As of June 13, 2026.
This guide is for people applying for permanent residence, a work permit, or a study permit who have been told they need a Canada Immigration Medical Exam, or who want to know if they do. You will learn who needs the exam, what an approved panel physician checks, the tests involved, how long results stay valid, what you pay, and when to do the exam upfront instead of waiting for a request. Every fact here is checked against canada.ca.
Who needs an immigration medical exam for Canada?
Most permanent residence applicants need an Immigration Medical Exam (IME), and some temporary residents do too. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses the exam to check whether you are inadmissible to Canada on health grounds. If you apply for permanent residence (PR), you and your family members must complete an IME, even family members who will not come with you. Temporary residents such as visitors, students, and workers generally do not need one unless they will work in a job where public health must be protected, such as health care, child care, or primary and secondary school settings, or they have lived in or travelled to a designated country or territory for six months or more in a row in the year before coming to Canada. IRCC sets these rules on its medical exams page.
| Your status | Do you need an IME? |
|---|
| Permanent residence applicant (and accompanying or non-accompanying family) | Yes, in almost all cases |
| Visitor, student, or worker staying six months or less | Usually no, unless the job protects public health |
| Visitor, student, or worker staying more than six months | Yes, if you lived in or visited a designated country for six months in the prior year, or will work in a public-health job |
| Parent and grandparent super visa applicant | Yes |
| Refugee claimant at a port of entry | Yes, within 30 days of being told |
What is a panel physician, and can you use your own doctor?
A panel physician is a doctor that IRCC has approved to perform immigration medical exams, and no, you cannot use your own family doctor. Only a doctor on the official panel physician list can do the exam, because the results have to be recorded and submitted in a standard format that IRCC accepts. Your regular doctor, however well qualified, is not authorized to complete an IME. The panel physician also does not decide your application. They perform the exam and send the results to IRCC, which makes the final admissibility decision and contacts you in writing if there is a problem. You locate an approved doctor through the official find a panel physician tool, which lists approved clinics by country and city.
What tests are included in the immigration medical exam?
The immigration medical exam includes a review of your medical history, a physical examination, and, depending on your age and other factors, a chest X-ray and laboratory tests. The panel physician completes a medical history questionnaire with you about any past or current conditions, then performs a physical exam that records measures such as your height, weight, and vision, and takes your photograph for the file. Depending on your age, you may be sent for chest X-rays and laboratory blood and urine tests, which are routine screening; the physician discusses any abnormal results with you. Screening commonly covers tuberculosis, and IRCC lists active tuberculosis and active syphilis among the infectious diseases it considers. You may be referred to a specialist for more testing if a result calls for it. The full sequence is on the permanent residence medical examination page.
| Component | What happens |
|---|
| Medical history | The panel physician completes a questionnaire about past and current conditions |
| Physical examination | Height, weight, vision, and a general physical check; your photo is taken |
| Chest X-ray | Required depending on age, mainly to screen for tuberculosis |
| Laboratory tests | Blood and urine tests, depending on age and history |
| Specialist referral | Only if your results need further review |
How long is an immigration medical exam valid?
An immigration medical exam is valid for 12 months only. If you do not become a permanent resident or arrive in Canada within that window, the results expire and you may need a new exam. For students and workers, the letter of introduction shows the date your results expire if you received it after November 30, 2021. There is also a separate route for people already in Canada: under a temporary public policy in effect until October 5, 2029, you may not need a new exam if you completed one in the last five years, you applied for permanent or temporary residence, you already live in Canada, and your previous exam showed low or no risk to public health or safety. IRCC explains validity on the medical exams for visitors, students and workers page.
When does IRCC ask for your medical exam, and what is an upfront exam?
IRCC either tells you to do the exam after you apply, or you choose to do it before you apply, which is called an upfront medical exam. Many applicants do the exam upfront to speed up processing. As of August 21, 2025, Express Entry permanent residence applicants must do an upfront medical exam first and contact a panel physician directly. For most other permanent residence applications, including spouse, partner, and child sponsorships, you wait for IRCC instructions after you submit a complete application, then complete the exam within 30 days. Temporary residents applying to visit, work, or study can also choose an upfront exam. If IRCC requests the exam and you do not follow the instructions, it may refuse your application. You can confirm whether you need a medical exam for a temporary stay before you book.
| Approach | Who it fits | Timing |
|---|
| Upfront medical exam | Express Entry applicants (required); visitors, students, workers, and others who want faster processing | Done before or right after applying; contact a panel physician directly |
| Exam requested by IRCC | Most non-Express Entry permanent residence applicants, including family sponsorships | Wait for instructions, then complete within 30 days |
How much does the immigration medical exam cost?
IRCC does not set the medical exam fee, so the cost varies by clinic and by the tests you need. You pay the panel physician directly at the time of your exam. Your payment covers the doctor or radiologist fee, any special tests or investigations, and any specialists you are referred to. If the panel physician offers vaccines and you choose to receive them, you may pay for those too, depending on the clinic and local practice. Because IRCC does not fix the price, ask the clinic for its current fees when you book your appointment. Note that if IRCC refuses your application after the exam, those fees are not refunded. The medical exam cost is separate from any application or biometrics fees you pay to IRCC.
What happens after the panel physician sends your results?
After the exam, the panel physician sends your results directly to IRCC, often through an electronic system called eMedical, so you do not get a pass or fail on the spot. The physician gives you a document confirming you had the exam, and you should keep a copy as proof. IRCC then reviews the results and makes the admissibility decision. If officers believe you may be inadmissible on health grounds, they send a procedural fairness letter explaining why, and you can respond with more information before any final decision, as set out in the medical inadmissibility rules. If your exam shows inactive tuberculosis, you may be placed under medical surveillance after you arrive in Canada to ensure you get proper treatment. You are allowed professional advice or representation when you respond, though it is not required.
How do you find an IRCC-approved panel physician?
You find an approved doctor using the official panel physician list, then book directly with a clinic near you. The list lets you search by country and city, and it shows only doctors IRCC has authorized to perform immigration medical exams. Call the clinic before your appointment to confirm fees, whether it uses eMedical, and what to bring. Bring valid identification, ideally your passport, plus the IRCC medical report form (IMM 1017E or IMM 1020E) if you are not doing an upfront exam, any current medication list and prior medical reports, your glasses or contact lenses, and proof of vaccinations if you have it. If the clinic does not use eMedical, bring four recent photographs. Use the find a panel physician tool to start your search.
How can a licensed RCIC help with your medical exam?
A licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) can confirm whether you need an exam, when to do it, and how it fits the rest of your application, so a timing mistake does not stall your file. In Canada, only an RCIC, a Canadian immigration lawyer, or a Quebec notary can give immigration advice or represent you for a fee. Go Far Global is a Toronto RCIC firm (#R515110), regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). We help you decide between an upfront exam and waiting for an IRCC request, keep your medical results valid against your processing timeline, and prepare a response if a procedural fairness letter ever arrives. Book a consultation at gofarglobal.com/book.
What else do applicants ask about the immigration medical exam?
These are the questions newcomers search for most about the Canada immigration medical exam, with short answers drawn from current IRCC guidance. For your own case, confirm the details against the linked canada.ca pages, because requirements can change and depend on your status, age, and where you have lived.
What are the medical tests for Canada immigration?
The exam covers a medical history questionnaire, a physical examination, and, depending on your age, a chest X-ray and laboratory blood and urine tests. The chest X-ray mainly screens for tuberculosis. You may be referred to a specialist if a result needs more review.
What can make you fail a medical test in Canada?
You can be found medically inadmissible for three reasons: your condition is a danger to public health, a danger to public safety, or would place an excessive demand on health or social services. The 2026 excessive demand cost threshold is $144,390 over five years. Excessive demand does not apply to refugees and their dependants, protected persons, or certain family-sponsored spouses, partners, and children.
At what stage does IRCC ask for a medical exam?
It depends on your application. Express Entry permanent residence applicants must do an upfront exam before applying, as of August 21, 2025. Most other applicants wait for IRCC instructions after submitting a complete application, then complete the exam within 30 days.
How long is an IRCC medical valid?
An immigration medical exam is valid for 12 months. If you do not arrive in Canada or finalize your permanent residence within that period, the results expire and you may need to repeat the exam.
Can I use my own doctor for the immigration medical exam?
No. Only an IRCC-approved panel physician can perform the exam. Your own family doctor cannot do it, even if they are fully qualified. Use the official panel physician list to find an approved clinic.
Sources
This article is general information, not legal advice. In Canada, only a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), a Canadian immigration lawyer, or a Quebec notary can give immigration advice or represent you for a fee. Go Far Global is a Toronto RCIC firm (#R515110).
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Each case is unique and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before making immigration decisions.
