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Medical Exam for Canadian Immigration
Asked by IRCC to undergo a medical exam? Find out what to expect and what to prepare for!
Home > Medical Exam for Immigration to Canada
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If you are applying under one of the following programs to go to Canada, you might need to pass a medical exam:
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Find out below if you have to get a medical exam done.
Requirements for Temporary Residents (Visitors, Students, Workers)
- Visitors:
- You don't need to pass the Medical Exam, except if you are applying for a Super Visa, then you will be required to.
- Students:
- If you intend to study for less than 6 months, you do not need to pass the Medical Exam.
- If more than 6 months, AND have lived more than 6 months in a country in this list, you will need to pass the Medical Exam.
- Workers:
- If you will be working in an occupation where public health is to be protected, you will need to pass the Medical Exam.
- If you intend to work for less than 6 months in a job not related to public health, you will not need to pass the Medical Exam. If more than 6 months, you will need to pass the Medical Exam.
You can get your exam before you submit your application (before Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) asks you to). This is called an upfront medical exam (For the Student Direct Stream for example).
Requirements for Permanent Residents (Express Entry, Family Sponsorship, etc.)
If you apply for permanent residence, you must pass a medical exam. Your family members (spouse and dependents) must also have a medical exam, even if they are not coming with you.
IRCC has put in place a temporary public policy for medical exams until October 6, 2024. You may be exempt from completing another medical exam if you meet all of these conditions:
It is possible to undergo a medical exam prior to submitting an application (before IRCC asks you to). This is called an upfront medical exam. However, in spouse/partner sponsoring applications, upfront medical exams cannot be done anymore. The sponsored spouse/partner and their dependents will have to wait for IRCC's instructions before doing their medical exam.
With regards to Express Entry, as of October 1, 2023, Express Entry applicants are no longer required to complete and submit an upfront medical examination at the time of application submission, and applicants will be asked to await further instruction as to when a medical exam is required. More information on the dedicated Express Entry page.
IRCC has put in place a temporary public policy for medical exams until October 6, 2024. You may be exempt from completing another medical exam if you meet all of these conditions:
- You applied, or are applying, for either permanent residence or temporary residence.
- You already live in Canada.
- You completed a previous medical exam in the last 5 years.
- Your previous medical exam indicated a low risk or no risk to public health or public safety.
It is possible to undergo a medical exam prior to submitting an application (before IRCC asks you to). This is called an upfront medical exam. However, in spouse/partner sponsoring applications, upfront medical exams cannot be done anymore. The sponsored spouse/partner and their dependents will have to wait for IRCC's instructions before doing their medical exam.
With regards to Express Entry, as of October 1, 2023, Express Entry applicants are no longer required to complete and submit an upfront medical examination at the time of application submission, and applicants will be asked to await further instruction as to when a medical exam is required. More information on the dedicated Express Entry page.
What to expect
You will have to choose a panel physician that is authorized by IRCC. You can find the list, by country, here.
For the medical exam day, you have to carry with you:
If the IRCC-approved physician is not using eMedical, you will also need to carry 4 recent photos with you to the appointment. You can contact the physician directly to figure out if they use the eMedical system.
For the medical exam day, you have to carry with you:
- your identification document (passport preferably),
- your contact lenses or eyeglasses, if applicable,
- any test result or medical report in your possession relating to existing and/or previous medical conditions, and
- if you don't do an upfront medical exam, the Medical Report form. IRCC will transmit it to you.
If the IRCC-approved physician is not using eMedical, you will also need to carry 4 recent photos with you to the appointment. You can contact the physician directly to figure out if they use the eMedical system.
After the Medical Exam
- If you have done your medical exam only after being requested to by IRCC, you do not need to do anything else.
- If you have done an upfront medical exam, the doctor will give you a document confirming that you got a medical exam. You will have to add a copy of that document with your application, before submitting it.
Validity
The exam is valid for 1 year, meaning that the expiration date of the visa that you will be issued (for temporary or permanent stay) will not exceed the one-year anniversary of the exam.
You may need to have another exam if you don't enter Canada during that time.
You may need to have another exam if you don't enter Canada during that time.
