Canada Plans to Require Medical Exams for Express Entry PR Applicants from Aug 21

Starting August 21, 2025, anyone applying for permanent residence through Canada’s Express Entry system will need to get their medical exam before submitting their application.

No more “submit, then check.” Now it’s ‘double check, then submit’. And yes, that’s official—directly from IRCC.

Why This Change Matters

Up until now, applicants would submit their complete PR application and then wait for IRCC to instruct them when to undertake a medical exam. Starting August 21, the medical clearance has to be prepared in advance. But only for Express Entry PR applications submitted on or after August 21, 2025. Other forms of PR applications, and those filed sooner, are unaffected.

The Medical Admissibility Rules

Canada cares about health admissibility — not only for you, but for your family members as well, even if they’re not accompanying you. Main criteria:

Your health cannot be a public health threat.
Your health care can not impose “undue burden” on Canada’s system.

IRCC defines excessive demand as medical costs over $27,162 per year (three times the national average). For instance, a chronic condition such as diabetes, if stable and well-controlled, usually passes. But untreated infectious diseases or the very expensive treatments may result in denial.

What The Exam Involves

Only IRCC-approved panel physicians can conduct these exams. The authorized list is on the IRCC website— pick your country and reserve directly. Typical costs: $140–$280 per person (plus any extra charges for lab tests or specialists). Expect these steps:

Medical history review (past surgeries, ongoing illnesses, medications)
Physical check (heart, lungs, eyes, etc.)
Chest X-ray (screening for tuberculosis)
Blood and urine tests
Mental health review
Immunization record verification

Bring along:

Passport or ID
Four recent photos
Medication list
Medical reports (if any)
Vaccination proof

Reusing an Old Medical Exam

Already been in Canada and had a work or study permit medical exam in the last five years? You can give IRCC your medical exam number instead of doing a new test. But if IRCC says that your outdated results aren’t valid for PR, you’ll still need a new test.

A Note on Getting it Right

This is not a simple piece of paper – it is a process that could make or break your PR application. The good news is that if you have a professional visa immigration consultant team, they can assist you in preparing the correct medical documents and reduce the chances of you encountering surprises for whatever reason, likely causing your delays.

Final Thoughts

With these changes, Canada is tightening timelines and anticipating candidates to be health-prepared from day one. Navigating the process and understanding the requirements requires a clear comprehension of the process, making guidance particularly important. To this end, some of the truly leading immigration firms in India, like Abhinav Immigration Services, can assist visa applicants with understanding requirements, booking approved doctors, and every step of the process. The rule may be new, but the plan is relatively simple: stay informed, stay on top of things, and make every document count.