Mandatory Medical Insurance
All incoming international students to VIU (including exchange students) are subject to a mandatory VIU inbound insurance policy through guard.me International Insurance. Students will be enrolled in the program automatically, and the minimum cost of $249 (CAD) per semester applies. Payment for this fee can be completed upon arrival online through your VIU Student Record.
Please note: Incoming exchange students are ineligible for medical insurance through the VIU Student Union (VIUSU)
The insurance policy details will be sent out before the start of studies at VIU. See: the Medical Insurance for International Students webpage for more information.
We strongly recommend students still obtain travel medical insurance to cover their journey to and from Canada.
Studying at VIU for 2 semesters: Exchange students are unable to opt-out of Guard.Me, even if they attend VIU for more longer than 3 months, as they will not meet the 6 month BC residency requirement to be eligible for a provincial medical services plan until mid way through their second semester of Guard.Me coverage — see Eligibility for MSP - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca).
Please note: VIU will verify that Guard.Me insurance has been paid for PRIOR to arrival and could impose cancellation/withdrawal from the Exchange program and any VIU courses if payment is not received in advance.