Canada Super Visa Holders' Guide to Tenant Insurance
You’re renting a home, condo, or apartment as a Canada super visa holder. Tenant insurance, also called renters’ insurance, helps protect your belongings against fire, theft, water damage, severe weather, and other risks.
Did you know? Your landlord's home insurance, apartment, or condo insurance doesn't cover your belongings. Tenant insurance isn’t mandatory, but your new landlord may require that you get tenant insurance as a condition of leasing a dwelling to you.
Tenant insurance will help give you peace of mind knowing that it covers the cost of repairing or replacing your belongings as a super visa holder in Canada.
Western Financial Group, a 100% Canadian company, can help you navigate your tenant, car, and emergency medical insurance as a Canada super visa holder.
Did you know? TuGo is Western Financial Group's trusted travel insurance provider. TuGo offers emergency medical insurance which is mandatory for Canada super visa applicants.
Top reasons for super visa holders (parents and grandparents) to get tenant insurance if they’re renting
Protect your belongings
Did you know that your landlord's home insurance does not cover your belongings? In the event of theft or fire, your renter insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing your belongings, such as your furniture, electronic devices, and clothes.
Third-party liability protection
This type of insurance covers you for unintentional bodily injury or property damage that you cause to a person who doesn't live with you, such as a guest, at your rented premises.
This is arguably the most important type of renters insurance because of the potentially high cost of liability claims. You should have at least $1 million to $2 million in liability coverage as a Canada super visa holder.
Identity theft coverage
Many tenant insurance policies include or offer as an add-on protection against expenses related to identity theft. This may cover the costs of restoring your identity, such as legal fees, lost wages from time spent resolving the issue, and fees for credit reports or notarization of documents.
Credit and debit card theft
Theft of your credit or debit cards and fraudulent charges made as a result can also be covered under the broader “identity theft” or “fraud” sections of your tenant insurance policy.
Additional living expense coverage if your rental accommodation is being repaired
If your rental home, apartment, condo, or townhouse, is damaged and you need to move out while it is repaired, your tenant insurance will help cover the costs of temporarily moving out.
Additional living expenses insurance covers things like a hotel room, renting a different apartment, transportation, storage, and meals.
Help during public emergencies
Tenant insurance covers additional living expenses not only if you have to move out because your rental apartment is damaged but also if there is a mass evacuation order, for example, because of fire or flooding.
Renters’ insurance may be required
Many Canadian landlords will require you to have tenant insurance before they will rent to you, but it is not legally required.
How much does tenant insurance cost?
Across Canada, average monthly premiums tend to be around $30 per month or approximately $360 annually but could be more or less based on where you live and your individual situation.
Factors influencing tenant insurance include:
- Location and neighborhood risk profile
- Value of personal property covered
- Type and age of rental property
- Your personal insurance and credit history
- Coverage limits and optional add-ons, such as flood insurance
Your Western Financial Group tenant insurance expert will answer any questions you may have about buying tenant’s insurance, what it covers, how much coverage you need, and how to make a claim.
Did you know? Renters in Canada typically do not have flood damage covered under standard tenant insurance policies. Flood coverage is usually an optional add-on or endorsement that renters can buy separately to protect their personal belongings from flood-related losses.
Will there be a soft credit check for renters’ insurance?
Most insurers will ask for your consent to perform a “soft” credit check during the application or quote process for tenant insurance.
A soft credit check looks at the information in your credit report and, most importantly, does not impact your credit score. Your Western Financial Group insurance broker will request your informed consent prior to checking your credit report.
In many cases, a soft credit check will allow Western insurance broker to give you the best price for your tenant insurance.
Does choosing a higher deductible lower your renters’ insurance?
Yes, choosing a higher deductible on your tenant insurance policy generally lowers your premium. This means that by agreeing to pay more out of pocket if you make a claim; for example, increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000, your monthly or annual insurance payments will decrease. It’s something to consider as a super visa holder.
What are the main renter insurance terms that a super visa holder needs to know?
Deductible
The deductible is the amount you will pay on your own before your insurance coverage applies in the event of a claim. When you opt for a higher deductible, an insurer typically sees you as less likely to make small claims, which reduces their risk. As a result, they typically offer you a lower premium.
Premium
The amount you pay for tenant insurance, usually annually or monthly, for coverage.
Coverage
The maximum amount your insurer will pay for an insured loss or event, such as a fire or vandalism. There are different types and levels of coverage for your tenant insurance policy.
Policyholder
That’s you as the tenant.
Contents (personal property) coverage
This usually covers the replacement cost of your belongings inside your rented home. Amounts vary but commonly start at around $20,000 to $50,000 depending on your needs and insurer.
Replacement cost
The amount it would cost to repair or replace your belongings with new items of a similar kind and quality, without taking depreciation into account. Replacement cost is recommended for your tenant insurance.
Perils
Tenant insurance in Canada can have named perils coverage, which means the policy only covers loss or damage caused by specific risks (perils) that are explicitly listed in the policy. These perils typically include events such as:
- Fire, lightning, and explosions
- Hail and windstorms
- Vandalism or malicious acts
- Smoke damage
- Impact by vehicles or aircraft
- Theft and attempted theft
Named perils coverage is more limited compared to all-risks (comprehensive) insurance, which covers most risks except those specifically excluded.
Personal liability
Personal liability coverage is part of your renters’ insurance policy and it is coverage that protects you if someone is injured at your home or on your property or if their personal property is damaged at your rented place. It helps pay legal costs if you’re sued.
Endorsement/riders
Endorsements or riders are add-ons to your basic tenant policy that provide extra coverage or modifies your existing coverage, such as insuring high-value jewelry or adding sewer backup protection.
Exclusions
Specific events, circumstances, or property that are not covered by your tenant policy. For example, typical exclusions are wear and tear, mould, tidal waves and tsunamis, acts of war, and landslides.
What are common mistakes to avoid when selecting tenant insurance as a newcomer on a Canada super visa?
- Too focused on lowest price at the expense of coverage
- Not understanding deductibles and coverage limits
- Not comparing multiple insurance quotes
- Settling for the first quote
- Overlooking policy exclusions
- Not reading your renters’ insurance policy
- Underinsuring your belongings to save money
- Not bundling your tenant and car insurance
- Not asking questions about your renters’ insurance policy
Avoiding these mistakes will help you get the right tenant insurance coverage as a Canada super visa holder.
Advantages of buying tenant insurance with Western Financial Group as a super visa holder
- Western is a national insurance broker partnering with Canada’s leading insurance companies to get you the best tenant insurance to help save you money.
- Western will get you multiple tenant insurance quotes for you to choose from to meet your coverage needs.
- Western will help you bundle your renter and car insurance to save.
- Western puts you, the customer, first.
- Western has been in the insurance business for over 100 years!
- We are 100% Canadian and we know the Canadian market.
How to reach us
Super visa holders can reach a Western home insurance expert by phone, text, or email. Fill out our form and get a quote for your insurance needs (and all your insurance needs) as a Canada super visa holder.
Speak to one of our insurance experts now: 1-866-860-1958.
Here’s a recap. What you need to know about the Canada super visa
Who is eligible for the super visa?
The Canada super visa is available to parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The key requirement is that the applicant has a child or grandchild who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian living in Canada.
Who can come and how long can you stay on the super visa?
- There is no specific list of eligible countries for the Canada super visa.
- It allows newcomers to stay in Canada for up to 5 years per visit, with the possibility of extending their stay for another 2 years while in Canada.
Do Canada super visa holders need medical insurance?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) mandates proof of private medical insurance from a Canadian insurer to obtain a super visa. This medical coverage must be valid for at least one year from the date of entry, provide a minimum of $100,000 in emergency health coverage, and cover health care, hospitalization, and repatriation.
If a super visa holder plans to stay for multiple years, up to a maximum of five years, they must renew or extend their private medical insurance before the initial policy expires to maintain the required coverage throughout their stay.
Don’t forget that TuGo is Western Financial Group's trusted travel insurance provider.
Where are most of Canada’s new citizens from in 2025?
Most newcomers to Canada in 2025 are coming from countries in Asia and Africa, with India remaining the top source, followed by the Philippines and China (People’s Republic of China). Other significant source countries include Nigeria, Cameroon, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and the United States.
Final thoughts
Tenant insurance financially protects your belongings in your new rental accommodation as a super visa holder. Is that protection you can afford to be without?
5 FAQs
Does tenant insurance provide replacement cost for belongings?
Renters’ insurance in Canada usually includes replacement cost coverage for your personal belongings. Replacement cost coverage means the insurer pays the cost to repair or replace your damaged or stolen items with new ones of similar kind and quality, without deducting depreciation.
Does a good credit history help with the price of tenant insurance?
Some insurers offer discounts or better rates to rental applicants with good credit histories. In some cases, you may receive a small discount just for consenting to a soft credit check. A credit check is not mandatory for renters insurance, but allowing a soft credit check can help you access potential discounts. A soft credit check does not affect your credit score.
Is renters’ insurance mandatory in Canada?
No, tenant insurance is not required by law in Canada, but many landlords include it as a condition in rental lease agreements. It’s strongly recommended to protect your belongings and yourself from liability and damage.
Does tenant insurance cover my family’s belongings?
Renters insurance in Canada generally covers the personal belongings of your immediate family members who live with you in the same rental unit, such as a spouse, children, or dependents. These individuals are usually included automatically under your policy as household members.
What are my landlord’s insurance responsibilities?
Your landlord's insurance responsibilities typically include having landlord insurance for the building/unit/condo/home he is renting. It protects against damage to the rental property caused by covered events like fire, storms, or vandalism. This type of insurance also covers the landlord in case someone is injured on the rental property due to negligence as a result of slippery walkways, for example.
