Public policy extended exempting certain foreign nationals in Canada from requiring another immigration medical exam

Ottawa, December 24, 2021—Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is renewing a temporary public policy exempting some foreign nationals in Canada from having to complete an additional immigration medical exam as part of their application for permanent residence, if they already recently completed one and were found to pose no risk to public health. Originally set to expire on December 28, 2021, the exemption will be extended until March 31, 2022.

This public policy, which was announced in June 2021, helps streamline application processing for low-risk, in-Canada applicants, while effectively managing public health risks. It supports faster application processing and helps foreign nationals who are here already to transition to permanent resident status more quickly.

When applying for permanent residence or for a permanent resident visa, applicants must provide an immigration medical exam or a unique medical identifier number from their previous medical exam. IRCC will contact individuals who are not eligible for the exemption to discuss next steps.