Procedure for applicants who test positive for HIV

On this page

• General overview of the policy
• Procedures
• Key document

General overview of the policy

All permanent resident applicants who are 15 years of age or older, as well as children who have certain risk factors, such as having received blood or blood products, having a mother living with known HIV or showing failure to thrive are required to undergo an HIV test as part of the medical examination.

As part of this medical examination, the responsible panel physician will provide post-test counselling to applicants who test positive for HIV as per the Canadian Panel Member Guide to Immigration Medical Examinations. The panel physician will have the applicant sign the Acknowledgement of HIV post-test counselling form [IMM 5728E (PDF, 528.39 KB)].

HIV positivity does not make a client inadmissible due to public health concern. In some cases, it may lead to inadmissibility if their health care costs would exceed the excessive demand threshold.

Procedures

Post-test counselling by a panel physician

The responsible panel physician will provide post-test counselling to applicants who test positive for HIV and will counsel them on the medical, social and psychological implications of their test results. Topics will include only those that have a pertinent medical theme and will not include any implications for the immigration application. The panel physician will have the applicant sign the Acknowledgement of post-test counselling form [IMM 5728E (PDF, 528.39 KB)].