Yes, you can pay for visitors to Canada insurance monthly, but only on longer policies. Travelance offers instalments from 90 days, Destination from 180 days with at least $50,000 of cover, and 21st Century and Secure Travel on 365-day terms. Each takes a two-month deposit plus a set-up fee of $10 to $120. Manulife, GMS and Allianz are paid in full. A trip shorter than 90 days is paid up front at every carrier, which for a 65-year-old on a two-month visit is roughly $270 to $340.
Which carriers allow instalments, and on what terms?
Four of the eight carriers in our comparison. The minimum term is the deciding factor: a 90-day visit opens one option, a six-month visit two, and only a full-year policy opens all four.
Instalment terms as reported by PolicyAdvisor and the SuperVisaDirect fact sheet, Oct 2026 — confirm with the insurer at quote time.
| Carrier (underwriter) | Minimum term | Minimum coverage | Deposit | Fee | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelance (Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada) | 90 days | Not stated | 2 months’ premium | $60 billing fee (fact sheet: $60 to $100) | Monthly; deposit applied to the last two payments |
| Destination (Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Canadian Branch) | 180 days | $50,000 | 2 months’ premium | $10 (fact sheet); PolicyAdvisor reports a 10% surcharge | Third month due on the effective date, then monthly |
| 21st Century (Manulife) | 365 or 730 days | $100,000 | 2 months’ premium | $50 policy fee | Third payment when coverage starts, then monthly |
| Secure Travel (iA Financial Group, claims by MSH) | 365 days | Not stated | 2 months’ premium | $120 issue fee | Balance in 10 instalments of 1/12 each |
| Manulife CoverMe (Manufacturers Life) | Not offered | – | – | – | Paid in full |
| GMS (Group Medical Services) | Not offered | – | – | – | Paid in full |
| Allianz Global Assistance (CUMIS General Insurance) | Not offered | – | – | – | “Full premium must be paid upfront” |
| TuGo (iA Financial Group) | Unverified | – | – | – | Confirm with the insurer at quote time |
Destination’s fee is reported two ways; ask which applies to the policy quoted.
What does a monthly plan cost for a typical visit?
The same premium as a lump sum, divided by the term, plus the fee. Using PolicyAdvisor’s October 2026 monthly figure of $168.60 for a 65-year-old with stable pre-existing cover, a six-month policy is about $1,012 in total.
Illustration, 65-year-old, $100,000, stable pre-existing cover, 183 days, derived from PolicyAdvisor’s monthly rate, Oct 2026 — verify at quote time.
| Payment method | At purchase | Then | Total paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lump sum | about $1,012 | Nothing | about $1,012 |
| Travelance instalments | about $337 (2 months) plus $60 fee | about $169 a month for 4 months, deposit covering the last 2 | about $1,072 |
| Destination instalments | about $337 (2 months) plus $10 fee | about $169 a month from the effective date | about $1,022, or about $1,113 if a 10% surcharge applies |
The arithmetic is ours and assumes the carrier’s day rate matches the PolicyAdvisor average; actual carrier premiums differ. The 6-month trip page works through a full example.
What is the alternative for short trips?
Pay in full, or buy a 30-day policy and renew it. Visitor plans are priced per day, so a 30-day policy renewed before expiry costs the same as a 60-day policy bought at once, with no fee. The risk is that a renewal is an extension, and extensions are refused after a claim or a health change.
| Approach | Works for | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Lump sum for the whole trip | Any length | None; pro-rata refund on early return |
| 30-day policy renewed monthly | Parents whose plans are uncertain | Renewal refused after a claim; must request before expiry |
| Instalment plan | 90, 180 or 365 days and over | Lapse on missed payment; deposit forfeited after arrival at 21st Century |
Rules for renewing without a gap are on the extending coverage page.
What happens if a payment is missed?
Coverage lapses after the grace period. PolicyAdvisor reports that Travelance ends coverage after two consecutive missed months, and that most providers offer a grace period before the policy lapses. A lapsed policy reinstated later is a new purchase, with a waiting period and a fresh questionnaire.
Three precautions: use a Canadian credit card with headroom, not the parent’s foreign card; set the billing date a week after payday; and ask the carrier to email you, not only the parent, on a failed payment.
Are the deposit and fees refundable?
Fees no, deposits sometimes. Per PolicyAdvisor’s refund guide, monthly instalment fees of roughly $10 to $15 a month are non-refundable, and set-up fees are non-refundable at every carrier. Travelance refunds the deposit if the policy is cancelled before coverage starts; 21st Century’s deposit becomes non-refundable once the parent has arrived, even if the policy is cancelled early.
Full cancellation rules are on the refunds page.
Does a monthly visitor plan work for a super visa?
Only if it is a 365-day, $100,000 policy. IRCC accepts a policy “paid in full or in instalments with a deposit,” but the term must be one year from the date of entry. 21st Century and Secure Travel plans qualify by design; a Travelance 90-day or Destination 180-day instalment plan does not. Super visa instalment pricing, with examples such as $111 a month at age 58, is on the super visa monthly page.
SuperVisaDirect is operated by Super Visa Direct Insurance Services, an independent Ontario life and accident-and-sickness insurance agency licensed by FSRA (licence [FSRA-LICENCE]). We serve Ontario residents; other provinces are planned for 2028. Email [email protected] or request a callback, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm Eastern Time.
Questions people ask
Which carriers offer monthly payments on a visitor plan?
Four in our comparison: Travelance (Old Republic), minimum 90 days, two months' deposit plus a $60 billing fee; Destination (Zurich, Canadian Branch), minimum 180 days and $50,000, two months plus $10; 21st Century (Manulife), 365 or 730 days and at least $100,000, two months plus $50; Secure Travel (iA Financial Group), 365 days, two months plus $120, then ten instalments.
Can I pay monthly for a two-month trip?
No. The shortest instalment term is Travelance's 90 days. A 60-day policy for a 65-year-old costs roughly $270 to $340 and is paid in full. The alternative is a 30-day policy renewed each month, which several carriers allow if no claim has been made and the renewal is requested before expiry; see the extension page.
What happens if a payment is missed?
Coverage lapses. Travelance ends coverage after two consecutive missed months; other carriers give a short grace period, then cancel. A lapsed policy reinstated later is treated as a new purchase after arrival, with a 48-hour to 7-day illness waiting period, and the deposit may be forfeited. Keep a card with headroom on file.
Is the deposit refundable?
Partly. Travelance applies the two-month deposit to the last two scheduled payments and refunds it if the policy is cancelled before coverage starts. 21st Century's deposit becomes non-refundable once the parent is in Canada. Set-up fees are non-refundable at every carrier. PolicyAdvisor notes monthly plan fees of roughly $10 to $15 a month are also non-refundable.
Does paying monthly cost more overall?
Slightly: the set-up fee, and at Destination a surcharge that PolicyAdvisor reports as 10% while our fact sheet records a flat $10. The underlying day rate is the same. For a six-month policy for a 65-year-old at about $800 to $1,000, the fee is a small share; for a 365-day super visa policy at $2,000 or more, instalments are the usual choice.
Is a monthly visitor plan accepted for a super visa?
Yes, if the policy term is 365 days from the date of entry and at least $100,000. IRCC accepts payment in full or in instalments with a deposit. A 90- or 180-day instalment plan does not meet the super visa term requirement. Super visa instalment details are on the super visa monthly page.
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Sources
- PolicyAdvisor – Visitor insurance monthly payment plans (minimum terms, deposits, fees, missed payments)
- PolicyAdvisor – Travelance visitor review (90-day minimum; two months' premium plus fee)
- PolicyAdvisor – Destination visitor review (180 days and $50,000; two months plus $10)
- PolicyAdvisor – 21st Century visitor review (365 days and $100,000; two months plus $50)
- PolicyAdvisor – Secure Travel (RIMI) visitor review (two months plus issue fee; ten instalments)
- PolicyAdvisor – Allianz visitor review (full premium up front)
- PolicyAdvisor – Refunds on cancelling visitor insurance (non-refundable instalment fees)
- IRCC – Super visa: get the right documents (paid in full or in instalments with a deposit)
- PolicyAdvisor – Visitor insurance Canada (monthly premium table, Oct 2026)