When people arrive in Canada seeking refuge or resettlement, one of the most pressing concerns is access to health care, and dental care is often overlooked. Many refugees ask: Do refugees in Canada get free dental care? The short answer is: sometimes, under certain programs, in certain situations, and with limitations.
In this blog, we’ll explore free dental care for refugees in Canada, how Canada’s health system handles refugee coverage, what kinds of dental care are and aren’t covered, who qualifies, and how refugees can access care.
Everything About Refugee Healthcare in Canada
Canada’s healthcare system is publicly funded and primarily delivered through provincial and territorial government plans (such as BC’s MSP, Ontario’s OHIP) for residents. But newcomers, including refugees and claimants, may not immediately qualify for these provincial plans, either because of waiting periods or because their immigration status isn’t yet permanent.
To bridge the gap, the federal government offers the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). This program provides temporary health coverage until individuals become eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance.
Under IFHP, refugees and eligible persons get access to medically necessary services such as physician care, hospital services, diagnostic tests, and limited vision and dental services.
Regarding dental care, unlike full provincial health insurance, IFHP is more restricted and designed to cover essential, urgent, or emergency dental care rather than full, ongoing coverage for all health needs.
Suggested Article: Everything You Should Know about Dental Insurance for Emergency Care in Canada
It’s also worth noting that once a refugee becomes eligible for a province’s health plan, the IFHP may step aside or shift to supplemental coverage in some cases. Thus, dental care for refugees sits in a more complicated space than general medical care.
Dental Care for Refugees: What’s Included?
Now, let’s focus on free dental care for refugees in Canada; what exactly is included, and what is typically excluded.
As mentioned earlier, under the IFHP Dental Benefit Grid, coverage is limited to emergency or urgent dental treatment. This helps relieve pain, treat infections, or address trauma. Typical included services are:
- Emergency oral examinations (for pain or infection).
- X-rays, necessary for diagnosis in an emergency context.
- Tooth extractions, particularly for severely damaged or infected teeth.
- Fillings, but usually when needed urgently (for example, to address pain or structural breakage).
- Denture repairs or relines in emergency situations, in some cases.
Refugees Welcome Here!
If you’re a new refugee in the Vancouver area and unsure where to start, feel free to contact Vancouver Main Dentist for guidance; we can help check your eligibility, refer you to an IFHP-registered dentist, or assist you with booking an emergency appointment.
What Doesn’t the Refugee Health Insurance Cover?
- The IFHP does not cover routine preventive care, such as dental cleanings, scaling, fluoride treatments, or routine checkups.
- Comprehensive treatments beyond emergency stabilizing care (such as root canals, crowns, bridges, orthodontics) are largely excluded unless pre-approved under special circumstances.
- Cosmetic dental procedures, like whitening and elective implants, are not covered.
Here’s a simplified comparison:
| Type of Dental Service | Covered under IFHP? | Notes / Conditions |
| Emergency exam/consultation | Yes | For pain or infection |
| Diagnostic X-rays | Yes | As needed for diagnosing emergency issues |
| Tooth extraction | Yes | Simple extraction for a severely affected tooth |
| Fillings (urgent) | Yes | When needed to fix structural damage in pressing cases |
| Denture repair / relines | Sometimes | In emergency situations only |
| Routine cleaning, scaling | No | Considered preventive, excluded |
| Cosmetic dentistry | No | Excluded |
| Root canal therapy | Generally no | Unless an exceptional pre-approved case |
| Orthodontics, crowns, implants | No | Not covered |
In short, refugees do not generally get free dental care. The coverage is limited to helping avoid or resolve serious dental pain, infection, or trauma. That said, some clinics go beyond the minimum, subject to funding or special programs.
Several clinics in Toronto accept IFHP and provide emergency dental services (exams, X-rays, extractions) free for refugees. But almost all such sources caution that routine cleanings or elective procedures are not covered under IFHP.
So, while the phrase “free dental care for refugees in Canada” is sometimes used, it’s more accurate to say “emergency or urgent dental care under IFHP for eligible refugees.”
Further Reading: Government Dental Coverage for Seniors in Canada
Eligibility for Free Dental Care for Refugees in Canada
Before a refugee can benefit from dental coverage under IFHP, they must meet eligibility and registration criteria. Let’s break that down.
To receive IFHP coverage, and thus access free emergency dental care, an individual must belong to one of several eligible categories listed below.
- Refugee claimants (people who have made a refugee/asylum claim within Canada).
- Protected persons (those whose refugee claim has been accepted or have protection status)
- Resettled refugees (those who came from abroad under government-assisted or privately sponsored refugee programs)
- Victims of human trafficking or certain victims of family violence, under specific conditions
- Detainees under immigration custody, in some cases
Are you wondering about the Canadian Dental Care Plan? Check if you’re eligible for this program here: CDCP Eligibility: Who Qualifies for the CDCP in 2025?
How Refugees Can Access Dental Care in Canada
Understanding eligibility and coverage is one thing; navigating the system is another. Here’s how refugees can actually get dental care in practice.
- Register with IFHP / confirm eligibility
When you make your refugee or asylum claim or arrive as a resettled refugee, register with IFHP and receive your Certificate of Eligibility. - Find an IFHP-registered dental provider
Use the Medavie Blue Cross or government listing to locate dentists who accept IFHP claims. - Book an appointment and present documentation
Bring your IFHP certificate, UCI, refugee documents, and ID to the clinic. - Clinic verifies and submits the claim
The clinic ensures you are eligible and processes the dental claim with Medavie Blue Cross under the IFHP dental benefit grid. - Receive treatment (emergency/urgent)
A dentist provides covered services to relieve pain, treat infection, or stabilize. - Follow up if needed and transition to provincial coverage
Once you obtain provincial health insurance, you may shift to other dental coverage or private plans for broader care.
Good to Know: What to Do When Tooth Pain Comes and Goes?
Get Professional Help for Free Dental Care for Refugees in Canada
Access to free dental care for refugees in Canada is real, but limited. Through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), eligible refugees can receive emergency and urgent dental services to address pain, infection, and trauma. However, routine preventive care, cosmetic dentistry, and many advanced procedures are generally excluded under this coverage.
At Vancouver Main Dentist, we’re here to help newcomers understand their dental rights and options. If you are a refugee in the Vancouver area and need help navigating dental care, you can rely on our help! Whether you need emergency treatment, general dentistry services in Vancouver or simply practical advice, please contact us anytime.
FAQ
Do refugees in Canada get free dental care?
Refugees in Canada can receive free emergency dental care through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). This coverage includes treatments for pain, infection, or injury, such as extractions and urgent fillings. However, it doesn’t cover routine checkups, cleanings, or cosmetic procedures.
What does the refugee health insurance cover?
The IFHP covers basic medical services, emergency dental and vision care, some prescription medications, and hospital visits. The program focuses on essential or emergency treatment, not ongoing or elective care.
Does Vancouver Main Dentist provide free consultations for refugee patients?
Yes, we do! Vancouver Main Dentist offers free consultations for refugee patients covered under IFHP, especially for emergency or urgent dental concerns like pain, infection, or injury. During your visit, we’ll examine your condition, explain your treatment options, and check your coverage, all at no cost for the consultation.
Do I have to pay upfront for emergency dental treatment if I’m covered by IFHP?
No, you usually don’t have to pay upfront. If you’re eligible under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), your dentist can bill Medavie Blue Cross directly, which means your covered services are paid for by the program. At Vancouver Main Dentist, we help verify your IFHP eligibility before treatment so you’ll know exactly what’s covered and won’t face unexpected costs.
We’d love to hear your thoughts, too; leave a comment below to share your experience or ask questions about dental care as a refugee in Canada. Together, we can build healthier smiles and stronger communities.
