Immigration medical exam in Canada: who needs one, and when

An immigration medical exam in Canada: who needs one, and when depends on the application, the person’s plans and, for some temporary stays, their recent travel or residence history. Get the timing wrong and you either pay for an exam too early or miss a 30-day deadline. For families in Québec, a provincial selection document does not replace a medical exam required by federal immigration authorities. This guide is based on IRCC’s medical exam pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

Question	What families should know
Who needs an exam?	Permanent residence applicants and their family members, even those not coming; some visitors, students and workers, depending on the stay, the job and recent travel.
Does a child need their own exam?	Yes, when the rules apply to them. A parent’s appointment doesn’t cover the family.
Where should we book?	Only with a panel physician on IRCC’s list. A family doctor can’t do it.
When should we book?	It depends on the program: Express Entry after the invitation; most other permanent residence applications only on IRCC’s instructions, within 30 days.
Does the exam decide the application?	No. The physician sends the results; IRCC decides.
Can an earlier exam count?	Possibly, under a public policy in force until October 5, 2029, if you meet its conditions.

Start with the kind of application you are making

For permanent residence, you need an immigration medical exam (IME), and so do your family members, even if they aren’t coming with you. The timing depends on the program:

• Express Entry: after you receive your invitation, before you submit your application. Contact a panel physician directly. With 60 days to apply, book early: see our 60-day plan after an invitation.
• Every other permanent residence application, including spousal and child sponsorship: wait for IRCC’s instructions after you submit a complete application, then do the exam within 30 days. Not following the instructions can lead to a refusal.

A child named in a parent’s application may have a requirement of their own, so don’t assume the parent’s appointment covers the whole family. A parent or guardian should arrange the child’s appointment, bring the requested information and attend as the clinic directs.

Québec selection and federal medical admissibility are separate. A Québec document such as the CAQ for studies or a CSQ does not replace an exam required by IRCC. Applicants under Québec’s PEQ or PSTQ, or under Express Entry, follow the medical instructions of their federal application, as do families using family sponsorship.

An IME is an assessment under IRCC’s immigration process, not a general check-up and not a decision on the application.

Use a decision path for temporary stays

For temporary residence, look at the length of stay, the planned work and recent travel or residence together:

Your stay	You need an exam if…
6 months or less	You’ll work where public health must be protected: health care, clinical labs, long-term care, primary and secondary schools, child care, in-home care of children, seniors or people with disabilities, and similar jobs; or you’re an agricultural worker who spent 6 consecutive months or more in a designated country in the year before coming
More than 6 months	You lived or stayed in a designated country or territory for 6 consecutive months or more in the year before coming; or you’ll work in one of those public-health jobs; or you’re applying for a super visa

Don’t assume that every brief visit is exempt, or that every longer stay automatically requires an exam. A family planning a visitor visa application should assess the visitor’s circumstances rather than the label of the visa. Parents and grandparents applying for a super visa always need one.

Students should apply the study permit rules as well; see our guide to study permit documents. Workers should check the rules for their role and permit; our work permit page gives context, but IRCC’s medical guidance decides whether an exam applies.

Three quick cases

• Lucía, a nurse from Spain, comes for four months to work in a Montreal hospital. Her stay is short, but health care is one of the public-health jobs: she needs an exam.
• Amir comes to study in Québec City for two years. In the year before, he spent eight months in a row in a designated country for an internship. Stay of more than six months plus six consecutive months in a designated country: he needs an exam.
• The Tremblay-Diallo family, a couple and two children, receives an Express Entry invitation. All four book with a panel physician right away, before submitting the application, including the child who will join later.

In each case, the rule comes from the stay, the job, the travel history or the program, never from the type of visa alone. When in doubt, read the IRCC page for your exact application before booking.

Know whether to book upfront or wait for instructions

An upfront medical exam is done before IRCC asks for one. For temporary applications, IRCC recommends an upfront exam before you apply. For permanent residence other than Express Entry, wait for IRCC’s instructions instead.

After an upfront appointment, keep the information sheet the panel physician gives you: it identifies the exam and connects it with your application.

Who does the exam, and what it costs

Only a panel physician on IRCC’s list can do it; your family doctor can’t. You pay everything at the appointment: the physician or radiologist, any tests and specialists. These fees aren’t refunded if your application is refused. The physician doesn’t decide your case: IRCC does, and writes to you if there’s a problem.

What happens at the appointment, and what to bring

Expect a medical history questionnaire, a physical exam and, depending on your age, a chest X-ray and lab tests. If you’re referred to a specialist, go quickly: the whole file waits for it. IRCC notes that leaving out a past or current health problem can make the process longer.

• Valid ID (IRCC strongly recommends your passport).
• Glasses or contact lenses.
• Medical reports or test results about past or current conditions, and a list of your medications.
• Form IMM 1017E or IMM 1020E if IRCC sent you one (not for an upfront exam).
• Four recent photos if the clinic doesn’t use eMedical; ask first.
• Vaccination records (optional but recommended).

Help a child get ready for the appointment

For a child, explain that the appointment involves questions and health checks, and that the exact steps depend on their age and situation, without promising or ruling out a particular test. Bring the child’s identity document, the requested forms and any records of ongoing care.

Contact the panel physician ahead of time to discuss pregnancy, disability, mobility needs or communication support, so the clinic can plan practical arrangements. Do not stop a child’s prescribed medicine or change their usual care to prepare for the exam; ask the child’s health professional or the panel physician about any concern.

Understand results, validity and what IRCC decides

The panel physician sends the results to IRCC, and you follow IRCC’s instructions if it asks for more information or tests. The physician’s findings contribute to the assessment, but the physician does not approve or refuse the application.

Results are valid for 12 months. If you don’t land as a permanent resident within that time, you may need a new exam. If you can’t get an exam at all (exceptional circumstances, no panel physician in your area), send IRCC an explanation letter through its web form.

Completing an exam does not by itself mean an application will be approved or refused. If a health condition worries you, read about medical inadmissibility; for a refusal, see our refusal page.

Check whether an earlier exam can be reused

A temporary public policy, extended until October 5, 2029, may exempt you from a new exam if all of these apply: you’re applying (or have applied) for permanent or temporary residence, you already live in Canada, your previous IME was within the last 5 years, and it showed low or no risk to public health or safety. Enter your previous IME number (unique medical identifier) in the new application.

Having done an exam before does not automatically exempt you: the policy’s conditions must apply to you and to the application.

If a child cannot access a panel physician or cannot complete the exam, contact IRCC through the application’s official channel instead of leaving a requested step incomplete. For help with your file, you can describe your situation or book a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Should I get the exam before I apply for sponsorship?

No. For sponsorship and most permanent residence programs other than Express Entry, wait for IRCC’s instructions, then do it within 30 days.

My spouse stays abroad. Do they need an exam?

For a permanent residence application, yes: family members need an exam even if they don’t come with you.

Are vaccines required?

Proof of vaccination isn’t mandatory. The physician may offer vaccines; with your consent, they record them and send the information to IRCC.

How much does the exam cost?

Ask the panel physician’s office for its fee and whether extra tests or specialist visits cost more. You pay at the appointment, and fees aren’t refunded if the application is refused.

Can a long-term health condition lead to an automatic refusal?

No. A condition alone doesn’t answer the question; IRCC assesses the case under the medical admissibility rules.

Can the exam be done outside Canada?

Yes, with a panel physician on IRCC’s list in the country where you are. Use IRCC’s official search tool to find one, and follow the instructions for your application.

Can I get a copy of the results?

Ask the clinic what it can give you. Keep the information sheet it issues; for questions about how the exam appears in your immigration file, use IRCC’s official channel for your application.

My child can’t attend the scheduled appointment. What now?

Call the clinic as soon as possible to reschedule. If IRCC requested the exam, tell IRCC through the application’s channel and follow its answer, so the 30-day request isn’t simply missed.

Conclusion

Whether you need an immigration medical exam, and when, depends on the application, the family members included, the planned work and, for temporary stays, recent travel or residence. Follow the IRCC instructions for your application, book only with a panel physician and treat the exam as one part of the assessment, not its outcome.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

• IRCC — Medical exams for permanent residents
• IRCC — Medical exams for visitors, students and workers