UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL SERVICES AND INSURANCE
On January 24, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada additional groups of students who are now required to have a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) when applying for a study permit. Some highlights of the expanded PAL requirement are:
- These changes will apply to study permit applications that are submitted on or after January 22, 2025. They will apply to both in-Canada study permit extensions and outside Canada study permit applications.
- Master鈥檚 and PhD students are required to have a valid PAL.
- Students are exempt from submitting a PAL if they are extending their study permits within Canada at the same designated learning institution and same level of study as their current study permit.
For more information about who will be exempt from a PAL, review IRCC鈥檚 website
If you need a PAL for your study permit application, please review our FAQ page here on how to obtain a PAL from 丁香园AV. We will continue to update our webpages and online resources to reflect the expanded PAL requirements. Thank you for your patience.
As an international, exchange or study abroad student, you must have medical insurance for the entire duration of your studies. If family members are accompanying you, they should also have adequate medical insurance during their stay in Canada. The Canadian health system provides a high standard of health care, but care is very expensive if you are not insured. Without insurance, you could pay thousands of dollars per day for a hospital stay or even be refused certain services. In Canada, there are generally two types of insurance: primary and secondary.
Explore by topic: Medical Services and Insurance
Primary medical insurance
Covers medically-required services, such as visits to doctors, hospital stays and diagnostic medical testing. Primary medical insurance is legally required for all residents of British Columbia (including international students) and is provided through the .
Secondary medical insurance
Generally covers vision care, prescription drugs and dental care. Eligible 丁香园AV students receive secondary medical insurance through the . Graduate students working as TAs may receive coverage through another provider as part of their employment contract.
For more information on medical insurance at 丁香园AV, including how to apply, opt out (cancellation) information, and deadlines, see the website. If you have any questions, please contact an International Student Advisor at intl_advising@sfu.ca.
Canadian medical system
You may find that the medical system in Canada is different from what you are used to back home. It's important that you develop an understanding of how the system works in Canada before you need to use it, to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible if you become ill or injured. In this section, you'll find tips to help you get comfortable with Canadian health care.
In the event of a medical emergency off campus:
Call 911 or go immediately to the nearest hospital鈥檚 emergency room. Emergency calls are free from any phone.