Upfront medical examination no longer required before submitting an Express Entry application

Julia Hornstein
Published: October 3, 2023

As of October 1st, you no longer need to get an upfront medical examination before you submit your application for permanent residence through Express Entry.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

An immigrant medical exam (IME) from a panel physician is a requirement for permanent residence.

If you have never completed an IME, you may now upload a blank document in the upload field of the Express Entry profile Builder when submitting your application. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will then send you further instructions on when to get your medical exam.

If you have already completed an IME as part of a previous application, for example, to work or study, and are currently living in Canada, you do not need to complete another IME when you apply for permanent residence.

About the IME

If you apply for permanent residence, you must have an IME. Your family members must also have a medical exam, even if they are not accompanying you to Canada.

Your own doctor cannot do the medical exam. Instead, you must see a doctor on the list of panel physicians, which are physicians approved by IRCC.

The panel physician does not make the final decision about your medical exam, IRCC does. IRCC will not approve a permanent residence application if your health is a danger to Canada’s public health or safety or if it would cause too much demand on health or social services in Canada.

When you go to your appointment for the medical exam, you must bring:

  • Proper identification
  • Eyeglasses or contact lenses, if you wear them
  • Any medical reports or test results that you have for any previous or existing medical conditions
  • A list of your current medications
  • The Medical Report form, if you do not get an upfront medical exam
  • 4 recent photographs, if the panel physician does not use eMedical

The medical exam will likely consist of a medical history questionnaire, which will ask about any previous and existing medical conditions. You’ll also undergo a physical exam. Depending on your age, you may be asked to do chest x-rays and other laboratory tests.

You must pay for all the fees related to the medical exam when you are there. Once the results are received, the physical will send you them and provide you with a document confirming that you had a medical exam.

Your medical exam results are valid for 12 months only. If you don’t come to Canada as a permanent resident within that time, you may need to have another exam.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
December 2024: State of the Express Entry pool
A group of people on the sky bridge located in Jasper, Alberta.
IRCC invites Express Entry candidates in first French-language draw of December
A picture of Montreal's Old Port on a sunny autumn day.
IRCC’s backlog shrinks for the first time in months
The Canadian flag against a bright blue sky
New immigration fees effective December 1
A woman with her laptop and calculator calculating her application fees to IRCC.
Top Stories
Are you eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner for Canadian immigration?
Report identifies occupations set for salary increases in Canada in 2025
How to prepare for your Canadian citizenship test
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Citizenship
How to prepare for your Canadian citizenship test
A young woman sits at a table with books and a laptop.
How can I apply for Canadian citizenship?
A picture of a girl holding two Canadian flags
Here’s what you can expect during your virtual citizenship ceremony in Canada
A woman in a red blazer smiles while sitting in front of a laptop.
What’s the difference between Canadian permanent residency and Canadian citizenship?
A person with a packed bag stands on a road with the Canadian flag in front of them.
Link copied to clipboard