Canada Immigration and Medical Exams

Whenever you apply for a visa or go through the immigration process, a medical examination is a requirement. Medical exams are a necessary part of immigration, not only for Canada but for many other countries as well. A medical examination is a full-body checkup that reports on the general health of an applicant. If the examiner determines that you are in good health or have a non-serious illness, you are cleared. If something concerning appears, you will not be allowed to proceed with the immigration process until you address the health issue and may have to re-apply. Allow PICI to guide you with the medical examination procedure including where to find the doctor and how to submit your report for the immigration process. We have gathered useful information for you. So that you can understand the procedure of the medical examinations for permanent and temporary residents. Stay with us till the end so you do not miss out on anything!

Elements of Medical Examination

Medical examination for Canadian immigration requires a clean bill of health. You cannot go to just any doctor or physician for this kind of medical examination. There is a government-authorized panel of doctors that conducts the medical examination of all applicants. The only reports that will be accepted by the Canadian government are those completed by this authorized panel. 

medical exam

The medical exam involves a questionnaire to evaluate your medical history plus a physical checkup.  It is divided into the following sections:

  • Examining your health history and vaccination records
  • A physical and mental examination 
  • Screening for drugs and alcohol
  • Tests for a variety of disorders and ailments

Medical Examination for Permanent Residents

You must be prepared to pay for the doctor and any recommended tests. There are two chances you can have a medical examination if you have applied for the permanent residence ship which are:

Before Application Submission

If you’re applying through the Express Entry Program, you can take a medical examination before you submit your application. This is normally called an upfront medical exam. When your spouse, children, or partner is sponsoring you, you cannot take the upfront exam. 

After Application Submission

When you are being someone’s sponsor, you need to wait for instructions from the IRCC. As soon as you get the instructions, take your medical exam within 30 days of receiving them. In case you fail to proceed as instructed, your application will be rejected. 

Documents You Need to Bring for Medical Examination

  • Identity card or passport
  • Contact lenses or glasses (if you wear them)
  • Whatever hospital records or test results you may have for past or current medical conditions
  • A list of all the meds you’re taking right now
  • If you don’t go through the upfront exam, bring the Medical Report form (IMM 1017E) provided by the IRCC website

The validity of this exam is 12 months. If you do not make it to Canada within the time period, you must take the exam again. 

Medical Examination for Temporary Residents

This essentially covers students, visitors, and workers that come for 6 months or more but applied for a temporary residency in Canada. There are certain jobs where medical examination becomes mandatory, such as:

  • Jobs that need you to interact with people every day like healthcare, lab workers, domestics, patient attendants, and other related jobs.
  • Agricultural workers who spent over 6 months in one of the countries listed by IRCC.


Applying for 6 Months or Less

If you are applying for 6 months only without any job, you don’t need an exam. If you find a job and apply for a stay, a medical examination is necessary. 


Applying for Over 6 Months

If at minimum one of the following applies to you, you should have a medical exam if:

  • You have visited these countries recently or within the previous year.
  • You have applied for a job that needs public health protection.
  • You are submitting an application for a grandparent or parent super visa.


You can have your medical examination either before application submission or after you apply. The criteria for both of these are the same as that of permanent residents. The validity for the examination is 12 months in this case too. 


As far as the documents are concerned, they are the same as that of temporary applicants. The terms and conditions for the medical checkup by the government-assigned doctors are also the same. 

medial examination

Medical Inadmissibility 

If you request to travel to Canada, you must meet all of the country’s inadmissibility requirements. Medical inadmissibility is one example. Anyone intending to live temporarily (visit, work, study) or live permanently can be subject to medical inadmissibility.

Medical inadmissibility can be caused by one of three factors:

  • Risk to public health
  • Risk to the safety of people
  • Excessive social service health demand

Undoubtedly, the medical examination for Canadian immigration is a serious matter. All the documents and medical history must be cleared for the successful immigration process to Canada. It is important to take the right steps and follow guidelines because if you fail the exam, the chances of your application’s success diminish. 

How PICI Helps You in Medical Examination 

We know the rules and regulations of Express Entry Gateway and all the procedures you need to follow for the medical exam. Our assistance and guidelines will help you meet all of the medical examination requirements of your visa application with minimal delay or hassle. Allow our expert consultants to support you on your Canadian journey by getting in touch at www.pici.ca/contact.