Frequently Asked Questions


Planning your Canadian working holiday comes with a lot of questions, and we’re here to help. Whether you’re applying for the International Experience Canada (IEC) visa, booking your IEC travel insurance, or preparing for your trip, you’ll find all your answers here and if not, just reach out, we would be happy to help.

It all started in 2005 when our founder returned home to Australia from a year-long stint working as a gap year assistant in an international boarding school in England. Hungry to get the next generation of youngsters to jump ship and experience life beyond Oz, he planted the Letz Live seed whilst juggling a University degree – all at the spritely age of 18.

Fast forward almost two decades, and Letz Live / Letz Travel has grown into a global leader in overseas opportunities for young people, offering Gap Year and Working Holiday programs that inspire adventure, cultural exchange, and personal growth.

As you can imagine, travel insurance goes hand-in-hand with worldwide trips. Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of having the right coverage while living and working abroad. From unexpected medical emergencies to trip interruptions, we understand the unique challenges that come with international travel.

That’s why we’ve partnered with Cover-More, one of the world’s leading travel insurance providers, to create a policy specifically designed for working holidaymakers and gap year travelers. This partnership ensures that our insurance plans meet the unique needs of IEC participants and other international travelers, offering comprehensive coverage that aligns with visa requirements and provides peace of mind.

At Letz Travel, we’re not just about selling insurance – we’re about empowering young people to travel with confidence, knowing they’re backed by a team that truly understands their journey and a trusted insurance provider with decades of expertise.

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for a Canadian working holiday. Under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, you must have valid health insurance covering the entire duration of your stay. Your policy must include coverage for:

  • Medical care
  • Hospitalisation
  • Repatriation to your home country

Without valid insurance, you may be refused entry to Canada. Additionally, if your policy is valid for less time than your expected stay, your work permit may be issued for the shorter duration of your insurance (e.g. less than two years).

The policy we offer is not a mainstream product and was specifically developed by Letz Travel in consultation with Cover-More to meet the unique needs of the IEC market. While Cover-More does sell this policy, it’s not listed on their website as it’s tailored exclusively for working holidaymakers and gap year travelers.

If you wish to purchase this policy directly from Cover-More, you’ll need to call them and request it by name. However, the easiest way to secure this coverage is through our website. When you purchase directly from us, you’ll receive the exact same product, complete with your Insurance Certificate and unique policy number.

Once you have your policy reference, you can contact Cover-More directly to access your details, make claims, or ask any questions. Rest assured, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring you have the right coverage for your Canadian adventure.

We recommend purchasing your travel insurance as soon as possible to benefit from pre-departure cover for your upcoming trip. This pre-departure protection is included at no extra cost, and your 12-month, 18-month, or 24-month policy doesn’t begin until the day you depart from your home country. The sooner you secure your policy, the sooner you’ll have peace of mind.

When you purchase your policy through us, you get:

  • A competitive 2-year continuous travel insurance policy for Canada.
  • Bonus perks, including discount codes with our tour partners.

We make it simple to get the right cover for your working holiday visa in Canada while offering additional value to support your trip.

This policy is a worldwide travel insurance policy, providing the same level of cover for your side trips to other countries during your Canadian working holiday. It also covers any travel you undertake before or after your IEC program. However, please note that travel to countries with a “Do Not Travel” warning is excluded under the policy’s general exclusions clause.

The first thing to do is to make sure you are safe.  If you’re experiencing an emergency on your trip, call the local emergency services first. They’re experts at helping people in your location and can provide support, fast. Then, it’s time to call the Cover-More emergency assistance team.  Cover-More can be contacted on +61 2 8907 5619 from anywhere in the world.

If possible, if you can state your Travel Insurance policy number but if you don’t have this Cover-More can verify you with a few details

In the event that you need to make a claim at the end of it, there are a number of options for you. The easiest way to lodge a claim with Cover-More is using their online claims tool.

You can access the online claims tool and complete your Cover-More travel insurance claim online 24 hours a day.  This claim form and other ways to make a claim can also be found at https://www.covermore.com.au/claims

You’re eligible for this policy if:

  • You are an Australian or New Zealand resident aged 18–35.
  • You are travelling to Canada under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program or the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme (Tier 5).
  • You hold a valid IEC work permit or Youth Mobility Scheme visa before departure.
  • You purchase this policy before leaving Australia.

We’re afraid not, no.

The Great Stay IEC Insurance policy must be purchased before leaving Australia because of the following reasons:

  1. Policy Eligibility Requirements
    • The policy is designed for Australian residents who are travelling overseas.
    • Most travel insurance policies, including this one, require that coverage starts while the traveller is still in their home country.
  2. Pre-Departure Risk Assessment
    • Insurance providers assess risk based on your departure status.
    • Once you’ve left Australia, the risk profile changes, and insurers may not be able to offer the same coverage.
  3. Coverage Start Date & Pre-Existing Conditions
    • The policy terms specify that cover begins from the date of departure from Australia.
    • If someone has already left, any incidents occurring before purchasing the policy might be classified as pre-existing, which complicates claims.
  4. Regulatory & Underwriting Restrictions
    • Travel insurance policies are regulated under specific guidelines that often require policies to be issued from the insured person’s home country.
    • Cover-More’s underwriting criteria do not allow policies to be issued once a person has already left.
  5. Fraud Prevention & Claims Validity
    • To prevent fraudulent claims, insurers require policies to be taken out before travel begins.
    • If someone tries to buy insurance after an incident has occurred (e.g., a medical emergency), it would not be fair to other policyholders.

What if you’ve already left?

If you’ve already departed without purchasing IEC insurance, you may need to look for a different insurer that provides overseas-issued travel insurance, but these often come with more restrictions, higher costs, and limited coverage.

For full benefits, please refer to the Benefits Table or consult our Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for complete policy details.

If you think you may need to extend your policy, it’s best to discuss options with us before purchase. The Canadian government requires your insurance length to match your visa duration, so purchasing shorter-term insurance may result in a shorter visa upon arrival.

Cover-More offers a 21-day cooling-off period if you haven’t left your home country or used the policy benefits.

Yes, you can. You won’t receive credit for the time spent outside Canada, and you cannot make claims whilst in your home country. However, your policy will remain active and resume normal coverage when you return to Canada, up to the policy’s end date.

Yes, skiing and snowboarding are covered if you have selected Snow Sports Cover option when purchasing your policy. Please note, however, with this add-on, coverage is only provided if:

  • You are skiing or snowboarding on-piste.
  • You are not racing or participating professionally.

Once purchased, the add-on will be listed on your certificate of insurance.

This IEC Insurance Policy is administered by Cover-More Insurance Services Pty Ltd (ABN 95 003 114 145, AFSL 241713) on behalf of the product issuer, Zurich Australian Insurance Limited (ABN 13 000 296 640, AFSL 232507)