Ontario — OHIP
No waiting period since April 2020 — coverage starts as soon as you're eligible and registered. Apply at any ServiceOntario centre with proof of status, residency, and identity.
How to Get a Health Card in Canada as a Newcomer
Canada's healthcare is run by the provinces, so your health card comes from your province — not Ottawa. Apply as soon as you have an address, because some provinces make you wait before coverage kicks in.
Healthcare is provincial
There is no single "Canadian health card." Each province and territory runs its own public health insurance plan with its own card, its own rules, and its own waiting periods. The card you get depends entirely on where you live.
Quebec — RAMQ
Up to a 3-month waiting period for newcomers. Register with RAMQ as soon as you arrive so the clock starts ticking. Bring your CSQ or selection certificate plus federal documents.
British Columbia — MSP
Enrollment is mandatory. There's a waiting period of the remainder of your arrival month plus two full months. Apply online through Health Insurance BC as soon as you land.
Alberta — AHCIP
Register at a registry agent office. Coverage generally starts on your date of arrival — no waiting period for eligible residents. One of the friendliest timelines for newcomers.
Who's eligible?
- Permanent residents — eligible in every province once you meet the residency requirement (usually: physically present and making the province your home).
- Work permit holders — generally eligible if your permit is valid for 6+ months and you're employed (rules vary by province — Ontario and Alberta are straightforward; Quebec requires a valid CAQ-linked permit).
- International students — it depends. Alberta and BC cover students with longer permits; Ontario does not cover international students under OHIP (universities require you to buy into plans like UHIP). Check your school's requirements.
- Refugees and protected persons — covered by the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) until provincial coverage kicks in.
Documents you'll need
Every province asks for three things: proof of immigration status (PR card, COPR, or work/study permit), proof of residency in the province (lease, utility bill, or a letter from your host), and identity (passport). Bring originals — just like the SIN application.
Bridging the gap: if your province has a waiting period, don't go uninsured. Short-term private health insurance for newcomers (often called "visitors to Canada" plans) covers emergencies during the wait. Our health insurance guide explains what to look for — or ask a settlement agency, which sometimes has partnerships for free interim coverage.
What it covers (and doesn't)
Provincial plans cover medically necessary doctor visits and hospital care. They generally do not cover dental, vision, prescription drugs outside hospitals, physiotherapy, or ambulance rides. Many employers offer extended health benefits for the gaps — if yours does, enroll on day one.
Moving between provinces?
Your old province's coverage continues for a transition period (usually 3 months) after you move. Apply in your new province immediately — don't let coverage lapse. And update your address with your old plan so they know you've left.
Next in your first 14 days: got your SIN? Next, continue the 14-day checklist — safe housing and transit come right after health coverage.
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