MEDICAL EXAM: HOW, WHEN, WHERE, WHAT

Medical Exam for Permanent Resident Applicants

Your medical exam must be conducted by a panel physician. The panel physician will conduct a thorough exam, but the government will make a final decision as to whether you pass your medical exam or not. If there is a problem with your exam, you will be contacted in writing.

For a list of panel physicians, please click the following link: Find a Panel Physician.

In Canada Permanent Resident Applicants

You’re exempt from completing an additional medical exam if

• You have applied, or you are applying for PR and
• You are already residing in Canada and
• You have completed your immigration medical exam in the last 5 years and
• an IRCC medical officer found your medical exam as low risk or no risk to public health or public safety

If you are exempt, make sure that you provide your Immigration Medical Number from your previous medical exam in your application.

When to Get Your Exam

Are you applying under Express Entry? You have the option of getting your medical exam done before you apply. This is called an upfront medical exam. You cannot get an upfront medical exam if you are applying to be sponsored or if you are applying for permanent residence through a non-Express Entry program, you must wait for the government to give you instructions before you go.

Once you receive instructions. You will have 30 days to complete your exam from the date you receive your medical exam instructions.

What to Bring

When you go to your appointment, you must bring:

• Proper Identification
  • At least one government issued ID with your photograph and signature, such as a passport or national identity card
• Eyeglasses or contact lenses if you wear them
• Any medical reports or test results that you have for any previous or existing medical conditions
• A list of your current medication
• If you don’t have an upfront exam, you must bring your Medical Report Form IMM 1017E (instructions from government)
• If the panel physician does not use eMedical, you must bring 4 recent photographs
  • Contact the panel physician prior to the appointment to find out
  • Click HERE for the photograph specifications

How much is the medical exam

You must pay for all fees related to the medical exam when you’re there, including:

• The fee for the doctor or radiologist
• Any special tests, investigations or treatment needed
• Any specialists you need to see

If your application is refused after your medical exam, unfortunately those fees will not be refunded. The fees may very between $200-300 CAD.

What to Expect During Your Exam

Upon arrival you will be asked for identification and your photograph will be taken for records. The doctor will fill out a medical history questionnaire with you, that will entail questions regarding any previous or existing medical conditions. They will also ask you about any medications you are currently taking.

You will then undergo a physical exam. The doctor or clinical staff will:

• Weigh you
• Measure your height
• Check your hearing and vision
• Take your blood pressure
• Feel your pulse
• Listen to your heart and lungs
• Feel your abdomen
• Check how your limbs move
• Look at your skin

The doctor or medical clinic will NOT examine your genitals or rectal area. These parts of the body aren’t required for immigration medical exams.

The doctor may need to examine your breasts. If they do, they will provide you with an explanation of why and how the examination is being done.

Depending on your age, you may be asked to do x-rays, or other laboratory tests. You may also be referred to a specialist for more testing, depending on the results of your medical exam.

Right to a Chaperone

You have the right to a chaperone at any time during your medical exam. You may ask the medical clinic to have a staff member in the room, stop the exam at any time to ask questions about what the doctor is doing, and stop the exam and ask for a chaperone, even if you are refused one at first.

The doctor may need to examine your breasts. If they do, they will provide you with an explanation of why and how the examination is being done.

Depending on your age, you may be asked to do x-rays, or other laboratory tests. You may also be referred to a specialist for more testing, depending on the results of your medical exam.

After Your Exam is Done

The physician will send the government your exam results. The doctor will give you a document confirming that you had a medical exam. Keep this as a record of proof for your exam.

***Your medical exam is valid for 12 months***

Medical Exam for Temporary Residents (Visitors, Students, and Workers)

If You Plan to Stay for 6 Months or Less

You generally do not need a medical exam unless you plan to work in certain jobs. Please see below a list of occupations for which a medical exam may be required:

1. Jobs that bring you into close contact with people, such as:
   • Workers in health care settings
   • Clinical laboratory workers
   • Patient attendants in nursing and geriatric homes
   • Medical students admitted to Canada to attend university
   • Medical electives and physicians on short term locums
   • Workers in primary or secondary school settings, or workers in childcare settings
   • Domestics
   • Workers who give in-home care to children or the elderly or disabled
   • Day nursery employees and
   • Other similar jobs
2. Agricultural workers who have visited or lived in one or more of THESE COUNTRIES for more than 6 months during the past year

If You Plan to Stay for More Than 6 Months

You need a medical exam if at least one of these apply to you:

• You lived in one or more of THESE COUNTRIES for at least 6 months in a row within the last year, or,
• You will come to Canada to work in a job in which public health must be protected (occupations mentioned above), or
• You are applying for a parent and grandparent Super Visa

Source: IRCC Website