A medical examination remains valid for 12 months. IRCC may require a new exam if its validity is about to expire, or when the existing results are insufficient for a decision — for example, when questions arise about possible inadmissibility on medical grounds under section 38(1) of the Canadian immigration law.
Medical exam validity periods and re-examination thresholds
A medical examination remains valid for 12 months from the date it was taken. However, an important condition applies: if an applicant has already been in Canada for less than 5 years since the first exam, a new medical examination is not required, regardless of the type of immigration procedure.
When an applicant is outside Canada, the situation differs. As a general rule, IRCC tries not to issue visas valid for less than 6 months. Therefore, if less than 6 months of validity remain at the time a positive decision is made, the officer may ask for the exam to be redone. If the validity period has fully expired or is insufficient, a new exam becomes mandatory.
Additional examinations in case of an unclear clinical picture
Besides expiring validity, IRCC may request additional tests or clarifications based on the results of the initial medical exam. In such cases, the department may contact the physician who performed the exam directly to obtain further information or clarify the interpretation of the results.
This often happens when there is suspicion of grounds for inadmissibility on medical reasons under section 38(1) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. IRCC checks whether the applicant’s health condition poses a danger to public safety or would require excessive demand on health or social services in the country.
Medical exam validity periods and re-examination points
How the validity period of a medical exam affects application processing
- Medical exam completed, applicant in Canadaif less than 5 years have passed since the exam, no re-examination is required regardless of the program
- Medical exam valid for12 monthscounted from the date the exam was conducted
- Remaining validity under 6 monthswhen making a positive decision, IRCC may require a new exam
- Medical exam fully expireda new exam is mandatory before a visa can be issued
When a new medical exam becomes unavoidable
A new medical exam is required in two main scenarios. The first is when the 12-month validity period expires or the remaining validity becomes insufficient (less than 6 months) to issue a visa. The second is when the results of the initial exam raise questions regarding the criteria set out in section 38(1), requiring additional medical confirmation.
A positive decision may be postponed until new results or additional medical clarifications from the physician are obtained.
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