Healthcare coverage if you move to Nova Scotia: Health Card

Your Health Card coverage usually starts on the date you become a resident of Nova Scotia if you’re moving from outside of Canada. Your Health Card coverage usually starts on the first day of the third month following the date you become a resident of Nova Scotia if you’re moving from another province or territory within Canada to live permanently in Nova Scotia. For example, if you become a resident on 27 September, Nova Scotia provides coverage on 1 December.

When moving to Nova Scotia from within Canada, you need to contact your previous province or territory to make sure you’re covered until your Nova Scotia Health Card coverage starts. If your spouse or common-law partner doesn’t move at the same time but is joining you within 12 months of your arrival date, Nova Scotia coverage for both of you may start the first day of the third calendar month following the date your spouse or common-law partner arrives in Nova Scotia.

If you’re in Nova Scotia temporarily (for example, to work or study) and maintain your home in another province or territory within Canada and return home regularly, you should maintain your health insurance coverage in your home province or territory. You can apply for a Health Card if you decide to move permanently to Nova Scotia.

If you’re a non-Canadian married or a common-law partner to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and are moving permanently to Nova Scotia from outside Canada, you can apply for a Health Card. You must prove you applied to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency and provide a marriage certificate or an IRCC Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union. Your Health Card coverage usually starts on the day you become a resident of Nova Scotia.

Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) military families

Military families can apply for a Health Card as soon as they become residents of Nova Scotia (they don’t need to wait).

Work permit

If you’re a worker moving to Nova Scotia, you can apply for a Health Card for yourself or your family on the day you become a resident of Nova Scotia if you meet the eligibility requirements for Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program coverage and you meet 1 of the following criteria:

• you’re a work permit holder (permit must be for 12 or more months)
• you have an employment contract with a Nova Scotia employer (contract must be for 12 or more months)
• you’re a Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) member (permit must be for 12 or more months)
• you’re a diplomatic passport holder (permit must be for 12 or more months)
• you’re a religious worker who holds a Visitor permit (Case Type 13 or Case Type 10) (permit must be for 12 or more months)
• you’re family of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member (excludes USA NATO members and their family members) (permit must be for 12 or more months)

You must meet the eligibility requirements and sign a Declaration. Your Health Card coverage starts on the day you become a resident of Nova Scotia or the issue date of your immigration document, whichever is later.

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependants, who meet the eligibility requirements for Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program coverage, are eligible for a Health Card at the same time and on the same basis as you.

If you’re a non-Canadian parent to a baby born in Nova Scotia, your newborn may be eligible for coverage. Contact MSI Resident Services to learn more.

You and your family may be covered for some insured healthcare services during a short-term absence from Nova Scotia. You should get medical travel insurance to avoid unexpected costs when you travel.

To avoid a gap in coverage, you and your family must continue to meet the immigration and residency requirements to be eligible for the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program. You must sign a new Declaration each time you update your immigration documents to get a new Health Card.

Study permit

If you’re an international student coming to Nova Scotia with a study permit that’s valid for a minimum of 12 months, you can apply for a Health Card for yourself or your family on the first day of the 13th month following your date of arrival in Nova Scotia as a student or the date of your study permit, whichever is later.

You must meet the eligibility requirements for Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program coverage and sign a Declaration. You can apply up to 90 days before your eligibility date.

There’s no waiting period to apply if you’re employed as a teaching or research assistant with a Nova Scotia university. You’re eligible for a Health Card on the date you become a resident of Nova Scotia or the effective date of the study permit or your employment with the university, whichever is later.

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependants 18 or younger, who meet the eligibility requirements for Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program coverage, are eligible for a Health Card at the same time and on the same basis as you.

If you’re a non-Canadian parent to a baby born in Nova Scotia, your newborn may be eligible for coverage. Contact MSI Resident Services to learn more.

You and your family may be covered for some insured healthcare services during a short-term absence from Nova Scotia. You should get medical travel insurance to avoid unexpected costs when you travel.

To avoid a gap in coverage, you and your family must continue to meet the immigration and residency requirements to be eligible for the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program. You must sign a new Declaration each time you update your immigration documents to get a new Health Card.

Protected Persons, Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds and Convention refugees

If you’re a Person in Need of Protection or a Convention refugee (as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)) and have proof you applied for permanent residency, you can apply for a Health Card. Your coverage usually starts on the day you submit your application for permanent residency. Contact MSI Resident Services to apply.

If you’re living in Nova Scotia on humanitarian and compassionate grounds and have proof you applied for permanent residency and your approval in principle letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you can apply for a Health Card. An approval in principle letter from IRCC indicates that you meet the permanent residence eligibility requirements, but still need to pass medical, security and background checks for you and (if needed) your family members. Your coverage usually starts on the day IRCC determines you’re approved in principle. Contact MSI Resident Services to apply.

Temporary Resident Permit

If you have an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Temporary Resident Permit, you still need to meet the eligibility requirements for Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program coverage to apply for a Health Card.