Download the IRCC refusal letter, email the insurer a cancellation request with the policy number before the effective date, and attach the letter. Manulife CoverMe, 21st Century, Travelance and Destination refund in full. GMS and Secure Travel deduct an administration fee. 21st Century and Travelance want the proof within 30 days of the refusal; MSH-administered plans allow 60 days.
Refusals are common enough to plan for. IRCC’s approval rate is 75 to 81 per cent, per its report to Parliament, so roughly one applicant in five receives a refusal. The after you apply page says IRCC sends an explanation with every refusal.
What do you need before you start?
Four things: the refusal letter, the policy number, the insured’s name, and the email address or portal the insurer uses for cancellations. The letter is the only document the insurer cannot do without. It arrives in the applicant’s IRCC account, not by post.
| Document | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| IRCC refusal letter (PDF) | Applicant’s IRCC Portal account, under messages |
| Policy number and certificate | Insurer’s confirmation email |
| Cancellation request | A short email, or the insurer’s cancellation form if one exists |
| Proof of payment | Card statement or receipt, if the refund destination differs |
| Passport copy | Only if the effective date has passed and you need to show no travel |
How long does it take?
Ten minutes to send. Two to six weeks for the money to arrive. Send the request the day the refusal arrives, because two insurers run 30-day windows and one runs 60 days from the refusal date, not from your email.
The 7 steps to a refund
- Download the refusal letter from the IRCC account the day it arrives. Save it as a PDF with the date in the file name.
- Check today against the policy’s effective date. If the effective date is still ahead, the full-refund terms apply. If it has passed, see the last section.
- Note the insurer’s deadline. 21st Century and Travelance: proof within 30 days. Secure Travel and other MSH-administered plans: within 60 days. Others: before the effective date.
- Email the insurer or SuperVisaDirect. State the policy number, the insured’s name, that the super visa was refused, and that you request cancellation and a refund under the visa-refusal provision. Attach the letter.
- Complete any cancellation form the insurer sends. Some require a signature from the policyholder, who may be the host rather than the parent.
- Keep the acknowledgement. It fixes the request date, which matters if the refund is later disputed.
- Check the refund amount against the table below. A monthly plan refunds the deposit less the set-up fee. An annual plan refunds the premium, less an administration fee at GMS and Secure Travel.
What does each insurer refund?
Four insurers refund in full, two deduct an administration fee, and two publish only that a refund is available per policy terms. Terms seen October 2026 in insurer wordings and the PolicyAdvisor and BestQuote summaries — verify in the policy document.
| Insurer (underwriter) | Refund on refusal | Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | Full | Before effective date | None |
| 21st Century (Manulife) | Full | Proof within 30 days of refusal, before effective date | None |
| Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) | Full | Within 30 days, before effective date | None |
| Destination (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch) | Full | Before effective date | None |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | Full less administration fee | Before effective date | Administration fee, amount not published |
| Secure Travel/RIMI (iA Financial Group; claims by MSH) | Full less administration fee | Within 60 days per MSH terms | Administration fee, amount not published |
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | Per policy terms | Before effective date | Confirm at quote time |
| Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance) | Per policy terms | Before effective date | Confirm at quote time |
GMS’s policy wording states that “an administration fee applies and it will be deducted from the refund,” and that refunds are not available once a claim has been reported. On monthly plans, the set-up fee of $10 to $120 described on the monthly page is not returned.
What if it goes wrong?
The two failure modes are a missed deadline and an effective date that has already passed. Both can be argued, neither is guaranteed. Write, do not phone, so the record is clear.
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Missed the 30-day window | Send anyway with the letter; ask for discretion; expect a pro-rata or fee-reduced refund at best |
| Effective date passed, parent never travelled | Send the letter plus passport pages; ask for a refund on no-travel grounds |
| Refund smaller than expected | Ask for the fee breakdown in writing; compare with the policy wording |
| No refund after 30 days | Follow up quoting the acknowledgement; escalate under the insurer’s complaint process |
| Insurer refuses outright and you believe the terms were met | Use the complaint process and the OLHI ombudsman route; the THIA Bill of Rights sets the expectation of fair handling |
If you plan to reapply soon, consider moving the effective date rather than cancelling; the date change page explains how. The visa refused page covers the reapplication decision itself.
Questions people ask
How long do I have to request the refund?
It depends on the insurer. 21st Century and Travelance require the refusal proof within 30 days of the refusal. MSH-administered plans, including Secure Travel, allow 60 days. Manulife, GMS and Destination state no window in their published summaries but require the request before the effective date. Send it the day the letter arrives.
What documents do I need?
The IRCC refusal letter downloaded from the applicant's online account, the policy number, the insured parent's name and a short written cancellation request. Some insurers add a signed cancellation form. Proof of payment is useful if the refund goes to a different card than the one used.
Is the refund in full?
At Manulife CoverMe, 21st Century, Travelance and Destination, yes, if the policy has not started. GMS and Secure Travel deduct an administration fee whose amount is not published; ask at quote time. On monthly plans the set-up fee is not refunded. No insurer refunds if a claim was made.
How long does the refund take to arrive?
Typically two to six weeks from receipt of the documents, returned to the original payment method. Refunds on visa refusal are usually faster than early-return refunds because no claims check is needed. If nothing has arrived after 30 days, follow up in writing and quote the cancellation confirmation.
What if the policy has already started when the refusal arrives?
The full-refund terms generally require cancellation before the effective date. If the date has passed, ask the insurer for a refund on the basis that the parent never travelled, with the refusal letter and passport as evidence. Some will refund pro-rata less a fee. This is why the effective date should always sit after the expected decision.
Can I keep the policy and reapply instead?
Yes, if you expect to reapply quickly. Move the effective date to the new expected arrival instead of cancelling. The policy stays in force, no fee applies, and the stability period is re-measured at the new date. If the reapplication is months away, cancelling and rebuying is usually simpler.
Get the policy IRCC requires, in minutes
Three questions, one price, one button. The certificate your parent needs is emailed the same day.
Sources
- IRCC — Super visa: after you apply (refusal explanation)
- GMS — Immigrants and Visitors to Canada policy wording (refund terms)
- PolicyAdvisor — Super visa insurance cost tables (refund notes)
- BestQuote — Super visa insurance rates (refund notes)
- THIA — Travel Insurance Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
- IRCC — Report on super visa (approval volumes)