How to Find a Doctor in Canada on a Visa (2024)

FAQs

How to see a doctor on a visitor visa in Canada? ›

Visitors must carry their own health insurance coverage - or pay directly out-of-pocket - for health care. Yes, any person in Canada can walk into any health clinic and be seen by a doctor.

Yes, an American can visit a Canadian doctor. You need to do the following: Get an appointment with a Canadian doctor and a letter from the doctor agreeing to see you. (You will be required to present this letter to Canada Immigration.)

Your immigration status doesn't matter. If treatment for your health condition is not medically necessary right now but you still need to see a doctor, you can call your local Community Health Centre (CHCs). CHCs will serve people even if they don't have status in Canada. Most CHCs serve specific areas in Ontario.

As a foreign visitor to Canada, you can visit any doctor or hospital, as long as you pay the bill. Relatively small amounts, you pay upon your visit. After you returned home, send the medical bill to your insurance company.

If during your visit to Canada you get sick or injured, the Canadian government won't pay for any hospitalization or emergency medical services for visitors. Also, if you don't have proper medical insurance coverage, you will be liable to pay for any medical service out of your own pocket.

Foreigners will receive emergency care, but non-urgent medical treatment won't be covered. To make sure you won't have to pay for all of your medical expenses, you should sign up for an international health insurance plan.

At , the cost of an Immigration Medical Exam can range from $150 CAD to $280 CAD, depending on the age and health of the exam's recipient. Always ask about the cost of your Immigration Medical Exam ahead of time.

How long does it take to get a medical appointment in Canada? ›

Median wait times to receive medical treatment in Canada 2023, by province. In 2023, Canada's median waiting time between a General practitioner (GP) referral to a specialist was 14.6 weeks. In addition, the median waiting time from a specialist appointment to treatment was 13.1 weeks.

The waiting time for a Canada visa appointment can range from 3 weeks to 8 weeks. However, it is important to note that the waiting time can vary and may be longer for some applicants due to unavoidable reasons.

One big issue is getting in to see a doctor. The Commonwealth Fund estimated that 56 per cent of Canadians waited more than a month to see a specialist in 2016 or simply to get an appointment with a family doctor – if they even have one.

Understanding Private Doctors and Clinics in Canada

There are very few private doctors, and for good reason. Generally speaking, private doctors cannot bill the government for services, and their patients must pay them directly (although the patients may be able claim back these fees from government).

Canadians (and tourists!) without a family doctor have two options—walk-in clinics or hospitals. Canadians who head to the hospital for non-emergency issues can expect to wait for hours.

If during your visit to Canada you get sick or injured, the Canadian government won't pay for any hospitalization or emergency medical services for visitors. Also, if you don't have proper medical insurance coverage, you will be liable to pay for any medical service out of your own pocket.

Yes. In general, anyone can apply for Medi-C​​al. A person on an H1 visa is a temporary worker or trainee. As long as they are living and working in California and provide evidence of that, they can meet California residency.

The Non-Insured Walk-in Clinic (NIWIC) offers confidential primary care services to people who do not have health insurance. We now offer you care on a “walk-in'' and appointment basis – see our hours below. We do not charge for the care we provide.