Coming to Canada on a work permit doesn't require insurance to be admitted at the border, but you'll have a gap before provincial health coverage kicks in, so it's worth planning for:
- Buy short-term travel/health insurance before you arrive, covering roughly the first few months (one applicant used about 3 months) until you're eligible for provincial health coverage.
- Consider buying from a Canadian insurance company rather than an insurer in your home country — this can make it easier to manage the policy locally.
- Once you receive your provincial health card, you can typically cancel the private policy and request a refund for the unused portion, since you'll now be covered by the public system.
Check your specific province's waiting period for health coverage (it varies by province) so you buy enough insurance to cover the full gap.