- Medical exams for visitors, students and workers
- Find out if you need a medical exam
- Medical exam for permanent residents applicants
- Medical surveillance
In-Canada applicants
We’ve put in place atemporary public policyfor immigration medical exams (IMEs)until October 6, 2024.
If you completed an IME within 5 years of submitting your new application, include the IME number (or the unique medical identifier number) from your previous exam in your current application.
You may be exempt from completing another IME if you meetallof these conditions:
- You applied, or are applying, for either permanent residence or temporary residence.
- You already live in Canada.
- You completed your previous IME in the last 5 years.
- Your previous IME indicated a low risk or no risk to public health or public safety.
If you apply for permanent residence, you must have an immigration medical exam. Your family members must also have a medical exam, even if they’re not coming with you.
On this page
- Types of medical exams
- Who can do your medical exam
- When to get your medical exam
- What to bring
- What you need to pay for
- What to expect during your exam
Types of medical exams
There are 2types of immigration medical exams:
- the standard medical exam
- the streamlined medical exam
Streamlined medical exam
The streamlined medical exam is a simplified medical exam that we may request during certain urgent operational situations, like a humanitarian crisis, and in other exceptional situations as determined by IRCC.
You cannot request a specific type of medical exam. We’ll let you know which exam you need to take.
Who can do your exam
You must see a doctor on the list of panel physicians. Your own doctor can’t do the medical exam.
The panel physician doesn’t make the final decision about your medical exam. We make that decision. If there’s a problem with your medical exam, we’ll contact you in writing.
Find a panel physician to do your exam.
When to get your medical exam
As of October1, 2023, you no longer need to get an upfront medical examination before you submit your application for permanent residence through Express Entry.
After you submit your complete application for permanent residence, we’ll send you instructions on how to get your medical exam done. Please wait for our instructions before going for a medical exam. This also applies to clients who are being sponsored as a spouse, partner or child.
Please read the instructions to find out
- when to book your appointment
- the type of medical exam you need to get
If you make a refugee claim at a port of entry, a border services officer will tell you to get a medical exam within 30days.
If you don’t follow these instructions, we may refuse your application.
What to bring
When you go to your appointment for the medical exam, you must bring
- proper identification
- We strongly recommend you bring your passport as your identification document. You can also use other approved identification documents, including
- a national identity (ID) card
- a driver’s license issued from one the following countries (if you’re still in that country)
- Australia
- Canada
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- United States
- an original birth certificate (if the child is under 18 years old)
- a refugee travel document
- a Red Cross travel document
- a UN laissez-passer
- a seaman’s book
- an Organization of American States travel document
- a refugee protection claimant document
- We strongly recommend you bring your passport as your identification document. You can also use other approved identification documents, including
- eye glasses 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 medications
- the Medical Report form (IMM 1017E or IMM 1020E), if you don’t get an upfront medical exam
- We’ll send you this form
- 4 recent photographs, if the panel physician doesn’t use eMedical
- Contact the panel physician before your appointment to find out.
If you were previously vaccinated
We encourage you to bring any proof of previous vaccinations, including vaccination against
- diphtheria
- tetanus
- pertussis
- polio
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- measles
- mumps
- rubella
- rotavirus
- hepatitis B
- COVID-19
The proof of vaccination is not mandatory. If you give consent, the panel physician will
- record your vaccine history
- share the information with us.
If you are referred for an X-ray or other tests, you may be asked to present your identification again when you go for those tests.
What you need to pay for
You must pay 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 you choose to get any of the vaccines the panel physician offers you, you may have to pay for them. This depends on the panel physician’s fees and local jurisdiction practices.
If we refuse your application after your medical exam, we won’t refund those fees.
Refugees and asylum seekers may be exempt from paying the fees for
- medical exams
- vaccines
Find out more about the exemption.
What to expect during your exam
If you’re getting a standard medical exam
Here’s what to expect during your medical exam.
When you arrive
The Panel Physician or clinic staff will ask you for identification to confirm your identity. If you are referred for an x-ray or other tests, you may be asked to present your identification again when you go for those tests. Your picture will also be taken for our records.
Medical history questionnaire
The doctor will fill out a medical history questionnaire with you. This questionnaire is about any previous or existing medical conditions. They’ll also ask you about any medications you’re taking.
It’s important to tell the panel physician about any previous or existing medical conditions. Processing your medical exam could take longer if you don’t.
Physical examination
You’ll undergo a physical exam.
The doctor or medical clinic 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 staff won’t examine your genitals or rectal area. These parts of the body aren’t required for the immigration medical exam.
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
Other possible tests
Depending on your age, you may be asked to do chest x-rays and laboratory tests at the clinic or a laboratory. This is routine screening and the doctor will discuss any abnormal results with you.
You may be referred to a specialist for more testing, depending on the results of your medical exam. Complete this request as soon as possible to avoid delays in the processing of your medical examination.
Vaccination
You should bring any proof of previous vaccination with you to your exam. If there are vaccines available, the panel physician may offer you vaccinations for preventable diseases.
If you bring proof of vaccinations with you
If you give consent, the panel physician will
- record any proof of vaccine you bring with you
- share the information with us
If you consent to getting vaccinated
If you consent to receive a vaccine and you consent to share this information with us, the panel physician will record and share
- the vaccinations you received
- the dates you were vaccinated
- the reason a vaccination wasn’t offered or administered
Keep all paper copies the panel physician gives you for your personal records.
Vaccination is
- completely voluntary
- not required as part of your exam
We won’t refuse your application if you don’t accept any vaccines.
Get more information about vaccines and immunization
- World Health Organization
- Health Canada
COVID-19 vaccination
The panel physician may offer you a Government of Canada-accepted COVID-19 vaccine if it is available. Vaccination is completely voluntary and is not required as part of your exam.
If you receive the COVID-19 vaccine during your exam, the panel physician will record it.
If you’ve already been vaccinated against COVID-19, even if you have only received 1 dose,
- bring proof of your vaccination to your exam
- Proof can be a paper copy or an electronic version
- the panel physician will record your proof of vaccination with your exam
- keep a copy of the vaccination record given to you by the panel physician
Get more information on travel and COVID-19 vaccines:
- The facts about COVID-19 vaccines
- COVID-19: Travel, testing, quarantine and borders
Right to have a chaperone
You have the right to a chaperone at any time during the 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
- stop the exam and ask for a chaperone, even if you refused one at first
If you have questions or feel uncomfortable with a part of the exam, please ask the panel physician to stop and tell them about your concerns.
After your exam is done
Once the exam is done, the physician will send us the results.
The physician will give you a document confirming that you had a medical exam. Keep the document with you as proof of your immigration medical exam.
If you’re unsatisfied with how the panel physician or panel radiologist did your medical exam, you may
- complain using our Web form
- contact the Client Support Centre
We welcome all compliments, comments or observations through our feedback form.
Getting a copy of your medical exam results
If you want a copy of your medical exam results, please ask the physician when you’re there.
Medical reports and X-rays that are part of the medical exam become our property. We cannot return them to you.
How to include your medical exam results with your application
If you had an upfront medical exam
If you had an upfront medical exam, find out how to include your medical exam results with your application.
If you had a streamlined medical exam or you had your medical exam after submitting your application
You don’t need to send us anything.
How long your medical results are valid for
Your medical exam results are valid for 12months only. If you don’t come to Canada as a permanent resident within that time, you may need to have another exam.
If you’re getting a streamlined medical exam
Here is what to expect during your exam.
When you arrive
The panel physician or clinic staff will ask you for identification to confirm your identity. If you’re referred for a chest X-ray or other tests, you may be asked to present your identification again when you go for those tests. Your picture will also be taken for our records.
Medical history questionnaire
The doctor will fill out a medical history questionnaire with you. This questionnaire is about any previous or existing medical conditions.
It’s important to tell the panel physician about any previous or existing medical conditions. Processing your medical exam could take longer if you don’t.
Other possible tests
Depending on your age, you may be asked to do chest X-rays and laboratory tests at the clinic or a laboratory. This is routine screening and the physician will discuss any abnormal results with you.
You may be referred to a specialist for more testing, depending on the results of your medical exam.
Complete all steps as soon as possible to avoid delays in the processing of your medical examination.
Right to have a chaperone
You have the right to a chaperone at any time during the 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 physician is doing
- stop the exam and ask for a chaperone, even if you refused one at first
If you have questions or feel uncomfortable with a part of the exam, please ask the panel physician to stop and tell them about your concerns.
After your exam is done
Once the exam is done, the physician will send us the results.
The physician will give you a document confirming that you had a medical exam. Keep the document with you as proof of your immigration medical exam.
If you’re unsatisfied with how the panel physician or panel radiologist did your medical exam, you may:
- complain using ourWeb formor
- contact theClient Support Centre
We welcome all compliments, comments or observations through ourfeedback form.
Getting a copy of your medical exam results
If you want a copy of your medical exam results, please ask the physician when you’re there.
Medical reports and X-rays that are part of the medical exam become our property. We cannot return them to you.
How to include your medical exam results with your application
If you had an upfront medical exam
If you had an upfront medical exam, find out how to include your medical exam results with your application.
If you had a streamlined medical exam or you had your medical exam after submitting your application
You don’t need to send us anything.
How long your medical results are valid for
Your medical exam results are valid for 12months only. If you don’t come to Canada as a permanent resident within that time, you may need to have another exam.
