Medical Exam for Express Entry – New Requirement Takes Effect

A medical exam is required for the principal applicant along with their spouse, common-law partner, and any dependent children – even if these family members are not accompanying the principal applicant to Canada.

Notably, an exemption to the Express Entry medical exam requirement exists for applicants who are already in Canada and have completed a previous immigration medical exam within the 5 years prior to applying.

What is a medical exam for Express Entry?

An Immigration Medical Exam (IME) is an official exam conducted by a panel physician who is approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These exams assess immigration applicants to ensure that they do not pose a risk to public health and safety in Canada, and to ensure that the newcomer will not place excessive demand on Canada’s healthcare system and social services.

Do I need a medical exam for Express Entry?

All immigrants applying through Express Entry must complete a medical exam before they submit their application for permanent residence (PR). The results must be included with their PR application. This is called an upfront medical exam.

For Express Entry, an upfront medical exam is required for the principal applicant as well as their spouse, common-law partner, and any dependent children – even if their family members are not accompanying them to Canada.

The medical exam is only required for the PR application. It is not required to create an Express Entry profile. Therefore, applicants only need to complete a medical exam after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Exemption for Certain In-Canada Applicants

Applicants who are already residing in Canada and have completed a medical exam for another immigration program within the five years prior to applying through Express Entry may submit the IME number (or the unique medical identified number) from their previous IME in their current application. Notably, the previous IME must have indicated that the applicant had a low risk or no risk to public health or public safety.

This exemption is in place until at least October 5, 2029.

Where to get a medical exam for Express Entry?

Medical exams for Express Entry can only be completed by doctors on IRCC’s approved list of panel physicians. IRCC maintains this list of panel physicians which you can search to find a panel physician near you.

How long does it take to get medical exam results for Express Entry?

After completing a medical exam, the panel physician will send the results directly to IRCC. The panel physician will also provide the applicant with a document confirming that they completed the Immigration Medical Exam. This document will include the applicant’s IME number (or unique medical identified number) and must be included in the PR application.

Please note that applicants only have 60 days from the date they receive their ITA to submit their complete PR application. For this reason, it is prudent to book a medical exam shortly after receiving an invitation.

What if there are issues with obtaining the medical exam or concerns about the results?

If you have questions or concerns about your medical exam for Express Entry, it may be worthwhile to speak to a regulated Canadian immigration consultant. An application for Canadian permanent residence is complex and even a single missing document can result in a refusal. If you’d like to speak to an immigration consultant, Moving2Canada is happy to recommend a handful of excellent consultants whose reputations we’ve verified. Find an immigration consultant here.