Planning a trip to Canada and wondering about health screening requirements? This is one of the most common questions we hear from prospective visitors. The good news is that most short-term visitors don't need medical exams at all. However, certain situations require them, and knowing which applies to you can save time and prevent application delays.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about medicals for visitor visas to Canada, from when they're required to what happens during the appointment.
Do We Need a Medical for a Visitor Visa in Canada?
Most short-term visitors to Canada do not need a medical exam. However, a tourist visa for Canada may need a medical exam if your stay exceeds six months or if you are applying for a Parent or Grandparent Super Visa. These medical requirements exist to protect public health, especially against communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, and to ensure that visitors with serious health conditions do not place undue strain on Canada's healthcare system.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a medical exam is required in the following situations for visitor visa applicants:
1. Extended Stays Beyond Six Months
If you plan to stay in Canada for more than six months, a medical exam is required if you have lived in or traveled through one or more designated countries or territories for six consecutive months or longer in the year immediately before your visit. This applies even to citizens of visa-exempt countries. The purpose is to protect public health, particularly against diseases such as tuberculosis, which are more prevalent in certain regions.
What Are "Designated Countries"?
IRCC maintains a list of countries and territories whose residents may require a medical exam. The list is based on public health risk factors, such as the prevalence of tuberculosis. Always check IRCC's official "Find out if you need a medical exam" page for the most up-to-date information.
2. Parent and Grandparent Super Visa
The rules for Super Visa applications are different and stricter. All Super Visa applicants must complete immigration medical exams, with no exceptions.
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit for up to five years without renewing their status. This medical exam ensures public health protection and is a mandatory part of the application process.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
If you are required to complete a Canada visitor visa medical exam, proper preparation can make the process faster and less stressful.
Bring the following items:
Approved Identification Documents:
- Valid passport (required)
- National identity card with photo and signature (optional)
- Government-issued driver's license from recognized countries (optional)
- For children under 18: original birth certificate or certified copy
- Red Cross travel document, refugee travel document, or refugee protection claimant document (if applicable)
Medical Documentation:
- Medical reports or test results for any existing health conditions
- Complete list of current medications with dosages
- Vaccination records (optional)
- Eyeglasses or contact lenses, if you wear them
Additional Items:
- Medical Report form (IMM 1017E or IMM 1020E) if requested by IRCC
- Four recent passport-style photographs (only if the panel physician does not use the eMedical system)
Contact your panel physician in advance to confirm whether they use the eMedical system, as this determines if photographs are needed.
What Happens During the Immigration Medical Exam (IME)?
Physical Examination
The IME covers vital signs, cardiovascular and respiratory function, skin, limbs, abdomen, hearing, and vision. Panel physicians do not routinely examine genitals or the rectal area; breast exams are only done if clinically indicated.
The doctor or medical clinic staff will:
- Weigh you
- Measure your height
- Check your hearing and vision
- Listen to your heart and lungs
- Examine the abdomen
- Assess limb movement
- Inspect the skin
Chest X-Ray Screening
Applicants aged 11 and older receive a chest X-ray to screen for tuberculosis. Children under 11 only require a chest X-ray if risk factors exist.
Laboratory Tests
Blood tests for syphilis and HIV are mandatory for clients 15 years and older, and for younger applicants with risk factors. Urine tests, typically for applicants aged five and older, may be used to detect potential kidney or metabolic issues.
Age-Specific Requirements
Testing requirements vary by age. The panel physician will follow IRCC's technical instructions to determine which tests are appropriate based on your age and medical history.
Who Can Perform the Exam?
Here's something important: your family doctor can't do this unless they're also an IRCC-approved panel physician. IRCC is clear that "your own doctor can't do the medical exam. You must find a panel physician we've approved to do medical exams."
If you need an IME, use IRCC's "Find a panel physician" tool to locate an approved clinic near you. Clinics vary in services (on-site X-ray, lab testing, languages spoken, appointment availability); confirm service details directly with the clinic before booking.
How Long Are Results Valid?
Medical exam results are generally valid for 12 months from the exam date; they must be valid when you enter Canada. If they expire before entry, a new exam is required.
For students and workers, if you received your letter of introduction after November 30, 2021, it will show the date your results expire.
This is why timing matters. For upfront exams (completed before submitting your application), coordinate carefully to ensure results stay valid throughout processing and until your planned entry date.
Do I Need a Medical Exam for a Canada Visitor Visa If I Have Health Conditions?
As mentioned, a Canadian visitor visa needs a medical exam only in specific situations. If you have pre-existing health conditions, knowing how IRCC assesses applicants is important. Health evaluations can result in three possible grounds for inadmissibility:
Public Health Danger
Applicants with active infectious diseases, such as untreated tuberculosis or active syphilis, may be refused entry to protect Canadian public health. Most chronic or non-communicable conditions do not fall into this category.
Public Safety Danger
Conditions that could cause sudden loss of consciousness, unpredictable behavior, or inability to control actions may result in inadmissibility. Examples include uncontrolled epilepsy or severe mental health conditions posing safety risks in public settings.
Excessive Demand
This is where costs come in. For 2025, IRCC sets the excessive demand threshold at $135,810 over five years (or $27,162 annually). Medical conditions requiring treatment or services exceeding this amount may lead to inadmissibility.
How to Respond if IRCC Raises Concerns
If IRCC believes your health may affect admissibility, they will send a procedural fairness letter. You can respond with:
- Updated medical reports or letters from your doctors
- Evidence of comprehensive private health insurance
- A mitigation plan showing how you will avoid using Canadian public healthcare
- Documentation of treatment plans and costs
Many applicants successfully address concerns with thorough and timely documentation.
Upfront vs. Requested Exams: What's the Difference?
You can complete an exam before applying, which is called an upfront medical exam. This approach often speeds up processing since results are ready when IRCC reviews your application.
For visitor visas, including Super Visas, upfront exams are allowed and often recommended. Contact a panel physician directly to schedule, then include the confirmation document when submitting your application.
When you have an upfront exam, the physician will ask you to fill out an IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report. You must include a copy with paper applications or upload it before submitting online applications.
When IRCC Requests Exams
If your situation requires a health assessment and you haven't done an upfront exam, the visa office will tell you what to do next. You'll get specific instructions about which panel physician to contact and what forms to complete.
Respond promptly when IRCC requests a medical exam. Missing deadlines may result in application refusal, so schedule your appointment as soon as possible after receiving instructions.
Special Circumstances
Can't Complete the Exam?
If completing an exam isn't possible for you or a family member, submit a letter explaining why. IRCC reviews these requests case by case.
Valid reasons might include:
- Pregnancy affecting chest X-ray requirements
- Temporary illness preventing assessment
- Lack of access to panel physicians in remote areas
- Religious or cultural concerns about specific exam components
Submit your explanation as soon as possible to avoid delays, including supporting documentation from healthcare providers when relevant.
Previously Completed Exams
If you completed an Immigration Medical Examination within five years, you can provide your IME number or unique medical identifier when applying.
Applicants previously determined to be low risk may be exempt from completing another exam. However, if IRCC determines your previous results can't be used, they'll notify you of the next steps.
Processing Times and Impact
Health assessments can add several weeks to overall processing times. The typical additional time ranges from four to eight weeks, depending on whether you need additional tests or specialist consultations.
If you're doing an upfront exam, plan to submit your visitor visa application shortly after receiving your confirmation document. For requested exams, respond to IRCC instructions right away.
Most delays happen when people don't complete requirements within specified timeframes. Schedule your appointment immediately upon receiving instructions, and follow up to ensure results are submitted correctly.
Complete Your Canada Visitor Visa Medical Exam in the Greater Toronto Area
GTA Immigration Medical Clinic Markham is an IRCC panel physician and exclusively serves people needing immigration medical exams. Our clinic offers same-day blood and urine testing, on-site chest X-ray services, and fast paperless eMedical processing to get your results to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada efficiently. With multilingual staff fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin, we'll guide you through every step in your preferred language, ensuring you bring proper identification and understand the complete process.
Located conveniently at 3603 Highway 7 East in Markham with free parking and easy access to Highways 401, 407, and 410, we serve people across the GTA, including Scarborough, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan. Our experienced panel physicians make the process smooth and supportive, conducting thorough exams and coordinating all necessary lab tests to avoid delays. Whether you need an upfront medical exam before submitting your visa application or IRCC has requested an assessment, we're here to help you enter Canada successfully.
Ready to schedule your exam? Call (365) 509-2311 or book your appointment online today.
