Canada's Express Entry: IME requirements updated by IRCC

The Immigration Medical Examination [IME] requirements have been updated for the federal Express Entry system. This had been done in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canada, among the Top 3 countries for immigration post COVID-19, is also the leading country on the list for Top 10 most-accepting countries for migrants.

As per Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations [SOR/2002-227], Division 3, R29 – “29 For the purposes of paragraph 16(2)(b) of the Act, a medical examination includes any or all of the following: ·       (a) physical examination; ·       (b) mental examination; ·       (c) review of past medical history; ·       (d) laboratory test; ·       (e) diagnostic test; and ·       (f) medical assessment of records respecting the applicant.”

As per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC], a foreign national applying for Canadian “permanent resident visa or applying to remain in Canada as a permanent resident must undergo a medical examination”.

Similarly, all accompanying family members of the above-mentioned foreign nationals will also be required to undergo a medical examination.

In certain situations, such foreign nationals at times have family members that will not be accompanying them to Canada after being granted their Canada PR. With very few exceptions, these family members will also be required to undergo medical examinations.

A part of the application for permanent residence in Canada, an IME is to be conducted by a IRCC Panel Physician.

Here, by a “panel physician” is implied a medical doctor that has been specifically appointed by IRCC for performing immigration medical examinations.

Applicants not currently in Canada might be unable to secure an appointment for an IME for Canada immigration within a short timeframe. Proof of an IME appointment booked might be accepted in some situations.

If the IME has already been completed, the applicant can proceed with the submission of their Canada PR application as usual.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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