Canada Health Insurance for International Students

Canada health insurance for international students depends on your province. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island can put eligible study permit holders on the provincial plan, while Ontario, Manitoba and, for Nepali students, Quebec do not, so there you rely on a university, college or private plan. Even in “covered” provinces you usually face conditions such as a 12-month permit, a waiting period or a monthly fee, so most students need a school or private plan for at least the first weeks.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 Oct 2026 (CAD 1 = Rs 107.55).

Canada health insurance for international students: provincial plan vs school plan

Health care in Canada is run by each province, so the same study permit can mean free public cover in Edmonton and no public cover at all in Toronto. The table below is built only from each province’s own health ministry page, read today. Where a page does not state a detail, we say so instead of guessing.

Province	Provincial plan for international students?	Main condition (official page)	What you pay / use instead
British Columbia (MSP)	Yes	Study permit for 6 months or more; wait of the rest of your arrival month plus two months	International Student Health Fee: CAD 75 a month (about Rs 8,066)
Alberta (AHCIP)	Yes, for programs of 12 months or longer	Programs shorter than 12 months are not eligible; apply within 90 days of arriving in Alberta	No cost to apply
Saskatchewan	May qualify	Valid study permit plus proof of full-time enrolment at an accredited institution	No premium stated on the page
Manitoba	Not on the basis of a study permit	A study permit that lets you work does not by itself make you eligible; a separate work permit of 12+ consecutive months may	School or private plan
Ontario (OHIP)	No	OHIP’s list of eligible temporary residents does not include students	UHIP at participating universities; your college’s own mandatory plan
Quebec (RAMQ)	Not for Nepali students	Only students from countries with a social security agreement with Quebec; Nepal and India are not on the list	University or private plan
Nova Scotia (MSI)	Yes	Study permit must be for 12 months or more; a waiting period may apply	No premium stated on the page
New Brunswick (Medicare)	Yes, if you meet the criteria	Province says eligible international students can be covered and that all foreign students must carry health insurance	Ask your institution what applies
Newfoundland and Labrador (MCP)	Yes	Study permit valid at least 12 months, full-time in a program of at least one year; renew every year	No premium stated on the page
Prince Edward Island	Yes, temporary health card	Your study permit must show you can work off-campus; proof of enrolment at a DLI needed	No premium stated on the page

Sources: provincial health ministry pages listed under Sources, checked 20 October 2026. The territories (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut) are not covered here.

Provinces where students can join the public plan

British Columbia. The BC government’s international student health fee page says you must hold a study permit for six or more months to apply for the Medical Services Plan (MSP). Coverage is not immediate: the waiting period is the rest of the month you become a resident plus two more months. Once you are enrolled, you pay a mandatory International Student Health Fee of CAD 75 a month per person, billed by Revenue Services of BC. The province tells students to keep private insurance until MSP starts. Many BC institutions run their own plan for exactly this gap, so check what your school charges.

Alberta. The Alberta government says students in programs of 12 months or longer can apply for the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) at no cost, and must apply within 90 days of arriving. Programs shorter than 12 months are not eligible, so a one-year graduate certificate needs a careful look at the exact length on your letter of acceptance.

Saskatchewan. eHealth Saskatchewan says international students living in the province temporarily “may qualify”. You apply with a valid study permit and proof of full-time enrolment at an accredited institution.

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI. Nova Scotia’s MSI covers study permit holders whose permit is for 12 or more months, though a waiting period may apply. Newfoundland and Labrador’s MCP needs a permit valid for at least 12 months, full-time study in a program of at least one year, a confirmation letter dated within 30 days, and yearly renewal. PEI issues a temporary health card valid for the length of your study permit, but only if the permit shows you can work off-campus. New Brunswick says eligible international students can get Medicare and that all foreign students must carry health insurance.

Provinces where your university or college plan is your main cover

Ontario. Ontario is the province most Nepali students choose, and OHIP does not list students among the temporary residents it covers. Instead:

Universities: the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is a not-for-profit plan created by Ontario’s universities. It is mandatory for international students at participating universities and affiliated colleges, and the university enrols you and charges your student account. For a single member starting in September 2026, UHIP lists CAD 948 for 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027 (about Rs 1.02 lakh), including tax. Starting in January 2027 it is CAD 632.
Colleges: Ontario public colleges run their own mandatory plans. For example, Seneca Polytechnic lists a health insurance fee of CAD 934.72 for a Fall 2026 start (cover from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027), CAD 703.73 for Winter and CAD 464.12 for Summer, tax included.

Manitoba. Manitoba’s international education FAQ says a student whose study permit lets them work is not eligible for provincial health insurance on that basis. A separate work permit of 12 or more consecutive months, such as a co-op or post-graduation work permit, may make you eligible if you meet residency rules. The province suggests private cover through your institution or an insurer.

Quebec. RAMQ only covers students from countries that have a social security agreement with Quebec: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia and Sweden. Nepal is not one of them. Quebec universities therefore require their own insurance. McGill, for example, says its International Health Insurance plan is mandatory for all registered international students, and the fee is charged automatically on registration.

How to get covered, step by step

Find your province on the table above. Note any permit-length rule (6 months in BC, 12 months in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador).
Check your study permit details when it is issued at the border. The expiry date and conditions (for example, whether you can work off-campus) decide eligibility in some provinces, such as PEI.
Ask your institution what is already in your fees. UHIP and college plans are usually charged automatically. Some school plans cover the waiting period before provincial cover starts.
Apply for the provincial card as soon as you arrive if your province covers students. Alberta gives you 90 days; BC says apply as soon as you arrive.
Keep cover for the gap. BC and Saskatchewan both describe a period before cover starts. Do not leave yourself uninsured for those weeks.
Renew on time. Newfoundland and Labrador’s MCP lasts no more than one year at a time, and PEI’s temporary card follows your study permit, so an extension means a renewal.

What this means for Nepali students and families

When you compare offers, add health cover to the real cost. In BC, MSP at CAD 75 a month is CAD 900 a year (about Rs 96,800), on top of any school plan for the waiting period. In Ontario, UHIP or a college plan is charged with your fees, roughly Rs 1 lakh a year at the rates above. Alberta’s AHCIP is free if your program is 12 months or longer.

Bring your study permit approval papers, letter of acceptance and passport to the provincial registration office, because the province checks the same documents as IRCC. If you are still planning, our guide to studying in Canada from Nepal and the study permit application walkthrough show where health cover fits in the timeline. For how health insurance works in other countries too, see our health insurance guide for international students.

Spouses and children have their own rules. Manitoba’s FAQ, for example, says a spouse with a work permit should contact Manitoba Health to check eligibility. If your partner is coming, read our spousal open work permit guide first.

Common mistakes

Assuming “Canada has free health care” covers you. In Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec it does not cover Nepali study permit holders.
Ignoring the waiting period. In BC the wait is the rest of your arrival month plus two months.
Choosing a program just under 12 months in Alberta, Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador without checking how that affects provincial cover.
Opting out of a school plan without equal cover. UHIP says exemptions can apply, but you then need cover that your university accepts.
Forgetting dental, vision and prescriptions. Provincial plans and basic school plans differ on these. Read your plan’s benefits booklet.

What to do next

Email your institution’s international office: “Is health insurance included in my fees, and does it cover me until provincial cover starts?”
Add health insurance to your budget in our student visa money calculator.
Weighing a college diploma against a university degree? Our college vs university guide covers the PGWP and spouse rules too.

Frequently asked questions

Do international students get OHIP in Ontario?
No. OHIP’s list of eligible temporary residents does not include study permit holders. University students are usually enrolled in UHIP, and college students in their college’s mandatory plan.

How much is MSP for international students in BC?
The International Student Health Fee is CAD 75 a month per person, about Rs 8,066 at the NRB selling rate on 17 Oct 2026. It starts on the first day of the month your MSP coverage begins.

Is Alberta health care free for international students?
Yes, if your program is 12 months or longer. Alberta says you can apply for AHCIP at no cost and must apply within 90 days of arriving. Shorter programs are not eligible.

Can Nepali students get RAMQ in Quebec?
No. RAMQ covers students only from countries with a social security agreement with Quebec, and Nepal is not on that list. You will need your university’s or a private plan.

How much is UHIP for 2026-27?
For a single member starting in September 2026, UHIP lists CAD 948 for cover to 31 August 2027, including 8% tax. A January 2027 start is CAD 632 and a May 2027 start CAD 316.

Sources

Last checked: 20 October 2026. This is general information, not legal, immigration or insurance advice. Always confirm with your province and institution.

Canada Health Insurance for International Students by Province