An Immigration Medical Exam (IME) is a required medical assessment for most Canadian immigration applications. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses the results to ensure applicants are not medically inadmissible due to public health risks, public safety risks, or excessive demand on Canadian health and social services.
In this guide
Whether you are applying for permanent residence, a work permit, or a study permit, navigating the medical requirements can feel overwhelming. This guide explains exactly who needs an exam, when to get one, how to find an approved physician, and what to expect during the appointment.
Who Needs an Immigration Medical Exam
The requirement for an IME depends on the type of application you are submitting and how long you plan to stay in Canada.
1Permanent Residence Applicants
As a general rule, every applicant for permanent residence must complete an IME. This requirement also applies to your spouse or partner and dependent children, including non-accompanying dependants. They must complete the exam so they can potentially be sponsored in the future.
2Temporary Residence (Stay of 6 Months or Less)
If you are visiting, studying, or working in Canada for six months or less, you usually do not need an IME. However, an exam is required if you will work in an occupation where public health must be protected. These occupations include health care workers, clinical laboratory workers, patient attendants, medical students, physicians on medical electives, primary or secondary school workers, childcare workers, domestic workers, in-home caregivers, and day nursery employees. Agricultural workers who have lived in or visited certain listed countries for six months in a row during the year before coming to Canada also require an exam.
3Temporary Residence (Stay of More Than 6 Months)
If you plan to stay in Canada for more than six months, you must complete an IME if any of the following apply to you:
You lived in or travelled to a listed country for six months in a row during the year before coming to Canada. The six month rule applies to continuous time spent in a listed country, not your nationality. Check the current country list to confirm, as the list changes over time.
You will work in a public health protected job, as listed above.
You are applying for a parent and grandparent Super Visa.
4Temporary Public Policy Exemption (In Canada)
A temporary public policy, effective until October 5, 2029, exempts some applicants already in Canada from completing a new IME. You may qualify if you have applied or are applying for permanent or temporary residence, currently live in Canada, completed a previous IME within the last five years, and that IME was assessed as low or no risk to public health or safety. You must include the previous IME or unique medical identifier number with your application. This policy does not mean an IME is valid for five years, as standard validity remains 12 months, and IRCC may still request a new exam. Reconfirm this policy before applying.
Upfront Medical Exams Versus Requested Exams
The timing of your exam depends on your application category. You will either complete an upfront exam before applying or wait for IRCC to request one after you apply.
| Situation | What You Receive from the Clinic | What You Submit to IRCC |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront IME (eMedical clinic) | eMedical Information Sheet | Upload as proof with application |
| Upfront IME (Paper clinic) | IMM 1017B (Upfront Medical Report) | Upload client copy with application |
| Requested IME (Standard) | None (Clinic submits results) | Bring IMM 1017E issued by IRCC to appointment |
| Requested IME (Streamlined) | None (Clinic submits results) | Bring IMM 1020 issued by IRCC to appointment |
1Express Entry Applicants
Since August 21, 2025, Express Entry applicants who need a new IME must complete an upfront exam. If you have never completed an IME, arrange the appointment after receiving your Invitation to Apply (ITA) and as close as practical to submitting your permanent residence application. IRCC will not send an IMM 1017E form for this. You must contact the panel physician yourself and upload the eMedical Information Sheet or IMM 1017B form with your application. Do not book more than one appointment.
2Other Permanent Residence Applicants
For other permanent residence categories, including spousal, partner, and child sponsorship, you must submit your full application and wait for IRCC to send medical instructions. Once you receive the instruction letter, you must complete the exam within 30 days. Notify IRCC immediately if you cannot meet this deadline.
3Temporary Residence Applicants
Temporary residence applicants have the option to complete an upfront exam before applying or to apply first and follow the medical instructions sent by IRCC.
How to Find an Approved Doctor
You cannot use your own family doctor for an IME unless they are specifically approved by IRCC. Only an IRCC approved panel physician can conduct the exam. You can use the IRCC panel physician finder to locate an approved doctor in any country. Rosters and availability change, so confirm the clinic still performs Canadian IMEs when booking.
Step by Step Guide to the Appointment
Knowing what to expect can help your appointment go smoothly.
- Confirm Requirements: Verify if an IME is required for your application and determine the correct timing (upfront or requested).
- Contact a Panel Physician: Find an approved doctor and confirm if they use the eMedical system, what identification they accept, if photos are needed, and the total costs for the clinic, laboratory, and radiology. Ask if any preparation is required.
- Gather Documents: Bring all required documents to your appointment (see checklist below).
- Identity Verification and Medical History: The clinic will verify your identity and take a photograph. The physician will take your medical history. Disclose your history accurately, as gaps or omissions can delay your assessment.
- Physical Examination: The exam may include checking your weight, height, hearing, vision, heart, lungs, abdomen, limb movement, and skin. A genital or rectal exam is not part of the IME. You have the right to request a chaperone or ask the physician to pause the exam at any time.
- Routine Testing: Routine tests usually include a posterior anterior chest X-ray for applicants aged 11 and older, and syphilis, HIV, and serum creatinine testing for applicants aged 15 and older. The physician can order testing below these ages if risk factors justify it.
- Complete Follow Up: Complete any requested follow up promptly, such as extra tests, repeat X-rays, or specialist reports. Being asked for further tests does not mean your application will be refused.
- Submission: The physician submits the medical file to IRCC. Ask for a copy of the completion document at the appointment if you want one, as reports and X-rays become the property of IRCC.
- Upload Proof (If Applicable): For an upfront exam, upload the eMedical Information Sheet or IMM 1017B form with your application. For a requested exam, you usually do not need to submit anything unless IRCC specifically asks.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
Prepare the following items for your medical exam:
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport (preferred ID) | Approved alternatives listed below |
| Approved alternative ID | National identity card; driver's licence from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, or US (in issuing country); original birth certificate for child under 18; refugee travel document; Red Cross travel document; UN laissez passer; seaman's book; OAS travel document; refugee protection identity or claimant document |
| Medical forms | IMM 1017E or IMM 1020 if IRCC issued one for a requested exam; IFHP eligible applicants may need IMM 1442, IMM 5695, or IMM 5985 |
| Medical history | Reports and results for any past or current conditions |
| Medications | List of current medications and relevant prescriptions |
| Vision aids | Glasses or contact lenses if worn |
| Photos | Four recent photos, only if the clinic does not use eMedical |
| Vaccination records | Optional but helpful |
Use the same ID for the physician, laboratory, radiology, and specialist parts of the exam.
Understanding the Costs
You must pay the panel physician or clinic directly at the time of your appointment. IRCC does not publish a universal price for the IME, as costs vary significantly by clinic and country. Contact the clinic directly to get a current quote.
Possible cost components include the physician's examination fee, the chest X-ray or radiologist fee, laboratory testing, special tests, any treatment connected to the assessment, specialist consultations, and optional vaccinations. These fees are usually non refundable, even if your application is refused or the IME results expire. Refugees and asylum claimants may qualify for IFHP coverage or a fee exemption.
Results, Validity, and Follow Up
The panel physician does not approve or refuse your immigration application. They only submit the medical findings. IRCC conducts the medical assessment and will contact you if there is a concern.
IRCC may request additional laboratory testing, imaging, repeat chest X-rays, sputum testing, specialist reports, treatment information, or a follow up exam. No specific medical condition automatically causes inadmissibility for excessive demand. Every case is assessed individually.
A requested medical exam usually appears in your online account within 30 days of the appointment. This does not guarantee a final decision within 30 days. If IRCC requested the exam, more than three weeks have passed, and the result still does not show in your account, use the IRCC web form to inquire. Applicants found to have inactive tuberculosis may require medical surveillance after arriving in Canada, which is a separate process from the IME.
Validity Period
IME results are normally valid for 12 months from the date of the exam. Permanent residence applicants may need a new exam if they do not become permanent residents within that 12 month period. Visitors, students, and workers may need a new exam if they do not enter Canada before the results expire.
For study or work letters of introduction issued after November 30, 2021, the letter may display the medical expiry date. Express Entry applicants should wait for the ITA and complete the exam close to submission. Upfront applicants should apply soon after the exam to avoid wasting the 12 month validity period. Other permanent residence applicants must wait for instructions and meet the 30 day deadline. Do not arrange duplicate exams unless explicitly instructed by IRCC. The five year in Canada public policy exemption does not extend standard IME validity to five years.
Pregnancy and the Chest X-Ray
Pregnancy does not remove the requirement to complete an IME. However, the chest X-ray may be postponed after discussing it with the panel physician. The physician will use form IMM 5733 to record a pregnancy related X-ray deferral. The X-ray must be completed after the pregnancy or when it is clinically safe to do so. Your medical assessment remains incomplete until the X-ray is finished. Discuss the risks and options with your panel physician.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | What to Do Instead |
|---|---|
| Going to a family doctor who is not a panel physician | Use the IRCC panel physician finder to confirm the doctor is approved |
| Completing an upfront exam for a non Express Entry PR application | Wait for IRCC's medical instruction letter before booking |
| Waiting for an IMM 1017E when you need an upfront Express Entry exam | Contact the panel physician directly after your ITA |
| Confusing IMM 1017B and IMM 1017E | 1017B is upfront proof; 1017E is the form IRCC sends for a requested exam |
| Treating eMedical as a downloadable form | eMedical is the system the physician uses; you receive an Information Sheet |
| Assuming the clinic's submission replaces your upload | For upfront exams, also upload the Information Sheet or IMM 1017B |
| Forgetting to bring the IRCC issued form to a requested exam | Bring IMM 1017E or IMM 1020 as instructed |
| Not checking if four photos are needed | Confirm with the clinic before your appointment |
| Omitting medical history or medications | Bring full records; gaps delay assessment |
| Missing the 30 day deadline without notice | Contact IRCC immediately if you cannot meet the deadline |
| Booking a second exam because the first is not online yet | Wait three weeks, then use the IRCC web form to follow up |
| Believing an abnormal finding means automatic refusal | IRCC assesses each case individually |
| Discarding the Information Sheet or IMM 1017B | Keep all documents until your application is finalized |
Questions People Actually Ask
Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice.