Temporary public policy exempting some foreign nationals in Canada from requiring an immigration medical exam

Ottawa, June 30, 2021—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has put in place a temporary public policy that exempts some low-risk, in-Canada foreign nationals from having to complete an additional immigration medical exam as part of their application for permanent residence or for a permanent resident visa.

The temporary public policy is in effect until December 28, 2021, and applies to in-Canada foreign nationals who

• have submitted a new application for permanent residence or for a permanent resident visa or have a pending application for permanent residence and have not yet completed a new immigration medical exam
• have completed an immigration medical exam within the last 5 years and were found to pose no risk to public health or safety, or complied with a requirement to report to public health authorities for monitoring, and
• have not left Canada for more than 6 months in the last year to live in a country that has a higher incidence of a serious communicable disease than Canada, as outlined in the list of countries requiring an immigration medical exam

These measures will help streamline application processing for low-risk in-Canada applicants, while effectively managing public health risks. They will also help provide better client service, support faster application timelines, and ensure foreign nationals can more quickly receive permanent resident status. This will help them in turn more quickly contribute fully to the Canadian economy and the communities in which they live.

A foreign national’s family members who live in Canada may also be eligible under this temporary public policy if they meet the criteria listed above.

When applying for permanent residence or for a permanent resident visa, applicants must provide an immigration medical exam or a unique medical identifier number from their previous medical exam. IRCC will contact individuals whose results cannot be used to discuss next steps.