New medical exam requirements for permanent residence applications under Express Entry
Canada’s immigration department will require upfront medical exams for applicants applying for permanent residence through Express Entry.
This new requirement will come into effect on August 21, 2025, according to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s website.
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Prior to this change, applicants would submit their complete application for permanent residency, and then await instructions from IRCC on completing any required medical exam(s).
Applications submitted prior to August 21, 2025 will not be affected by this change.
Non-Express Entry permanent residence applications are not affected by this change.
About medical admissibility
The principal applicant on a permanent resident application and their family members must be medically admissible to Canada.
Family members must be medically admissible regardless of whether they are accompanying the principal applicant to Canada.
Typically, the main reason why a foreign national might be found medically inadmissible is if their condition(s) are deemed likely to pose an excessive demand on public health services—defined at exceeding three times the national average per capita cost of healthcare, or $27,162 per year.
Showing that any chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, are being treated and are stable and controlled can help to reduce the risk of being found medically inadmissible.
Foreign nationals can also be found medically inadmissible if their conditions might post a danger to public health, such as carrying certain infectious diseases.
About immigration medical exams
Immigration medical exams (IMEs) must be scheduled with providers approved by IRCC.
To schedule an IME, view IRCC's list of panel physicians, select the relevant country or territory, and contact a physician directly to book an appointment.
These exams typically cost $140 to $280 per person.
At the time of your medical exam, foreign nationals must pay for all related costs, such as
- The fee for the attending doctor or radiologist;
- Special tests, investigations, or treatments; and
- Any specialist visits.
An IME may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- A previous medical history examination (surgeries, treatments, chronic illnesses and more);
- A full-body physical examination, including the eyes, heart, lungs, and more;
- X-rays (such as chest x-rays to check for Tuberculosis);
- Blood and urine tests;
- Mental health assessment(s); and
- Immunization (vaccine) record check.
When attending an IME, bring a list of current medications, any medical reports or results for previous/existing conditions, and proof of previous vaccinations—as well as identification (such as a passport or national identity card) and four recent photographs.
Applicants in Canada who have undergone an IME within the last five years (e.g., for a work permit or study permit) can provide their IME number or unique medical identifier when submitting their PR application. Applicants who had previously been determined to be low risk or no risk to public health may be exempt from needing to complete another medical exam.
If IRCC determines the previous results cannot be used, they will notify the applicant with further steps to undergo a new medical exam.
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