Do Visitors Need Insurance If They Already Have Travel Insurance From India?
When parents or relatives travel from India to Canada, one common question families ask is:
โ๐๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ช๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐ด ๐ต๐ฐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข ๐๐ฏ๐ด๐ถ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ช๐ง ๐ธ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ญ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐บ ๐ฃ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ๐ต ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ๐ญ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ด๐ถ๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ช๐ข?โ
Itโs a fair question. After all, insurance from India often looks cheaper and promises global coverage. But hereโs the truth: insurance bought in India may not always meet the requirements or provide the same level of protection in Canada.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ฆ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
If your parents or grandparents are applying for a Super Visa, Canadian immigration requires proof of insurance from a Canadian insurance company, with at least:
โข $100,000 in coverage
โข Minimum 365 days of protection
โข Proof of being valid in Canada
Travel insurance from India usually does not fulfill these conditions.
๐๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ๐ & ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ถ๐บ๐ฏ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐With an Indian policy, claims may have to be processed back home, which means:
โข Families may need to pay hospital bills upfront in Canada
โข Reimbursement could take weeks or months
โข Currency exchange and paperwork add extra stress
Canadian-issued Visitors Insurance, on the other hand, typically allows direct billing with hospitals (depending on the provider).
๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐
Policies from India may have:
โข Lower coverage limits compared to Canadian plans
โข More exclusions specific to overseas treatment
โข Complicated claim procedures in a foreign country
Visitors to Canada Insurance is designed specifically for medical care costs in Canada, making it more reliable.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
โข Meets Canadian requirements for Super Visa approval
โข Easier claims process within Canada
โข Direct billing options to reduce upfront costs
โข Plans tailored for Canadian healthcare expenses
Even if families buy insurance in India for short trips, many choose Canadian policies for peace of mind.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐๐
Indian travel insurance can provide some coverage, but it usually isnโt enough to meet Canadian requirements or provide the same ease of claims. For parents and grandparents visiting Canada, especially under the Super Visa, insurance from a Canadian provider for visitors to Canada is the safer and often required choice.
Insurance is more than a formality, itโs about being ready for the unexpected. And when family is visiting, peace of mind is priceless.
๐๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ: This blog provides general information about Visitors to Canada Insurance and travel insurance differences. Coverage, eligibility, and claims procedures vary by provider. Always review official policy documents before making a decision.