Canada Immigration Medical Exam: Who Needs One and What to Expect

Permanent residence applicants. If you apply for permanent residence, you and your family members generally need a medical exam. This usually includes family members who are not coming with you, such as a spouse or dependent children who will stay behind.

Temporary residents (visitors, students, and workers) need one if:

• You plan to stay in Canada longer than 6 months, and in the past year you lived for 6 months or more in a row in a country or territory on IRCC's list of designated countries, or
• You will work in a job where public health must be protected, such as health care, child care, primary or secondary school teaching, or some agricultural work, or
• You are applying for a super visa as a parent or grandparent

IRCC can also ask anyone for a medical exam if an officer thinks it is needed. When in doubt, follow the instructions in your IRCC account.

These are general rules. Your IRCC account shows what is required for your own application.

There are two ways to do the exam:

An upfront exam can save time, but results last only 12 months, so don't do it too early.

Only a panel physician approved by IRCC can do the exam. Your family doctor can't. IRCC keeps an official list of panel physicians around the world and in Canada. Use only that list, and be careful of offices that claim to be approved but are not on it.

When you book, ask:

• Whether the clinic does all parts of the exam, including x-rays and lab tests, or refers you elsewhere
• What the fee is. You pay the clinic directly; IRCC does not set this fee, and it varies by country and clinic
• What to bring

• Your passport or other government photo ID
• Your medical exam instructions from IRCC, if you received them
• Glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them
• Medical reports or test results for any existing condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, or past tuberculosis treatment
• A list of your current medications
• Your vaccination records, if you have them
• Photos, if the clinic asks for them (many clinics take their own digital photo)

The exam usually includes:

• A medical history questionnaire
• A physical exam: height, weight, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, blood pressure, and so on
• A chest x-ray, usually for people aged 11 and older
• Blood and urine tests, depending on your age

The panel physician sends the results to IRCC electronically. You don't receive the results yourself, and the panel physician does not decide your application.

Be honest about your health history. Hiding a medical condition can be treated as misrepresentation, which can lead to a 5-year ban. Having a medical condition does not automatically mean refusal.

• Results are valid for 12 months. If you don't enter Canada or become a permanent resident before they expire, you may need a new exam. Your Confirmation of Permanent Residence often expires when your medical results do.
• Further tests. IRCC or the panel physician may ask for more tests or a specialist's report. Reply by the deadline.
• Medical surveillance. If you had tuberculosis in the past or a condition that needs follow-up, you may be asked to report to a public health authority in Canada within 30 days of arriving. Follow these instructions; failing to report can affect future applications.
• Concerns about your health. If IRCC thinks your condition may be a danger to public health or safety, or may cause excessive demand on health or social services, it sends a procedural fairness letter so you can respond. See inadmissibility.