Ottawa, ON – August 12, 2025 — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an important policy change affecting all applicants invited to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.
Effective August 21, 2025, candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) under Express Entry will be required to complete an upfront Immigration Medical Exam (IME) before submitting their application. This represents a shift from the previous process, where applicants were instructed to wait for medical exam directions after applying.
What’s Changing
Under the new rules, when applicants submit their permanent residence application via the Express Entry Profile Builder, they must upload proof of an upfront IME for themselves and all accompanying family members.
This change aligns with IRCC’s broader goal to streamline application processing and reduce delays caused by post-submission medical exam scheduling.
What Applicants Need to Do
1. If you are in Canada and had an IME in the past five years
- Include your IME number or unique medical identifier (UMI) in your application.
- If IRCC cannot reuse your previous results, they will send new instructions to complete a fresh medical exam after submission.
2. If you have never had an IME
- Book an appointment with an IRCC-approved panel physician only after receiving your ITA.
- Complete your medical exam and upload proof of completion before submitting your application for permanent residence.
Who Must Complete the Medical Exam?
According to IRCC’s permanent residence medical requirements, all applicants — including accompanying dependants — must pass an Immigration Medical Exam to ensure they are not medically inadmissible to Canada.
This includes:
- Skilled workers, business immigrants, caregivers, and refugees
- Spouses, partners, children, and other sponsored family members
- All Express Entry applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class
Why the Medical Exam Matters
The IME is used to assess:
- Whether an applicant’s health poses a risk to public health or safety
- Whether their medical condition could cause excessive demand on Canada’s health or social services
IRCC only accepts exams conducted by its network of designated panel physicians, either inside Canada or abroad.
How to Find a Panel Physician
Applicants can locate an approved doctor using IRCC’s official Find a Panel Physician tool. Only panel physicians are authorized to conduct IMEs for Canadian immigration purposes.
Transition Guidance for Applicants in the Pool
Candidates already in the Express Entry pool do not need to take immediate action until they receive an ITA. However, they are encouraged to review IRCC’s medical requirements and plan ahead to avoid last-minute delays.
Key Takeaway
From August 21, 2025, medical exams move from a later step in the Express Entry process to an upfront requirement at the time of application. This change is expected to speed up processing times and help qualified applicants land in Canada sooner.
For more information, visit IRCC’s official medical exam requirements page.
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