Over the past 2 decades, diseases like ebola, cholera, and COVID-19 have emerged. This has led to the tighter border restrictions of countries. After all, every country’s public health wishes to protect its people from these illnesses. So, many countries become too strict with immigration.
But, not Canada!
In fact, Canada remains to be the open country that it is today. For this reason, the country keeps its borders open to immigrants. Especially if they willing to go through the proper immigration process. For the country’s public health (and yours as well), one important step for Canadian immigration is the immigration medical exam for Canada. Alongside the proper identification documents, a medical report will help you in settling here in Canada.
In this article, we will go over the details of the CIC medical exam for immigration.
Is the Canadian Immigration Medical Exam an Absolute Need?
Applicants for immigration fall into one of two groups. They either plan to stay for less than 6 months. Or, they are applying for permanent residence in Canada. The need to undergo the medical examination depends on your reason to go to Canada.
Temporary Residents and Tourists
Generally, people planning to stay for less than 6 months in Canada do not need to go in for a medical examination. If you are visiting Canada as a tourist, you do not need to have a medical examination. This is true not just for tourists but also for temporary residents like students. Temporary workers also do not need this exam. At least, not in all cases.
Yet, there are times when temporary residents need to undergo the medical exam. The Canadian immigration medical exam is a need for:
- workers in the service, hospitality, health care, childcare, and education industries
- medical and nursing students
- workers in agriculture (i.e. farming, livestock)
- anyone who traveled to certain countries within 6 months before applying. You could see the list of countries by visiting the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) main site at
So, if any of the above conditions apply to you, you will need the medical exam for immigration to Canada. Even if you will only stay temporarily. The processing time for medical exams (for temporary residents) is about one month from the day of the medical exam. After that, you will receive instructions on what to do next in your application
Permanent Residents
For permanent residence in Canada, the medical exam for immigration is an absolute need. This is regardless of the type of work or travel history. Even if only you will travel, your dependents or family members also need to have a physical examination and laboratory tests. This is required if you plan to petition them for immigration in the future.
The processing time is longer for permanent residence applicants. After your panel physician releases your medical report, the results arrive after three months. Rarely is the time longer than that!
Regardless of the visa you are applying for it is important to understand this. The approval of your medical test results is not done by the panel physician. The IRCC and CIC are responsible for approving or rejecting medical exam immigration.
What The Medical Exam Includes
First of all, you cannot have your own physician to perform the medical exam for you. It will not be accepted by the IRCC and CIC. Rather, the only people who are authorized to carry out medical tests for immigration are panel physicians from the CIC. They will be present upon your arrival in Canada.
You may choose to have your medical exam in your home country before applying. This is an upfront medical exam. For upfront medical exams, there are certified physicians in countries outside Canada. To see if there is one near you, please visit the main CIC website. Again, they are the only physicians authorized for upfront medical exams on applicants.
CIC or IRCC visa office usually instructs applicants about the time of the medical exam. Usually, applicants need to accomplish this within 30 days. That is, 30 days after being instructed. You could expect to complete a questionnaire. It is a questionnaire about your medical history. Here, you should mention your medical conditions (if any). So, the best thing you could do is stay healthy!
For the medical exam for Canadian immigration, panel physicians conduct physical examinations. They check areas like the eyes, ears, nose, skin, lungs, and throat. Other organs are also checked. Besides physical examinations, some laboratory tests are also important. For you, you will need to have an x-ray of your chest. This allows the panel physician to check for illnesses like tuberculosis.
Besides x-rays of the chest, panel physicians might also order laboratory tests. For this, panel physicians will need samples of your blood and urine. What they are testing for are sexually-transmitted diseases and other infectious illnesses.
Thus, the medical exam includes a medical questionnaire, a physical exam, and lab tests (chest x-rays, blood tests, and urine tests). Once you’re done, your panel physician will give you a document. It will say that you finished the medical tests.
How Much Does the Medical Exam Cost?
As of March 2020, the price of the medical exam ranges from 160 to 200 Canadian Dollars. This is inclusive of the appointment with the panel physician, physical examination, x-ray, and blood and urine tests. You could expect to pay this much if you will have your medical exam once you have arrived in Canada.
But, the prices of medical exams outside Canada could vary between countries. So, there may be some differences in the prices of upfront medical examinations.
In the Philippines, for example, an applicant could expect to pay 155 to 320 CAD. The fee of 155 CAD is for applicants under 15 since some tests are not needed for them. This is inclusive of the lab tests and the physical exam. For India, the price could be somewhere between 165 to 180 CAD. And, in Nigeria, costs for the medical exam for Canadian immigration could be between 315 to 350 CAD.
The differences in cost are usually due to the fee of the panel physicians and the hospital or clinic.
What Are Important Documents and Items to Bring?
Whether it is applying for the medical test or showing up for it, you will need to bring pieces of identification.
But, before that, you will need a copy of the IMM-1017E. This is the medical form you need to accomplish. And, the visa offices of the IRCC or CIC send you this. For more information on this, you can visit the Government of Canada website.
But, submitting this is not needed for applicants getting an upfront exam.
As with the other steps of your visa application, you need to bring at least one government-issued ID. This could be your national ID, passport, or driver’s license. At the start of the medical exam, you need to present this. And, if an additional test or lab exam is necessary, you may need to present your ID again. ID is especially important for children as they do not need to undergo an x-ray.
You will also need to wear or bring your contact lenses or spectacles. But, only if you use them.
The panel doctor will also need a written list of your current medications. Any certification of treatment of any personal medical condition you may have had will also be useful. Panel physicians would not require you to bring past medical exam results. But, just to be safe, bring them anyway especially if you know they are recent.
Once you’re done with your medical exams, you could ask for a copy from the panel physician. They will only give you a copy of your medical exams when asked.
How Long Does It Take To Get Permanent Residence After The Medical Exam in Canada?
After the medical part of the visa application, the panel physician releases your test results to the CIC medical board. For medical exams for permanent residency, there is a waiting period of 90 days from the day of the exam’s release. This means that if the medical tests found no problems with your health, you could be on your way to being a permanent resident after 3 months!
Your medical exam results are valid for a year. So, you must arrive in Canada within that time.
Final Word
There you have it. Your search for details for the Canadian immigration medical exam has led you to the right article.
Sure, many countries have made entry more difficult due to the different contagious illnesses popping up left and right. So, it is hard to find a country with relaxed immigration policies nowadays.
Nonetheless, Canada remains open to all who wish to contribute to its prosperity.
So, stay healthy, and welcome to Canada in advance!
