Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC) has extended a temporary public policy that exempts certain low-risk foreign nationals within Canada from needing an additional immigration medical examination (IME). The policy, which has been in place for two years, will now continue until October 5, 2029. This extension is designed to speed up application processing and enhance services for eligible applicants.
The exemption applies to foreign nationals who have either a new or pending application for permanent or temporary residence or a permanent resident visa made from within Canada. To qualify, applicants must have completed an IME within the past five years, even if it has expired. They should have posed no public health or safety risk or have reported to public health authorities as required for monitoring.
This policy has already benefited more than 286,000 individuals, enabling faster processing and reducing bureaucratic delays. By extending it, IRCC aims to continue improving operational efficiency while monitoring public health outcomes in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada. This also allows more time to assess the long-term effectiveness of the streamlined process.
However, applicants not eligible under this exemption will still be required to undergo the usual health screening procedures, including a new IME. IRCC will notify these individuals directly to guide them through the next steps.
This measure is part of Canada’s broader effort to balance efficient immigration processing with maintaining public health safety, particularly in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing immigration demands. The extension provides a clear path for low-risk applicants, ensuring smoother transitions without compromising health requirements.
The exemption applies to foreign nationals who have either a new or pending application for permanent or temporary residence or a permanent resident visa made from within Canada. To qualify, applicants must have completed an IME within the past five years, even if it has expired. They should have posed no public health or safety risk or have reported to public health authorities as required for monitoring.
This policy has already benefited more than 286,000 individuals, enabling faster processing and reducing bureaucratic delays. By extending it, IRCC aims to continue improving operational efficiency while monitoring public health outcomes in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada. This also allows more time to assess the long-term effectiveness of the streamlined process.
However, applicants not eligible under this exemption will still be required to undergo the usual health screening procedures, including a new IME. IRCC will notify these individuals directly to guide them through the next steps.
This measure is part of Canada’s broader effort to balance efficient immigration processing with maintaining public health safety, particularly in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing immigration demands. The extension provides a clear path for low-risk applicants, ensuring smoother transitions without compromising health requirements.
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