If you apply to come to Canada, you need to meet all inadmissibility rules to be allowed to enter the country. This includes medical inadmissibility.
Medical inadmissibility affects anyone applying to visit, study, work or live permanently in Canada.
There are 3 possible reasons for medical inadmissibility:
- Danger to public health
- Danger to public safety
- Excessive demand on health or social services
Danger to public health
We may refuse your application if we believe your health condition will endanger Canada’s public health. This decision is based on the results of your immigration medical exam.
We’ll consider:
- your immigration medical exam results, including
- laboratory test results by third party physicians that we designate
- any other specialist reports that our medical officers request
- whether you may have certain infectious diseases, such as active tuberculosis or active syphilis, or whether you’ve been in close contact with others with an infectious disease
- how your disease could affect other people living in Canada
Danger to public safety
We may refuse your application if we believe that your health condition will endanger public safety. This decision is based on the results of your immigration medical exam.
We’ll consider your risk of:
- sudden incapacity (loss of physical and mental abilities)
- unpredictable or violent behaviour
Excessive demand on health or social services
We may refuse your application if we believe that your health condition might cause an excessive demand on health or social services. This decision is based on the results of your immigration medical exam.
Health services
This includes any health service where most of the cost is paid by the government.
For example, services or care given by:
- doctors
- medical specialists
- nurses
- chiropractors
- physiotherapists
- laboratories
- pharmacists
- hospitals
Social services
Social services help people to function physically, emotionally, socially, psychologically or vocationally (at work). Most of the cost for social services are paid by government or through publicly funded agencies.
Examples include:
- home care
- specialized residences
- residential services
- special education
- social and vocational rehabilitation
- personal support
- devices that support social services
Your condition is considered to cause an excessive demand if:
- the health or social services needed to treat your health condition would negatively affect wait times for services in Canada, or
- the services needed to treat and manage your health condition would likely cost more than the excessive demand cost threshold
Excessive demand cost threshold
FAQs
Canada Medical Inadmissibility Examples
- untreated syphilis.
- active pulmonary tuberculosis.
- hostile or disruptive behavior.
- organic brain disorders or paranoid states linked to violent behavior.
- substance abuse issues that can cause anti-social behavior such as impaired driving or violence.
- sexual disorders such as pedophilia.
We may refuse your application if we believe that your health condition will endanger public safety. This decision is based on the results of your immigration medical exam. We'll consider your risk of: sudden incapacity (loss of physical and mental abilities)
What is the medical inadmissibility threshold for Canada? ›
There is a clear threshold available now which is equal to 3 times the Canadian per capita cost for health and/or social services over a 5-year period. Presently, the annual cost threshold is set at $24,057, or $120,285 over 5-years.
What would make me inadmissible to Canada? ›
People with more than one misdemeanor on their record, along with felons, can be inadmissible to Canada for life unless they fix their situation by applying for official access.
What fails medical exam Canada? ›
These include: Communicable Diseases: If you have a communicable disease, such as tuberculosis or HIV, you may fail your medical exam. This is because these diseases can pose a risk to public health. Mental Health Issues: If you have a mental health issue that requires ongoing treatment, you may fail your medical exam.
Can you immigrate to Canada if you have diabetes? ›
Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease, can also impact your Canadian immigration application. If your chronic illness is well-managed and does not pose a risk to public health or safety, your application may still be approved.
How do I overcome inadmissibility to Canada? ›
There are three main methods available for people who wish to come to Canada but must overcome criminal inadmissibility:
- Submit a Temporary Resident Permit Application.
- Submit a Criminal Rehabilitation Letter.
- Legal Opinion Letter.
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.
Hypertension, like diabetes, is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. It's not automatically inadmissible unless it leads to excessive healthcare costs or poses a public health/safety risk.
What are the two most common grounds of inadmissibility? ›
The general categories of inadmissibility include health, criminal activity, national security, public charge, lack of labor certification (if required), fraud and misrepresentation, prior removals, unlawful presence in the United States, and several miscellaneous categories.
It means you won't be allowed to enter or stay in Canada because your health condition might cause an excessive demand on health or social services. This can mean: the need for health services to treat your condition would negatively affect medical service wait times in Canada.
Who qualifies for a waiver of inadmissibility? ›
Who Qualifies for a Waiver of Inadmissibility? People who are inadmissible on the following grounds can apply for a waiver: Health-related grounds(Section 212(a)(1) of the I.N.A.) Immigration fraud and misrepresentation (Section 212(a)(6)(c) of the I.N.A.)
What are three reasons a person may not be granted entry into Canada? ›
Why you could be found inadmissible
- war crimes.
- crimes against humanity.
- being a senior official in a government engaged in gross human rights violations or subject to international sanctions.
Yes they can be and often are. Canadian authorities can pull up US criminal records and refuse entry to anyone with even a traffic conviction. The individual then has to return to the US or deported to the country from which they came.
Why would a US citizen be denied entry to Canada? ›
There are several reasons for the denial of entry into Canada. Firstly, an individual may be denied entry into Canada because of a lack of documentation of identification. This also applies to the insufficient identification of minors (children under 18). Other reasons may include having criminal convictions.
What is checked in medical for Canada? ›
What medical tests are required for Canadian immigration? General physical checks for eyes, nose, heart, lungs, and others, chest X-rays, blood tests for HIV and Syphilis and urine tests are common tests that immigrants must undergo when applying for a Canadian PR.
What are the disqualifying medical conditions for US visa? ›
- have a communicable disease of public health significance.
- lack required vaccinations or immunity.
- have or have had a physical or mental disorder that causes you to engage in behavior that might be harmful to yourself or others, or.
- have a history of drug abuse or addiction.
Who Should Get the Medical Tests for Canada PR? Canada is quite strict when the health and wellness of the country are considered, this is to ensure that already living residents would not have to suffer and that newcomers into the country will not pose any possible threat to public health and safety.
