🔬Immigration Medical Examination for Canada PR Visa: A Complete Guide

🔬 What is the Immigration Medical Examination, and Why Is It Important?

The Immigration Medical Examination (IME) is the most mandatory health examination report for individuals applying for permanent residency visas and other temporary residency visa applications that must be submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

🩸 Why do you require the Medical Examination reports?

Keeping a healthy and safe environment, free from diseases, is the responsibility of the Canadian government before allowing any foreigners to stay on the premises.

The authority identifies whether an applicant has any communicable diseases, such as Tuberculosis, etc., to avoid any threat to Canadians’ health.
If a medical examinee has a condition that relies heavily on Canada’s public funds for health and social services, their application may be rejected. Some limitations and thresholds apply under certain conditions.
The Canadian Government ensures that applicants are not a threat to the public. It refers to the conditions of behaving irregularly, violently or uncontrollably.

🧒 Who all needs to apply for the Immigration Medical Examination?

🏠 Permanent Residency Applicant:

All permanent residency applicants are needed to apply for medical examination tests. The principal applicant and all accompanying members must submit their medical reports to ensure that all members linked to the visa application meet Canada’s health requirements.
It applies to all of Canada’s PR visa programs, which enable applicants to reside in the country permanently.

🛂 Temporary Visa Applicant: Students, visitors, workers

Not all temporary visa programs require medical examinations. Generally, it requires if:

You want to stay in Canada for more than 6 months,
You have lived or travelled for 6 months or more in certain countries or territories in a year before visiting Canada. IRCC provides a list of countries with a higher incidence of communicable diseases on its official website.
You are planning to work in a job sector where health reports must be submitted to protect the public. The following is the list of designated job profiles that generally require the medical reports:

👩‍⚕️ Healthcare workers, such as doctors, nurses, and patient attendants
🧪 Clinical laboratory staff members
👨‍🏫 School teachers or College professors
🧒 Domestic workers taking care of children, the elderly, or the disabled in homes.
👨‍⚕️ Day nursery staff members
🌾 Agricultural workers from certain designated countries

👵 You are applying for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa.

🧳🏃‍♂️ Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Applicants for refugee status or asylum seekers who wish to have shelter in Canada also need to undergo medical examinations.

Important note to know:

📋 Medical examinations must be conducted only by the IRCC-approved Panel.
👩‍⚕️ You cannot go to your family doctor for the immigration examination tests.
The following can exempt you from applying for the Immigration Medical Examination:

❌ If you are already living in Canada
❌ If applying for permanent residency, renewing, or applying for a temporary visa
❌ If your previous IME is within the last 5 years
❌ Your previous IME indicated no risk or lower risk to the public health and safety

🏥 Finding an Approved Medical Centre (Panel Physician)

You can find the approved panel physicians who conduct immigration medical examination tests on the official Canadian government website

The given list is the nine approved medical centres in India’s metropolitan cities. Go through the list to save your time:

🏥 Centre for Migration Medicine (CMM) in Hyderabad
🏥 Max Healthcare Immigration Medical Services
🏥 Fortis Healthcare
🏥 Apollo Hospitals
🏥 Sadhu Vaswani Mission Medical Centre in New Delhi
🏥 SPS Hospital in Ludhiana, Punjab
🏥 Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai
🏥 Clinical Diagnostic Centre in Mumbai
🏥 Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune

Note: Before booking an appointment, always verify the current approval status of the clinic for immigration medical panel physicians directly with the IRCC tool or by contacting the clinic centre.

💵 Fees for the Medical Examination

The cost of the medical examination tests for the Canada PR visa varies based on:

👶 Age: Children and young teens generally have lower costs compared to the price for adults
🧫 The specific clinic: the cost of a medical examination varies from one clinic to another and from one hospital branch to another.
🧪 The required tests: You can incur additional costs for additional tests if recommended by the panel physicians

General Fee Ranges (it can change with time):

0-4 years: Around ₹3,600 – ₹4,750
5-10 years: Around ₹3,800 – ₹5,200
11-14 years: Around ₹5,600 – ₹7,050, including a chest X-ray
15 years and above: Around ₹6,080 – ₹9,550, typically, includes physical exam, X-ray, blood, and urine tests

What the fees do not cover or require additional fees for the complete medical tests:

❌ If the panel physician recommended specific tests or investigations, you need to pay the extra amount
❌ If the panel physician referred for consultation with other specialists
❌ If they have received the vaccination or you have made the decision

➡️ The IME Process: Step-by-Step Procedures

Before Booking an Appointment:

📋 Determine whether you are required to submit IME reports if the IRCC has requested that you submit IME reports. In that case, you need to undergo the medical examination procedures to obtain the necessary documents for the final PR visa application submission.
🔬 It is mandatory to undergo tests conducted by a panel physician approved by the IRCC. Go through the list published by the Canadian government to find the panel physicians nearer to you.
⏳ Book your appointment in advance by contacting the panel physician to avoid any last-minute unavailability.
🧠 Optional – You can undergo an upfront medical exam, which means you can apply for an IME before submitting your immigration application. In that case, IRCC will share a document to include along with your application. Otherwise, IRCC requests that you undergo an immigration medical exam.
It is mandatory to gather the required documents:

🛂 Valid passport or any other Government-issued proof ID card
✉️ Any IRCC document, such as an ITA for Express Entry or a Medical Request Letter
📖 A list of all prescriptions or medications you are taking currently
📋 Any medical reports or medical tests of previous or existing medical conditions
🤓 Eyeglasses or contact lenses, if you have them
💉 Vaccination records (optional)

👨‍🏫 An Interpreter if you are not able to speak or understand English or French fluently
👦 If the examination is for children under 15 years of age, a guardian must accompany them.
🥗 You are not required to fast before your exam, and it is recommended to wear loose-fitting clothes for ease during exams and tests.

During Your Appointment

🏥 Upon arrival, you will need to present your passport or government-issued photo ID to the clinic staff member for verification of identification, and they will also record this information for IRCC’s reports.
👨‍⚕️ The panel physician will review your past and present medical conditions, surgeries, hospitalisations and current medications to understand your medical history. Being honest and transparent is essential; if you provide misleading information, your application may be delayed or rejected.
The panel physician will conduct a physical check-up, which includes:

📏 Measuring your height and weight
👁️ Testing your vision and hearing power
🩸 Blood pressure and pulse
❤️ Checking the conditions of your heart and lungs
🦵 Conditions of abdominal and limb movements
✋ Skin condition
Required Laboratory tests, depending on age:

🧪 Urine test: typically, for those 5 years of age and above
🩸 Blood tests: typically done for individuals aged 15 years or above. They test it to screen for HIV, Syphilis, and Creatinine
🩸 Other Blood tests: based on your medical history, or may be requested based on the specific country
🩻 Chest X-ray is done for those 11 years of age or older.
🤰 For pregnant applicants, they may skip the X-ray until after the delivery or may undergo it with double protection measures, only after consulting with the Panel Physician.
🧫 Additional Tests: Based on medical history and present medical conditions, the doctor may recommend that you go for further tests or may request that you consult with specialists for a detailed assessment. It is essential to follow their recommendations and requests to avoid any delays.

After the Appointment and Medical check-ups

🖥️ The panel physician uses an e-medical system to record and submit medical reports directly to the IRCC. This electronic system is more secure and faster than the traditional methods.
🩺 The clinic will provide you with a document (including a Unique Medical Identifier (UMI) or IME number) to confirm that you have completed the entire medical examination process.
📧 The panel physician will submit the reports to the IRCC within 5-10 working days.
📝 After submission, the IRCC’s medical officers will review your test reports, and this typically takes several weeks or months. You can track down the status of your medical report review.

What could be the potential outcomes?

✅ Passed: If your medical results are precise, then you are passed to the next stage of the application process.
📨 Request for further information: If IRCC has concerns or requires clarification, they may request additional tests, specialist reports, or other information through a letter of instructions.
❌ Medical Inadmissible: In some rare cases, if IRCC finds your condition is a potential threat to the public or you may require heavy publicly funded medical health and social services, then they reject your application and certify you as medically inadmissible. You will receive a Procedural Fairness Letter, which will allow you to respond.

Validity of results: The IME reports will be valid for 12 months from the date of the exam. If the processing time exceeds this period, IRCC may request a new medical report.

⚠️ Challenges You May Face During the Immigration Medical Examination:

👩‍⚕️ You cannot conduct the IME tests with a regular doctor. Finding an IRCC-approved panel physician in remote areas or certain countries can be challenging. Moreover, waiting in a long queue can lead to significant delays.
💸 The cost of immigration medical tests is not covered by Canadian health insurance, and it can be expensive, particularly if additional tests are required for all family members.
🏠 Not all clinics have on-site facilities, such as X-ray or laboratory services. In such cases, you need to schedule multiple appointments at different locations and times. It makes the procedure more complex.
❓ If you are unable to speak English or French fluently, you may face a language barrier when communicating with the panel physician, which can lead to misunderstandings and confusion.
🌾 For applicants living in remote areas, travelling to the city can incur extra costs, including travel and accommodations.
👀 Sometimes, applicants are hesitant to disclose their medical history to the panel physician due to personal reasons or fear of inadmissibility. Failure to disclose the information can lead to severe consequences.
📜 If an applicant has a long and complex medical history, gathering the relevant reports and tests can be both daunting and time-consuming.
❌ Some tests may reveal unexpected or previously undiagnosed conditions, either through X-rays, urine tests, or other methods.
❓ Suppose the panel physician or the IRCC’s medical officer has concerns or requires further information. In that case, they may issue a letter indicating that additional tests should be conducted, consultation with specialists should be considered, or treatment plans should be provided, which may lead to increased stress, extra costs, and delays in the process.
🕒 The validity period of IME is 12 months. If the application processing time takes longer than expected until the expiry, they may request new reports. So, you need to undergo the entire process again.

Solutions to overcome these challenges:

📋 Plan ahead: Book your IME appointment in advance and gather all the required documents as early as possible.
🤝 Be Honest: Don’t hide your medical history and provide accurate information about your health conditions.
🗣️ Communicate Clearly: Ask questions or seek help from someone in the clinic to clarify your doubts or confusions during the examination.
🙋 Seek professional help: If you have complex medical conditions or receive medical inadmissibility, then approach an immigration lawyer who is an expert in medical inadmissible cases.

❓ Most Commonly Asked Questions

Q: What if I have a pre-existing medical condition or my results are abnormal?

A: If you have a pre-existing medical condition, then it may not lead to direct inadmissibility. Be transparent and open to provide accurate information, medical reports and treatment plans.

Q: Do I need to fast before the immigration medical examination?

A: No, fasting is not required for the IME.

Q: How to pay the medical fees?

A: Typically, you need to pay the medical fees in cash or with a debit card. They may or may not accept credit cards.

Q: What are the main reasons for medical inadmissibility to Canada?

A: If your medical condition is a potential threat to public safety and health, or if your medical condition might heavily depend on publicly funded health and social services. In such scenarios, you may not get the permission to enter the country

Q: What is a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL) in IME, and how to respond to it?

A: Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL) is a formal letter from IRCC showing their concerns related to the medical issues that may reject your immigration application. It is an opportunity to address their concerns before a final decision is made.

To respond to their PFL effectively:

Understand the concern carefully: Thoroughly read the PF letter to understand the specific medical issue is being raised.
Gather Evidence: Gather all the required medical reports and tests that can erase the concerns and provide the proof that you have well-defined treatment plans, medications and sufficient funds to cover the costs.
Draft a clear response: Write a detailed, polite and well-organised letter covering all the points raised in the PFL and provide all the supporting documents.

Seek professional help: If your case is complex, it is advisable to consult with an immigration lawyer or an experienced person in medical inadmissibility cases to guide you in preparing a perfect response. Typically, you have 30-90 days to submit the response