Cancellation fees on super visa insurance run from nothing to $250, depending on the insurer and the reason. A visa refusal with the IRCC letter, before the effective date, is free at Manulife, 21st Century, Travelance and Destination, and less an administration fee at GMS and Secure Travel. Other cancellations before the start cost $250 at TuGo, 21st Century and Travelance and $150 at Destination. Early returns cost $25 to $50 at several insurers and a $25 minimum at Manulife.
The fee is deducted from the refund, so it only matters when a refund is due. The refunds hub explains when one is; this page is the fee table by insurer and by reason.
What is the fee at each insurer, by reason?
Three reasons, three fee levels. Terms seen October 2026 in insurer wordings and the PolicyAdvisor summary of 18 June 2026 and BestQuote notes — verify in the policy document before relying on a figure.
| Insurer (underwriter) | Visa refused, before effective date | Other cancellation before effective date | Early return or provincial coverage, after effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | Full refund with the IRCC letter | Written request with proof of non-arrival; no change-of-mind refund outside the free look | Unused days; $25 minimum refund amount |
| 21st Century (Manulife) | Full refund; request and proof within 30 days | $250 processing fee if issued for a visa; proof no visa application is pending may be required | Pro-rata with proof of departure; $25 minimum premium plus $25 processing fee |
| Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) | Full refund, no fee; request within 30 days | $250 if cancelled before leaving the home country | $50 early return; $250 if cancelling while still in Canada; nothing once a claim is submitted |
| Destination (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch) | Full refund if the whole trip is cancelled before the effective date | $150 on a one-year policy without refusal proof | From the date the request is received; $25 administration plus $25 minimum refund |
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | Full refund before the effective date; after it, less an administration fee; request within 90 days of expiry | $250 cancellation fee if no travel has taken place | Partial refund less an administration fee; request within 90 days of expiry |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | Full refund with the decline letter, less an administration fee | Partial refund less an administration fee if after the effective date and no travel | Partial refund less an administration fee from the departure date |
| Secure Travel/RIMI (iA Financial Group; claims by MSH) | Refund less an administration fee, with proof | Refund less an administration fee | Pro-rata; written request within 60 days |
| MSH-administered plans | Full refund with proof; request within 60 days of the refusal | $250 if refusal proof is not provided | Pro-rata; $25 on all partial refunds; nothing under $20; none if a claim was paid or pending |
| Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance) | General refund provisions; a refund fee may apply | From the date the request is received; a refund fee may apply | Partial refund; a refund fee may apply; nothing under $20; none if a claim was made |
Sources: TuGo wording (“a refund is available, subject to a $250 cancellation fee, provided no travel has taken place”); Manulife policy (“minimum premium refund amount is $25”); GMS wording; Allianz summary (“a refund fee may apply”). Where a cell says administration fee without an amount, the published documents did not state it; confirm with the insurer at quote time.
Which fees are fixed and which are unstated?
Six insurers publish a dollar figure for at least one case; three describe an administration or refund fee without one. Ask for the unstated figure in writing before buying, because it is the one you will pay in the most likely cancellation case, a visa delay that turns into a refusal after the effective date.
| Fee type | Published amount | Unstated |
|---|---|---|
| Cancellation before start, non-refusal | TuGo $250; 21st Century $250; Travelance $250; Destination $150; MSH $250 | GMS; Secure Travel; Allianz |
| Early return | Travelance $50; Destination $25 plus $25 minimum; 21st Century $25 plus $25 minimum; Manulife $25 minimum; MSH $25 | TuGo; GMS; Secure Travel; Allianz |
| Visa refusal before start | Manulife, 21st Century, Travelance, Destination, MSH: none | GMS; Secure Travel; TuGo after the effective date; Allianz |
| Claim-related | Manulife $300 handling fee where a claim is withdrawn; $500 where a claim is denied, per the PolicyAdvisor summary | Others: no refund with a claim |
PolicyAdvisor’s article notes that, across the market, withdrawing after the free look “may incur an admin fee, often $200 to $250, or the refund may be denied.”
How much does the fee change the refund?
On a visa refusal before the start, nothing at four insurers and the administration fee at two. On an early return after six months, the fee is 2 to 25 per cent of the refund. The table uses Secure Travel’s $2,051 rate for a 65-year-old in October 2026 for the arithmetic only.
| Case, $2,051 annual premium | Gross refund | Fee | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa refused, cancelled before start, Manulife or Destination | $2,051 | $0 | $2,051 |
| Visa refused, cancelled before start, GMS | $2,051 | Administration fee | $2,051 less the fee |
| Cancelled before start, other reason, TuGo | $2,051 | $250 | $1,801 |
| Cancelled before start, other reason, Destination | $2,051 | $150 | $1,901 |
| Early return at day 185, 180 days unused, Travelance | $1,011 | $50 | $961 |
| Early return at day 185, Destination, request on departure date | $1,011 | $25 | $986 |
| Early return at day 185, 21st Century | $1,011 | $25 | $986 |
Monthly plans add the non-refundable set-up fee: $10 at Destination, $50 at 21st Century, $60 to $100 at Travelance, $120 at Secure Travel, per the monthly plans page. On a monthly plan, cancellation means stopping future instalments and paying the cancellation fee; there is usually little already paid to refund.
When is there no fee at all?
In the 10-day free look, and on a visa refusal at the four insurers that refund in full. The THIA Bill of Rights commits member insurers to “a minimum 10-day free review of the policy,” and Manulife, TuGo, Travelance, GMS, Allianz and Secure Travel state a 10-day full refund in their terms. The free look page lists the conditions and the insurers whose published terms do not state one.
| No fee | Condition |
|---|---|
| Free look | Within 10 days of purchase; effective date not passed; no claim |
| Visa refusal, Manulife, 21st Century, Travelance, Destination | Before the effective date; IRCC refusal letter; 30-day window at 21st Century and Travelance |
| Visa refusal, MSH-administered | Within 60 days of the refusal, with proof |
| Date change | Every insurer we compare moves the effective date at no charge before the policy begins |
The last row is the one that avoids most fees. A visa that is taking longer than planned is a reason to move the date, not to cancel; see how to change the start date.
How do you cancel and get the fee confirmed?
In writing, with the reason, the policy number and the documents for that reason. Ask the insurer to state the fee and the net refund before it processes the cancellation, so there is a figure to hold it to.
- Identify the reason: visa refusal, other cancellation before the start, or early return.
- Gather the document for that reason: the IRCC refusal letter, or the boarding pass and departure date.
- Write to the insurer quoting the policy number; ask for the fee and net refund in writing.
- Check the deadline: 30 days at 21st Century and Travelance for refusals, 60 days at Secure Travel and MSH, 90 days after expiry at TuGo.
- Keep the acknowledgement; chase at 30 days.
The how to cancel page has the template, and how to get a refund if refused covers the refusal case step by step. Super Visa Direct Insurance Services submits cancellations for its clients and confirms the fee before they are processed, by email at [email protected] or callback, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time.
Questions people ask
Which super visa insurers charge no cancellation fee?
For a visa refusal with the IRCC letter, before the effective date: Manulife, 21st Century (request within 30 days), Travelance (within 30 days) and Destination. Within the 10-day free look, every THIA-aligned insurer refunds in full. Outside those two cases, every insurer we compare charges something, from Manulife's $25 minimum to $250.
Why does the fee depend on the reason?
Insurers separate three cases: cancellation before the policy starts because the trip is off, usually a visa refusal; cancellation before the start for any other reason; and cancellation after the start because the parent went home or got provincial coverage. The first is often free, the second carries the highest fee, and the third is pro-rata less a smaller fee.
What does GMS or Secure Travel's administration fee come to?
The published wordings and the comparison summaries we checked say an administration fee applies without stating the amount. Confirm the figure with the insurer at quote time and ask for it in writing. PolicyAdvisor's June 2026 article notes that fees of $200 to $250 are common for withdrawals after the free look across the market.
Are monthly-plan set-up fees refundable?
No. The one-time fee charged on instalment plans, $10 at Destination, $50 at 21st Century, $60 to $100 at Travelance and $120 at Secure Travel, is kept on cancellation. The cancellation fee is charged on top. On a monthly plan, cancelling means stopping future instalments and paying the fee, with little or no refund of money already paid.
Is the fee charged on a refund for provincial health coverage?
Yes, at the same level as an early return at most insurers: $50 at Travelance, $25 at Destination and MSH, $25 minimum at Manulife, and a refund fee at Allianz. This case applies to newcomers who become eligible for OHIP or another provincial plan, not to super visa holders, who never qualify.
Can I avoid the fee by switching insurers in the free look?
Yes. The THIA Bill of Rights gives a minimum 10-day free review period during which the policy can be cancelled for a full refund if it has not started and no claim has been made. If you find better terms within 10 days of purchase, cancel without a fee and buy the other policy. After 10 days the fee applies.
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Sources
- PolicyAdvisor — Refund on cancelling visitors insurance to Canada (18 June 2026)
- TuGo — Visitors to Canada policy wording ($250 super visa cancellation fee)
- Manulife CoverMe — Visitors to Canada policy ($25 minimum refund; $300 handling fee)
- GMS — Immigrants and Visitors to Canada policy wording (administration fee)
- Allianz Global Assistance / CUMIS — Visitors to Canada summary (refund fee may apply)
- THIA — Travel Insurance Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
- BestQuote — Super visa insurance rates (refund notes)