Starting from October 1st, an upfront medical examination is no longer required prior to submitting your Express Entry application for permanent residence.
A medical examination conducted by a panel physician, known as an Immigrant Medical Exam (IME), is a requirement for permanent residence.
If you have never undergone an IME, you can 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 provide you with further instructions on when to schedule your medical exam.
However, if you have already completed an IME as part of a previous application, such as for work or study, and you are currently residing in Canada, there is no need to undergo another IME when applying for permanent residence.
What is Immigrant Medical Exam (IME)
When applying for permanent residence, it is mandatory to undergo an Immigrant Medical Exam (IME). Additionally, your family members must also undergo a medical examination, even if they are not accompanying you to Canada.
It's important to note that your regular doctor cannot conduct the IME. Instead, you must visit a physician from the list of panel physicians approved by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The final decision regarding your medical exam rests with IRCC, not the panel physician. IRCC will not approve a permanent residence application if your health poses a risk to Canada's public health or safety, or if it would strain Canada's health or social services excessively.
During your medical exam appointment, you must bring the following:
- Proper identification
- Eyeglasses or contact lenses, if applicable
- Any medical reports or test results related to previous or existing medical conditions
- A list of your current medications
- The Medical Report form if you didn't have an upfront medical exam
- Four recent photographs if the panel physician doesn't use eMedical
The medical exam typically includes a medical history questionnaire, inquiring about previous and existing medical conditions, and a physical examination. Depending on your age, you might need chest x-rays and other laboratory tests.
You are responsible for covering all fees associated with the medical exam at the time of the appointment. Once the results are available, the physician will send them to you and provide a document confirming that you underwent the medical exam.
It's important to note that your medical exam results are valid for 12 months only. If you do not immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident within that timeframe, you may need to undergo another medical exam.
If you have any question about it, book an appointment with our team. E-Visa Immigration has expert immigration consultants ready to assist you at any time of your process. Contact us!
