, and you want to return home. You may have invested a substantial amount for your 24 months Big Cat policy, most of which you’ll now no longer need. Unlike most insurers, Big Cat is happy to offer you a partial refund on the redundant portion of your insurance as a fair’s fair consolation. Please note that travel insurance premiums are not calculated on a pro-rata basis, as such, no refund is calculated in this manner either.
How does Big Cat calculate the amount of EARLY RETURN REFUND?
We take the length of time of the original policy and subtract the actual amount of time you have used, and payout the difference, deducting a £50 Cancellation Charge.
Are there other conditions that apply to my EARLY RETURN REFUND?
- Only applicable to 24 month IEC policies.
- We are not able to offer refunds to cover the first 6 months of the policy.
- No refund can be given on a policy where a claim has been made or is likely to be made prior to the cancellation of your Big Cat policy.
- You must be back in your home country and notify us by email of your wish to cancel the policy within 14 days of your arrival, please also provide us with proof of your return to the UK (flight ticket / e-ticket / boarding pass).
- All refund calculations are based on the base premium paid only. Add-ons are non-refundable.
Can you give an example of how much I could receive back in my EARLY RETURN REFUND?
Say you took out a 24-month budget IEC policy costing £567.22, then you wish to cancel the policy after 9 months. Our 9-month budget IEC policy costs £338.46. So we deduct £338.46 from £567.22 = £228.76
Then we apply the £50 Cancellation Charge, refunding you a total of £178.76.
For early return refund requests please follow this link
🇨🇦 Staying Longer in Canada?
Extending your IEC stay or applying for another year?
If you’re granted an additional year on your IEC visa,
you can take out a new Already travelling insurance policy
to continue your cover in Canada.
Get a quote here..
For more information about the (IEC) International Experience Canada insurance requirements, visit the Canadian Immigration & Citizenship.
Big Cat Travel Insurance is a trading name of Flynow.com Ltd (registration No.FRN 1022075) who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You may check this on the Financial Services register at www.fca.org.uk or by contacting them on (0) 800 111 6768. © 2026 Big Cat Travel Insurance Services. All rights reserved.
