New medical exam requirements for Express Entry PR applicants take effect, i.e., starting 21 August, applicants for Canadian permanent residence (PR) through the Express Entry system must now complete an upfront Immigration Medical Exam (IME) before submitting their application, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Previously, IMEs were requested by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) only after an applicant had submitted their PR application.
Some individuals may be exempt from this requirement if they fulfill all the conditions outlined below, including having completed an IME within the last five years.
Exemptions To The New Requirement
To be exempt from completing a new IME, an Express Entry applicant must meet all the following conditions:
- They completed an IME within the past five years.
- Their earlier IME results showed they were low risk or no risk to public health and safety in Canada.
- They are currently living in Canada.
IRCC also recommends candidates complete an IME only after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR.
An IME is normally valid for 12 months from the date it is issued.
The requirement applies not only to the main applicant but also to all immediate family members, including:
- Spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children
- Dependent children of dependent children
This includes family members who are not accompanying the applicant to Canada.
Who Can Conduct An IME?
Only IRCC-approved panel physicians are authorized to perform IMEs.
These doctors are connected to IRCC’s eMedical system, which allows them to send medical exam results directly to the department.
Applicants can locate the nearest panel physician by visiting IRCC’s official website.
Submitting IME Results With Your PR Application
As new medical exam requirements for Express Entry PR applicants take effect, it is vital to note how one can submit IME results with the PR application.
Once the medical exam is complete, the panel physician will provide the applicant with one of the following documents:
- An Information printout sheet
- An IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report form
When submitting a PR application online through the Express Entry Profile Builder, applicants must upload one of these documents as proof that the IME has been completed.
Using A Previous IME Within Five Years
Applicants who meet the exemption criteria can rely on their old IME results to fulfill the new upfront requirement.
To do this, they must upload a copy of one of the following:
- The previous Information printout sheet
- The IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report form
- The unique IME number (medical identifier)
This information must be included when submitting the PR application through the Express Entry Profile Builder.
If, after submission, IRCC determines that the earlier medical results cannot be reused, the applicant will receive instructions on how to complete a new IME.
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