New medical exam requirements

Starting August 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will require all Express Entry applicants to upload proof of a completed Immigration Medical Exam (IME) directly in their online profile at the time they submit their permanent residence application.

What the New Rule Means

From this date forward, anyone who receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence through Express Entry must:

- Undergo an IME conducted by an IRCC-approved panel physician.
- Upload official proof of the completed IME when submitting their application.
- Ensure all family members — whether they are accompanying the main applicant to Canada or not — also complete the IME.

Exemptions and Reuse of Previous Exams

Certain applicants may be exempt from completing a new IME:

- Those already in Canada who have undergone an IME within the past five years (for example, as part of a work permit or study permit application) may reuse those results, provided they are still valid.
- In these cases, the applicant must supply the IME number or unique medical identifier in their application.
- If the previous medical results cannot be reused, IRCC will provide further instructions on next steps.

This change aims to streamline the application process and ensure that all necessary medical documentation is submitted upfront, reducing delays during processing.