Giving birth in Canada question

[Canadianspirit]

Hello. I am a PR holder. And I want to give birth in Canada. We have been staying outside of Canada after getting our PR cards for 2 years now. Plan is to move to Canada before the 3 years mark to keep our PRs.

But I am due way before that. Any idea of health care expenses insurance coverage for someone in my situation? If I had to pay out of pocket how much would it cost in worst case scenario AKA C section/NICU ?

What would you do if in my situation. Still go through the hassles of giving birth in Canada or sponsor the child later? (I prefer less long term complications)

Also is the only way to keep your PR is to spend 2 years in Canada? Or is there anyway around it?

Thanks

 

[scylla]

Hello. I am a PR holder. And I want to give birth in Canada. We have been staying outside of Canada after getting our PR cards for 2 years now. Plan is to move to Canada before the 3 years mark to keep our PRs.

But I am due way before that. Any idea of health care expenses insurance coverage for someone in my situation? If I had to pay out of pocket how much would it cost in worst case scenario AKA C section/NICU ?

What would you do if in my situation. Still go through the hassles of giving birth in Canada or sponsor the child later? (I prefer less long term complications)

Also is the only way to keep your PR is to spend 2 years in Canada? Or is there anyway around it?

Thanks

Generally speaking you need to return to Canada and live here for three months before you will have health care coverage. You also can't leave immediately after the birth.

If you return too late and don't have health care coverage, then you'd be looking at paying out of pocket for everything (private insurance won't cover you since it's a pre-existing condition. You're looking at anywhere from just under $10K in costs to a worst case scenario of over a million if there are very significant complications (there's really no limit on the high end).

If you give birth outside of Canada, at least one parent will need to move to Canada in order to be able to sponsor the child (you can't sponsor from outside of Canada). The baby will either need a TRV or eTA to come to Canada. TRVs are never guaranteed to be approved. Sponsorship typically takes around 8 months and the person sponsoring must meet the residency oblgiationa at the time they apply (assuming both parents are PRs).

Yes, you need to live in Canda for 2 out of every rolling 5 years to meet the residency obligation. If your spouse is a Canadian citizen, then you can count time spent outside of Canada towards this requirement. If you are both PRs, that obviously isn't an option. The only other way you can count time outside of Canada towards PR is if you are working for a company in Canada that then transfers you temporarily to a role outside of Canada. There are very specific requirements to be able to count time under these circumstances and no loop holes (e.g. you can't set up your own company and then send yourself outside of Canada).

 

[lampbreaker]

If not Canada, where will you be giving birth? In other words, what Citizenship will the child have if not born in Canada?

 

[k.h.p.]

If not Canada, where will you be giving birth? In other words, what Citizenship will the child have if not born in Canada?

Depends on the country the birth takes place and the rules of the parent's country of citizenship. If the child is not born in Canada, they would absolutely not be Canadian if the parents are not Canadian.

 

[Islander216]

Easiest option in terms of your child obtaining Canadian citizenship is for him/her to be born in Canada.

But obviously, you should meet the 3 month residency requirement to get health insurance coverage and there will be costs associated with your accommodation and living expenses during that time.

Why not move to Canada and fulfill the requirements to become a citizen? Then afterwards you won't have this issue.

 

[k.h.p.]

Why not move to Canada and fulfill the requirements to become a citizen? Then afterwards you won't have this issue.

Most likely because the OP is already pregnant, hasn't been in Canada for 3 years in order to apply for citizenship, and is close to not meeting the residency obligations. Given that the average human gestational period is ~9 months, coming to Canada for three years to become a citizen would be difficult.

 

[canuck78]

Easiest option in terms of your child obtaining Canadian citizenship is for him/her to be born in Canada.

But obviously, you should meet the 3 month residency requirement to get health insurance coverage and there will costs associated with your accommodation and living expenses during that time.

Why not move to Canada and fulfill the requirements to become a citizen? Then afterwards you won't have this issue.

Also not only a 3 month period. Most provinces require you to remain in the province for 6-12 months to keep your coverage or you could be asked to pay back any expenses.

 

[Islander216]

Also not only a 3 month period. Most provinces require you to remain in the province for 6-12 months to keep your coverage or you could be asked to pay back any expenses.

Interesting, do you have a link for that? I'd like to know their exact wording and conditions.

 

[naman12]

i think it would be a little unlogical to immigrate to Canada just for giving birth to you child. it would be a good idea to prepare all your documents and become a citizen in Canada because the rules and regulation will be changed soon.

 

[Buletruck]

N

Interesting, do you have a link for that? I'd like to know their exact wording and conditions.

Need to know the province you plan to settle in for specific requirements.

 

[k.h.p.]

i think it would be a little unlogical to immigrate to Canada just for giving birth to you child. it would be a good idea to prepare all your documents and become a citizen in Canada because the rules and regulation will be changed soon.

The OP is a PR and can come to Canada at any time and give birth. OP is asking about costs.

There are no proposed changes to citizenship legislation, so I have no idea why you say it's changing soon.

As OP is currently pregnant, she cannot come to Canada for three years, apply to become a citizen, wait for the application to process, take the oath, and only then give birth, unless I'm mistaken about human reproductive biology.

 

[Canadianspirit]

You guys thank you all for the help. My plan is eventually to move permanently to Canada next year by then I'd have spent 2.5 years outside Canada. In the meantime I am due in 4 months so my question was how to handle the birth cost and if there is anyway to have an insuramce that would help. Ofcourse if not then I am going to pay out of pocket since sponsoring the child would be more of a hassle to my understanding. Both parents with PR only.

 

[scylla]

You guys thank you all for the help. My plan is eventually to move permanently to Canada next year by then I'd have spent 2.5 years outside Canada. In the meantime I am due in 4 months so my question was how to handle the birth cost and if there is anyway to have an insuramce that would help. Ofcourse if not then I am going to pay out of pocket since sponsoring the child would be more of a hassle to my understanding. Both parents with PR only.

No insurance policy will cover you. The only insurance available to cover costs related to pregnancies must be purchased before you get pregnant.

 

[Islander216]

N


Need to know the province you plan to settle in for specific requirements.

Well let's take Ontario as an example.

 

[Buletruck]

Ontario Health Insurance Plan

• have an OHIP -eligible citizenship/immigration status; and.
• be physically present in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period; and.
• be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately after establishing residency in the province; and.
• make your primary place of residence in Ontario.