Express Entry: Upfront Medical Exam

Hello World! In today’s blog, we will share the new announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on August 12, 2025, regarding the requirement for Express Entry applicants to undergo an upfront immigration medical exam.

Upfront Immigration Medical Exam

IRCC announced that from August 21, 2025, permanent residence applicants through Express Entry must complete an upfront medical exam before submitting their application.
When applying for Canadian permanent residence or certain temporary visa, an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) is required during the application process. Previously in Express Entry, applicants would receive instructions from IRCC to undergo an IME after submitting their PR application.
With this change, applicants now must submit their IME results at the same time as their PR application within 60 days of receiving an ITA (Invitation to Apply) after creating their Express Entry profile.

Who is affected?

This change applies to Express Entry PR applicants and their accompanying or non-accompanying family members. However, exemptions may apply in some cases.

(1) Applicants who have previously completed an IME
If you are currently living in Canada and have taken an IME within the last 5 years for a previous application (e.g., Work Permit or Study Permit), you may be exempt from retaking it (see the link below).
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/medical-exams.html
You must provide your previous IME number or Unique Medical Identifier (UMI) when submitting your PR application. If IRCC determines that your past medical exam results cannot be reused, you will be notified to complete a new IME.

(2) Applicants who have never completed an IME
You must undergo an IME at a medical facility approved by IRCC. Check the IRCC panel physician list, contact a physician directly, and book your appointment. IME results are valid for 12 months and all related costs must be paid by the applicant.

Who is not affected?

The following applicants are not subject to this revision.

・PR applicants applying outside of Express Entry
・Express Entry PR applicants who submitted their application before August 21, 2025

※Between October 1, 2023, and August 21, 2025, an upfront IME was not required for Express Entry. For this reason, IRCC expects that some applications may not include IME results. These applications will not be refused as incomplete. Instead, IRCC will search for past IME records and if no valid exam is found, the applicant will be asked to take a new exam.

What is Medical Admissibility?

PR applicants and their family members must meet Canada’s health standard (Medical Admissibility), which means they must not pose a risk to public health or safety. PR applications are usually refused for health reasons if the person’s condition is expected to cost more than three times the average annual health care cost per Canadian ($27,162), creating too much burden on public health services, or if the person has certain infectious diseases or other conditions that could be a danger to public health.

For full details, please see the IRCC’s website.
・Medical examination for permanent residence applicants
・Program delivery update: Requirement to submit upfront medical examinations – Express Entry
・Applications for permanent residence programs subject to the Express Entry completeness check
・Issuing instructions for medical examinations

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Since Canada’s immigration rules are frequently updated, it is important to always check the latest information and prepare accordingly for your PR application. IRCC’s Forward Regulatory Plan: 2025–2027 will provide updates on upcoming immigration policies.

Also as mentioned in last year’s blog, while Canada is reducing overall immigration intake between 2025–2027, the government is prioritizing the Economic Class immigration with Express Entry as the core pathway. Our immigration consultant introduces Canadian PR pathways and real case studies in our Canada Immigration Visa Seminar. We encourage you to watch it if you consider applying PR!

If you are interested in Express Entry or wish to consult with us, please feel free to contact us through this form.

“You are one step closer to Canada!”