Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), effective October 1, 2023, will no longer require applicants for permanent residence via Express Entry to undergo an immigration medical exam (IME) before submitting their application.
Instead, applicants who have never completed an IME must:
- upload a blank document in the upload field of the Express Entry Profile Builder when submitting the application, and
- wait for IRCC to send further instructions on when to get a medical exam.
Applicants who have already completed an IME as part of a previous application (e.g., for work or study) within 5 years before submitting a new application and are currently living in Canada, may not need to complete another IME.
- They should provide a copy of the documents (information printout sheet and IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report form) given to them by the panel physician at their previous IME, or their IME number (or unique medical identifier number) from their previous IME, when they apply online.
- If IRCC cannot use the old results, they will send instructions on how to arrange an IME after the application is submitted.
An IME from a panel physician is a requirement for permanent residence. The applicant’s family members must also have a medical exam, even if they aren’t accompanying the applicant to Canada.
Erickson Insights
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.