Canada extends medical screening waivers for certain immigrants.
Ottawa, December 24, 2021 — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is renewing a temporary public policy that exempts certain foreign nationals in Canada from completing an additional immigration medical examination as part of a permanent residency application, provided they have recently completed a medical examination and do not pose a risk to public health. Originally set to expire on December 28, 2021, the exemption will be extended until March 31, 2022.
This public policy, announced in June 2021 , streamlines the processing of applications for low-risk applicants in Canada while effectively managing public health risks. This supports faster processing and helps foreign nationals already residing here transition to permanent resident status more quickly.
When applying for permanent residency or a permanent resident visa, applicants must provide an immigration medical examination or a unique medical identification number from their previous medical examination. IRCC will contact individuals who do not qualify for an exemption to discuss the next steps.
This exemption allows them to avoid undergoing another medical examination if they have already completed their medical examination and meet all of the following criteria:
- They have applied for permanent residency but have not yet undergone the new immigration medical examination;
- have completed a medical examination within the past five years and have been found to pose no risk to public health or safety, or comply with reporting requirements to health authorities for monitoring; and
- He/She has not left Canada for more than six months in the past year to live in a country on the federal government's list of countries requiring immigration medical checks.
Family members of the applicant may be eligible under this policy if they also reside in Canada and meet the above criteria.