As of Oct. 1, upfront medical exams are not required at the time of application for Canada’s Express Entry program.

Key Points:

• Foreign nationals are asked to wait for instructions from the Canadian government before going for a medical exam.
• Instructions have been updated to include information for processing offices on when medical exams should be requested, if required.
• After foreign nationals submit their applications for permanent residence, immigration authorities will tell them the type of medical exam they need and how to obtain it.

Background: Immigrant medical exams (IMEs) are required for permanent residence. Foreign nationals applying for Express Entry cannot have the exam done by their own physicians; they must see a doctor on the list of panel physicians who are approved by the government.