Express Entry doesn’t need an upfront medical exam before the submission of the Canadian Permanent Residence application. This is with effect from October 1, 2023.
To begin with, IME is an essential requirement from a panel Physician to submit a PR application. Individuals who have not taken the Immigrant Medical Exam will now simply have to upload a blank document in the Express Entry builder profile’s upload section. Hereafter, IRCC will further notify them about the period they could take their medical exam.
Talking about another situation, when they have already taken their IME for their study or work and have been residing in Canada, they will not need to get another IME for PR application.
Express Entry doesn’t need an upfront medical exam now – what is IME?
Individuals applying for Canadian PR must hold an IME. Their family members must also possess a medical examination, even if they will not accompany them. Most importantly, their own doctor must not conduct a medical examination. Instead, they must visit a doctor who is on the physician’s list as they are approved by IRCC. However, it is essential to note that a panel Physician doesn’t make the final decision about an individual’s exam. This job is assigned to IRCC, which also means that this department will only approve their PR application if they don’t impose any threat to Canadians’ health and if they don’t overuse the Canadian health services.
When attending their medical exam appointment, the individual must bring the following:
- Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses, if using them;
- Proper Identity Proofs;
- Current medications list;
- The form of the Medical Form, in the case of not getting an upfront medical exam.
- If the panel Physician can’t use an eMedical, applicants must show four of the latest photographs.
The medical exam will comprise a questionnaire related to an individual’s previous medical history, indicating their former or present health conditions. They will also have to take a physical examination. Further, they might even have to submit chest X-rays and laboratory exams. However, this will purely rely on their age.
Applicants must make sure that they make timely payments related to the medical exam. After the physician receives all the medical exam results, he will send them to the applicants. Also, he will send them a medical examination confirmation in the form of a document.
The medical exam results will continue to be valid for twelve months. However, not arriving in Canada as a permanent resident within the given period might lead the applicant to take another medical exam.
