[1] General information
[2] Exemption deadlines
[3] Exemption categories
[4] How to claim or confirm an exemption
General information
By Senate Regulation, ALL international students (full-time, part-time, exchange, special and visiting) and their accompanying dependent(s) are required to participate in the University's compulsory sickness and accident plan. Students covered by private health insurance are not exempt from the McGill plan. Students who meet certain criteria may be eligible for an exemption.
If you believe you are eligible, you must present valid documentation proving eligibility to Service Point and submit an online exemption request on Minerva:
Service Point
McLennan Library Building
3415 McTavish St.
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y1
Exemptions are valid for one year only, and must be renewed each subsequent year.
Exemption deadlines
Exemptions must be claimed by:
- May 30 for newly-admitted students in the Summer semester.
- September 30 for newly-admitted students in the Fall semester.
- January 30 for newly-admitted students in the Winter semester.
After these dates, exemptions can still be processed for the following semester.
Exemption categories
To become exempt, valid documentation proving exemption eligibility under one of the following categories must be presented to Service Point. You may qualify for an exemption if you:
- are a citizen and a resident of Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium or Greece;
- are sponsored by the Canadian Bureau for International Education;
- are sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency;
- received an award from the International Council for Canadian Studies;
- exchange through DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service;
- have a diplomatic visa in Canada;
- have a parent or a spouse who works for an international organization under the umbrella of United Nations; such as: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union etc.
- are a non-resident;
- commute to McGill from the U.S.; or
- have a valid Quebec Medicare card.
Contact International Student Services for more information if you think one or more of these may apply to you.
How to claim or confirm an exemption
For citizens of Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium or Greece:
To apply for a Health Insurance Card, fill out the application form before going to the office of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec.
Find out more and obtain the form
Once you have received Medicare coverage, you must request an exemption via Minerva AND provide Service Point with a copy of your Confirmation of Registration from the Quebec Medicare Office, or a copy of your valid Quebec Medicare card.
Only full-time students are eligible for this exemption. Students covered by the Sécurité Sociale-Caisse des Français de l'Étranger are not eligible for Quebec Medicare, and therefore do not qualify for an exemption from the insurance plan.
For non-residents:
If you are not a Montreal resident because you are studying at another institution or doing research for your thesis, you may request an insurance exemption. To do so, you must submit a letter (by mail, fax or e-mail) as soon as your plans are finalized to International Student Services, stating:
- the reason for your non-resident status;
- your place of residence; and
- the period of time for which you'll be residing there.
For students with health coverage provided by an Canadian agency, international organization under United Nations, diplomatic status or DAAD:
If you have been sponsored and given health insurance by a Canadian agency or an international organization, you must submit a copy of your current Health Insurance coverage clearly stating your full name, name of the International Organization and dates of coverage. Please note that exemptions must be renewed every year.