How to Prepare for Your Immigration Medical Exam
Summary of Key Points:
Preparing for your IME (immigration medical exam) means knowing when to book, what to bring, how to pay, and what to do when you’re waiting for results.
Most PR applicants to Canada will book IMEs before submitting their application. Sponsored family members, refugees, and other PR applicants should book after receiving instructions from the Government of Canada or a Border Services Officer (depending on how they entered).
Make sure to bring ID, any corrective lenses you use, a list of your current medications, and relevant medical reports or test results to your IME.
Your IME fees will vary depending on any extra tests you might need. Most extra tests cost $50 or less when you take your IME with Panel Physician and can be performed on the same day as the rest of your exam.
How to Prepare for Your Immigration Medical Exam
Immigration medical exams are required for most people who apply for status in Canada as permanent residents, students, visitors, or temporary workers. But knowing you need this exam isn’t enough—you’ll also need to make sure you’re prepared for each part of the process.
Booking your immigration medical exam at the correct time, bringing the right items and documents, and being ready to pay your fees will all help avoid delays and allow you to submit your complete application with more confidence. Below, we’ll tell you what to expect and how to get ready for each of these steps so you can take the next step on your journey to Canada.
Step 1: Booking Your Exam
Not every person applying for immigration status in Canada books their immigration medical exam at the same time. Here’s a breakdown of when to book yours depending on how you’re planning to enter the country.
Under the Express Entry Program for Permanent Residents
When to Book: before submitting your application.
Only a doctor on the approved list of panel physicians can perform this exam. To book easily with a qualified doctor, contact one of our locations.
PR Sponsorship for Spouses, Partners, & Children
When to Book: After receiving instructions from the Government of Canada.
You cannot book your immigration medical exam in advance if you are applying in any of these family sponsorship categories. Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll get specific instructions from the Government of Canada telling you how to proceed with booking your exam if you need one.
Refugees
When to Book: Within 30 days of claiming Refugee status at a point of entry into Canada.
When you arrive and claim refugee status, a Border Services Officer will direct you to get your immigration medical exam.
Other PR Applicants
When to Book: Within 30 days of receiving instructions from the Government of Canada.
After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll get instructions from the Government of Canada telling you how to book your immigration medical exam. You’ll have 30 days to follow their steps.
Visitors, Students, & Temporary Workers
When to Book: If you’re staying for more than 6 months or working in a field where public health must be protected.
If you’re applying for one of these visas instead of permanent residency and you’ll be staying in Canada for less than 6 months, you may not need an Immigration Medical Exam. However, if you’ll be staying longer than 6 months or holding a job that brings you into close contact with people, you’ll need to submit the results of your medical exam along with your visa application.
Agricultural workers who have visited specific countries in recent months may also need an immigration medical exam. Learn more about booking an exam if you are applying as a visitor, student, or temporary worker.
Step 2: Bringing the Right Items to Your IME
Regardless of when or how you book your immigration medical exam, there are several items and documents you’ll need to bring. These include:
Government-issued photo ID with your signature (usually a passport or national identity card)
Any corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) you use to see clearly
A list of medications you currently take
Medical reports and test results for previous or current conditions
Persons not required to complete their immigration medical exam before applying will also need to complete form IMM1017E. The Government of Canada will send you this form in the mail if you need to fill it out.
You’ll also need to provide 4 recent photographs of yourself if your panel physician doesn’t use eMedical. Don’t worry about this step when you book your appointment with us, as we are an eMedical-enabled clinic.
Step 3: Paying For Your Immigration Medical Exam
Immigration Medical Exams include several fees, such as:
The fees charged by your panel physician and/or radiologist
Fees for any extra tests or treatments required
Fees for any specialists you may need to see
Click here to see a list of fees for our immigration medical exam services.
Step 4: Submitting Your IME Results to the Canadian Government
If you booked and completed your immigration medical exam after sending in your application, then congratulations—there’s nothing else to do. Your panel physician will notify you of any abnormal results. Otherwise, you can wait for your application to be processed.
If you need to get your immigration medical exam before sending in your application, you’ll have to include a copy of IMM 1017B (the Upfront Medical Report form) when you submit it. You’ll also need to include the information sheet you get from us when we submit your results with eMedical.
If you’re applying from outside Canada, you’ll need to come within 12 months of submitting your application. Your results will no longer be valid after that period.
Book Your Medical Exam with An Approved Panel Physician
We’re ready to help you book, complete, and submit your immigration medical exam as smoothly as possible. Contact us today and speak with a team member who can tell you more or schedule your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Preparing for Your Immigration Medical Exam
If I’ve had an IME in the last five years, do I need another one?
Canada currently has a temporary policy that exempts certain foreign nationals from the immigration medical examination requirement if they have already had an IME in the last five years. This includes people who:
Are already in Canada, and have a new or pending application for permanent residence or temporary residence.
Are family members of these applicants, and already in Canada.
Meet specific health criteria indicating that they:
Pose no danger to public health and safety.
Will not place excessive demand on Canadian healthcare services.
Have complied with any relevant provincial or territorial requirements to undergo medical surveillance.
However, it’s important to note that this policy went into effect in October 2022 and will only last for 24 months—meaning that it is set to expire in the fall of 2024. Read the entire list of exemptions here and find out if they apply to you.
What additional tests should I be prepared to pay for with my IME and how much do they cost?
Depending on an applicant’s age, several other tests are usually required:
Age 5-10: Urine test ($10)
Age 11-14: Urine test ($10), chest X-ray ($50)
Age 15+: Urine test ($10), blood test ($20), chest X-ray ($50)
You can take these tests at any of our locations on the same day as your IME.
What jobs could temporary foreign workers not be able to work in without an IME?
Temporary foreign workers in Canada will most likely need IMEs if they are working in any of the following areas where public health must be protected:
Healthcare settings, such as hospitals and clinics.
Clinical laboratories that handle biological samples.
Nursing and geriatric homes.
Medical school programs in universities (including medical electives and short-term locums for physicians).
Primary and secondary school settings, as well as other child-care settings and daycares.
Agricultural areas (including farms).
What if my IME causes me to be medically inadmissible to Canada?
If the Government of Canada deems you medically inadmissible based on the results of your IME, they will issue you a procedural fairness letter. You may be able to appeal the results of your IME by responding to this letter in a way that shows you will not exceed the average medical costs of Canadians, or that there are important humanitarian reasons for an exception to be made in your case.
The best way to respond to a procedural fairness letter is with a legal opinion letter citing supporting evidence like relevant laws or legal precedents. An immigration lawyer can help you create an effective legal opinion letter and give your appeal the best chance of success.