Before reviewing the information below, please see ISS' COVID-19 FAQs and resources pages for up to date information on the impact of COVID-19 on immigration related matters.
Once you have requested your exemption on Minerva, you must submit your supporting document to international.health [at] mcgill.ca. Please review the following supporting documents for each exemption category.
Citizenship Agreement: Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Romania or Greece
If you are a citizen and a resident of Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Belgium, Romania or Greece, you may qualify for the Quebec Health Insurance Plan Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec(RAMQ).
This new academic year 2021-2022, registration for the RAMQ plan must be done by mail, using the following registration form (en francais) and providing copies of the required supporting documents. This checklist (en francais) can help as you prepare your application. The form and the supporting documents must be sent to the following address:
Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec: C.P. 6600, succ. Terminus; Quebec (Quebec) G1K 7T3
Tel.: (514) 864-3411 or 1 (800) 561-9749.
RAMQ invites international students to consult their Facebook Page for news and updates for students under the citizenship agreement group. The RAMQ card or a letter from RAMQ confirming your coverage is required by McGill to confirm your exemption.
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Note: International students who opt-out of the Medavie Blue Cross IHI plan and obtain RAMQ coverage are strongly recommended to enroll in the Supplemental Health Plan and must register with ASEQ directly. For undergraduate students Downtown campus - SSMU Supplemental Health Plan, for graduate students - PGSS Supplemental Health Plan, undergraduate Macdonald campus - MCSS Supplemental Health Plan. |
Sponsored students and Award recipients (CBIE, CIDA, ICCS, SACB or DAAD)
Sponsored students and Award recipients (CBIE, CIDA, ICCS, SACB or DAAD) must present an insurance card and/or letter from their sponsor indicating the start and end date of the coverage. SACB: confirmation of coverage including dates of coverage available on the SACB website. Students must provide their Saudi ID # and date of birth to access this website.
| Please note: you will be requested to pay upfront for all medical services, including at the McGill Health Clinics and Montreal hospitals. This does not apply to students who are covered by the IHI Medavie Blue Cross plan. |
Diplomatic Status
A scan of your diplomatic card or diplomatic visa in passport AND a valid RAMQ card or a letter from RAMQ or private insurance clearly indicating the name of the student and dates of coverage. The confirmation letter must be dated within the last 3 months.
Dependents of workers of an international organization
Dependents of workers of an international organization must present a confirmation of coverage, which should include the international organization's name, the name of the student, the start and end date of the coverage. The confirmation letter must be dated within the last 3 months.
| Please note: you will be requested to pay upfront for all medical services, including at the McGill Health Clinics and Montreal hospitals. This does not apply to students who are covered by the IHI Medavie Blue Cross plan. |
Non-residents (thesis-away or term away from McGill University)
If you are an international student residing outside of Canada (i.e. not physically in Canada), you may request an insurance exemption. To do so, you must submit the following:
Graduate Students
- An email/letter from yourself indicating that you are completing your thesis abroad including specific dates that you will be residing outside of Canada;
- An email/letter from your supervisor or Graduate Program Director to ISS containing your name, ID# and acknowledgment that you are completing your thesis abroad. They must also specify the dates that you will be outside of Canada (i.e. September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022);
Undergraduate Students
- Your transcript must indicate that you are on exchange or term-away status. If your transcripts indicate this, you must request an exemption on Minerva and select the 'non-resident' category
RAMQ coverage
RAMQ card or if it is past the exemption deadlines (i.e. September 30th, January 30th or May 31st) a RAMQ confirmation of coverage letter.
Online Graduate Certificates offered by McGill University's School of Physical and Occupational Therapy
- If you are an international student participating in one of the following programs: Graduate Certificate in Driving Rehabilitation & Graduate Certificate in Chronic Pain Management and residing outside of Canada (i.e. not physically in Canada), you may request an insurance exemption. To do so, you must submit the following:
An email from yourself indicating that you are completing [the name of the program], including specific program dates, outside of Canada.
Note: If you do decide to come to Canada during the duration of your online program, even for vacation purposes, you must contact international.health [at] mcgill.ca (our) office.