Upload the insurance certificate and payment receipt as a single PDF in the proof of health insurance slot of the IRCC Portal document checklist. The IRCC help centre allows 5 MB per file on the IRCC Portal and 4 MB on the older secure account. The document must name the insurer, show at least $100,000 emergency coverage, a term of at least one year, and that the premium is paid.
The application is made online from outside Canada. After the questionnaire, the apply page generates a personalized document checklist. Proof of health insurance is one line on it, and it is the line most often done badly.
What do you need before you start?
The certificate PDF from the insurer, the payment receipt, the parent’s IRCC Portal login, and a PDF tool that can merge and compress. Check the certificate first against the sample certificate page. Fix any name or date error with the insurer before uploading.
| Item | Source |
|---|---|
| Certificate of insurance (PDF) | Insurer’s confirmation email |
| Payment receipt or deposit confirmation | Insurer or card statement; needed if the certificate does not say “paid” |
| Parent’s passport | To match the name spelling character for character |
| IRCC Portal account | The applicant’s own, or the representative’s |
| PDF merge and compress tool | Any free online tool or a phone scanner app |
How long does it take?
Ten minutes if the certificate is correct. Thirty minutes if you need to merge a receipt or compress a scan. The portal saves progress, so you can upload the insurance document last once it is in hand.
The 8 upload steps
- Open the certificate and read every line. It must show the underwriter’s name, the parent’s full name, date of birth, sum insured of at least $100,000, effective and expiry dates one year apart, and a benefit list that includes hospitalization and repatriation.
- Confirm the payment status is visible. The officer instructions say the policy must be “paid in full or in installments with a deposit (quotes are not accepted).” If the certificate does not say paid, attach the receipt.
- Merge the certificate and receipt into one PDF. Put the certificate first. One file per checklist slot avoids the officer missing the second document.
- Check the file size. Under 5 MB on the IRCC Portal, under 4 MB on the secure account. Compress if needed, but the text must stay legible; the forms page warns that unreadable documents can get an application returned or delayed.
- Name the file plainly. For example “Insurance-certificate-SURNAME-Firstname.pdf”. The name is for you and the officer, not the system.
- Log in to the IRCC Portal and open the document checklist. Find the proof of health insurance line. Click upload, select the merged PDF, and wait for the green confirmation.
- Open the uploaded file from the checklist and read it once more. This catches a wrong file, a blank page or a corrupted merge before submission.
- Save a copy of the same PDF for the border. The after you apply page says to be prepared to show proof of paid health insurance at entry and not to pack it in luggage.
What must the document show?
Seven things, taken directly from IRCC’s list. The insurer’s name, a one-year term from the date of entry, payment in full or by deposit, coverage of health care, hospitalization and repatriation, at least $100,000 emergency coverage, validity on each entry, and availability for review at the border.
| Check | Pass | Fail |
|---|---|---|
| Insurer named | “Underwritten by Group Medical Services” | Only a broker or claims administrator named |
| Sum insured | “$100,000” or more, per person | “$50,000”, or a family total split between two parents |
| Term | Effective 15 March 2027, expires 14 March 2028 | A 6-month policy, or one that expires before the planned stay ends |
| Payment | “Premium paid in full” or “Deposit received” | “Quotation”, “Estimate”, “Payment pending” |
| Benefits | Hospitalization and repatriation listed | Emergency medical only, no repatriation line |
| Applicant | Full passport name and date of birth | Host’s name only, nickname, or missing date of birth |
| Insurer origin | Canadian insurer, or a foreign insurer on the OSFI list issuing in Canada | A home-country domestic insurer |
For foreign insurers, the forms page adds that the policy “must include a statement that the document was issued or made while the company was doing insurance business in Canada.” The test is OSFI’s register, not any IRCC list. There is no IRCC-approved list of foreign insurers.
What if the upload goes wrong?
Most failures are size, format or a wrong file. Each has a two-minute fix before submission. After submission, you depend on IRCC asking for more information, so get it right the first time.
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| “File too large” | Compress the PDF, or re-scan at 150 dpi in greyscale; re-check legibility |
| Upload button greyed out | A file is already in the slot; delete it, then upload the new one |
| Uploaded the quote by mistake, not yet submitted | Delete and replace with the paid certificate |
| Uploaded the wrong file, already submitted | Wait for an IRCC request through the account; respond with the correct PDF |
| Certificate has a typo in the name | Get a corrected certificate from the insurer first, then upload |
| Receipt is a separate email | Print to PDF and merge; do not upload a screenshot of an inbox |
The insurance document is one of several that get applications refused. The mistakes page lists the others, including income and medical-exam errors. The requirements page covers the full checklist.
Questions people ask
Which document do I upload: the certificate, the receipt or the policy wording?
The certificate of insurance, with the payment receipt attached if the certificate itself does not say the premium is paid. The full policy wording is not required and often exceeds the file limit. If the insurer issued a confirmation letter stating the $100,000 coverage, dates and payment, that letter plus the certificate is ideal.
What is the file size limit on the IRCC Portal?
IRCC's help centre lists 5 MB per file for the IRCC Portal and the new IRCC Portal version, and 4 MB for the older secure account, the citizenship application and the Permanent Residence Portal. A two-page certificate scanned at 150 dpi is normally well under 1 MB.
What file format should I use?
IRCC's help page states the size limit but does not list formats. PDF is the safest choice because it keeps multiple pages in one file and is what insurers issue. If you only have photos, convert them to a single PDF before uploading rather than uploading loose JPG files.
Can I upload a quote and send the policy later?
No. IRCC's officer instructions state that quotes are not accepted and the policy must be paid in full or in instalments with a deposit. An application with only a quote is incomplete and may be refused. Buy the policy with a movable effective date and upload the certificate.
What if I uploaded the wrong file?
Before you submit, you can delete and replace any document in the checklist. After submission, IRCC may ask for more information through your account, and you can respond then. Keep the correct PDF ready. If no request comes, you can also send it through IRCC's web form, but there is no guarantee it reaches the file before a decision.
Does the certificate need to be in English or French?
Yes. Every insurer we compare issues certificates in English. IRCC requires a translation and an affidavit for any document in another language, so a certificate from a foreign insurer in another language would need both, on top of the OSFI test that foreign insurers almost never meet.
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: forms and documents (proof of health insurance, clear and easy to read)
- IRCC — Super visa: how to apply (personalized document checklist, scanner or camera)
- IRCC — Online help: file size limits by account type
- IRCC — Super visa: officer instructions (quotes not accepted)
- IRCC — Super visa: after you apply (bring documents, show proof of paid insurance)
- OSFI — Federally regulated foreign insurance companies