Medical Inadmissibility

When seeking entry into Canada, it’s crucial to comply with various inadmissibility criteria, one of which is related to  a medical exam. This particular rule is applicable to individuals who wish to visit, study, work, or settle permanently in Canada.

Medical inadmissibility is typically determined based on three primary factors:

Risk to Public Health 

Your application might be rejected if there’s a concern that your health condition could pose a threat to the health of the Canadian public. This assessment is derived from your immigration medical examination. Factors taken into account include:

• The results of your immigration medical examination, including any lab tests conducted by appointed third-party physicians.
• Additional reports from specialists, as requested by medical officers.
• The possibility of having infectious diseases like active tuberculosis or syphilis, or exposure to others with infectious diseases, and the potential impact on the Canadian populace.

Risk to Public Safety

Your application could also be declined if there’s a belief that your health condition might pose a risk to public safety. This is also determined by the findings of your immigration medical exam. Considerations include your potential for:

• Sudden loss of physical and mental capabilities.
• Unpredictable or violent behaviour.

Excessive Demand on Health or Social Services

Another reason for refusal could be if your health condition is deemed to likely place an excessive burden on health or social services in Canada. This too hinges on the results of your immigration medical examination. A health condition is seen as excessively demanding if:

• The necessary health or social services for your condition would adversely impact service wait times in Canada, or
• The cost of treating and managing your condition is projected to exceed the excessive demand cost threshold, which for 2024 is set at $131,100 over five years (or $26,220 annually).

However, there are exceptions to the medical inadmissibility rules concerning excessive demand. These exceptions include:

• Refugees and their dependants.
• Protected persons.
• Certain individuals sponsored by family members, such as dependent children, spouses, and common-law partners.

Medical Conditions That Can Lead to Inadmissibility for Entry into Canada

Certain medical conditions that could be considered a risk to the public health or safety of Canada can make you ineligible for immigration. 

These medical issues include untreated syphilis, pulmonary tuberculosis, untreated mental health issues that may cause a person to act violently, and substance abuse that may become dangerous to Canadians. 

These regulations apply to all people attempting to enter Canada and does not change due to different financial resources.

Options to Enter Canada

A person who is found to be inadmissible because of medical issues has options to be able to come to Canada. A Temporary Resident Permit may allow a person to come to Canada if they have a need to be in the country that outweighs the risk of their presence in Canada. If there are valid humanitarian and compassionate reasons for a person to be allowed into Canada, they can overcome medical inadmissibility.

How Canadim Can Help

A Canadian immigration lawyer can help make sense of the complex nature of medical inadmissibility and help you determine if medical issues will impede your chances of coming to Canada. Fill out this form if you have medical inadmissibility questions:

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