Can I claim medical expenses incurred abroad on my Canadian tax return?

Canadian taxpayers can generally claim medical expenses incurred abroad on their tax returns, including a variety of healthcare costs and travel expenses related to medical treatment, provided certain conditions are met. Claims can be made for any 12-month period ending in the tax year filed, and documentation should be kept for verification. Only unreimbursed expenses can be claimed, and residency status may affect tax obligations.

2 min read
Written by Peyton Bieda on August 26, 2024

The Short Answer

Good news! Generally speaking, you can claim medical expenses incurred abroad on your Canadian tax return. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows you to claim eligible medical expenses regardless of where they were paid¹.

What Can You Claim?

The CRA is pretty flexible when it comes to medical expenses. You can claim a wide range of healthcare costs, including:

Medical supplies

Dental care

Travel expenses related to medical treatment

Timing Is Everything

Here's an important tidbit: you can claim medical expenses for any 12-month period ending in the tax year you're filing for. So, if you're filing your 2024 tax return, you could claim expenses from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, or from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024 - whatever works best for you¹.

Travel Expenses: A Special Case

If your trip abroad was specifically for medical treatment, you might be able to claim some travel expenses too. But there are some rules:

The medical service wasn't available near your home in Canada.

You took a direct route.

It was reasonable for you to travel to that location for the medical service.

If you travelled at least 40 kilometers (one way) for treatment, you might be able to claim transportation costs. If it was 80 kilometers or more, you could potentially claim accommodation, meals, and parking too².

Keep Your Receipts!

The CRA loves documentation. While you don't need to send in your receipts with your tax return, make sure to keep them handy in case they ask to see them later¹.

A Word of Caution

Remember, you can only claim the portion of expenses that you haven't been (and won't be) reimbursed for. So if your travel insurance covered part of your medical bill, you can only claim the part you paid out of pocket¹.

Residency Matters

If you're spending a lot of time outside Canada, it's a good idea to check your residency status with the CRA. Your tax obligations can change depending on whether you're considered a resident or non-resident for tax purposes³.

So there you have it! In most cases, you can indeed claim those medical expenses you incurred while travelling or living abroad. Just remember to keep your receipts and double-check the CRA's rules if you're unsure about a specific expense.