Hello, I’m kindly inquiring about what constitutes as “full time employment” to be eligible for OHIP as a work permit holder. I currently hold a PGWP and I have a contract for casual employment with a university for 30h/week.
Here is the definition set by OINP: “Full-time means the job must be a minimum of 1,560 hours a year and a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week.”
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your question and situation with us.
Here is an excerpt from Service Ontario:
You must also meet at least 1 of the following additional requirements. You:
- are in Ontario on a valid work permit and are working full-time in Ontario, for an Ontario employer, for at least 6 months
- if you meet this requirement, your spouse and dependants may also qualify for OHIP
- if your work permit has expired but you hold “maintained status”, you may be eligible (please contact ServiceOntario for further information)
Full-time is defined by a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week, and for OHIP eligibility your employment status should be full-time for at least 6 months. You may want to confirm this information and ask for advice specific to your situation wit Service Ontario’s INFOline. You can call them at 1-866-532-3161 for more information regarding OHIP coverage.
We hope this information is helpful, please reach out to us if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Your Settlement.Org Team
From what I understand, OHIP eligibility for work permit holders is usually based on being employed full time for an Ontario employer, but the exact definition can sometimes vary between programs. Since your contract is for 30 hours per week, it sounds like it may meet the “full time” threshold, even if it is casual employment.
That said, OHIP rules are not always the same as OINP rules, so I would double check directly with ServiceOntario or see whether your employer can confirm if your position qualifies for health coverage. Someone with a similar PGWP situation may also be able to share their experience.