USIT changes insurance requirements for Canadian Visa applicants
November 1, 2004
Outcome of investigation
The Competition Authority’s (“the Authority”) investigation was based around a number of complaints about the insurance requirements of USIT’s Canadian Working Holiday Visa Programme.
The case was however closed in 2004 after USIT offered undertakings to revise its insurance requirements.
Outline of case
The Authority’s investigation followed a number of complaints concerning the insurance requirements specified in the terms and conditions of USIT’s Canadian Working Holiday Visa Programme. USIT required applicants to purchase travel insurance only from itself, even where cheaper alternative insurance was available.
Following discussions with the Authority, USIT offered to revise its terms and conditions to clarify the insurance requirements (whereby alternative insurance meeting particular criteria could be substituted by visa applicants). USIT also submitted procedures for staff to follow, in informing visa applicants about the insurance requirements of the programme.
On the basis of these undertakings, the Authority decided to discontinue its investigation.
Relevant provision
Section 5 of the Competition Act 2002
Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Return to Closed Investigations