Canada’s Updated Immigration Medical Exam Requirements for Temporary Residents: Key Changes Effective November 3, 2025

Last updated on 28 minutes ago

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised the list of countries and territories requiring temporary resident applicants to undergo an immigration medical examination (IME). Announced on November 3, 2025, these changes aim to enhance public health safeguards while streamlining processes for low-risk travelers. The revisions do not retroactively apply to applications submitted before the effective date, providing continuity for ongoing cases.

This adjustment reflects Canada’s ongoing commitment to balancing accessibility with rigorous health standards, particularly in light of global migration trends and post-pandemic recovery. For applicants from newly designated high-risk areas, the requirement introduces an additional step—but one that’s straightforward and often completable in days. Below, we break down the who, what, why, and how, drawing directly from IRCC’s official guidance.

Who Needs an Immigration Medical Exam?

An IME is mandatory for temporary resident applicants (including visitors, students, and workers) under specific conditions. It’s not a blanket requirement but triggered by factors like stay duration, travel history, or occupation. Key criteria include:

• Extended Stays with Risk Exposure: If you plan to stay in Canada for more than 6 months and have resided in or visited one of the designated countries/territories for 6 months or more consecutively in the year prior to your application.
• Super Visa Applicants: All parents and grandparents applying for a Super Visa (a multiple-entry visa allowing stays up to 5 years per visit) must complete an IME, regardless of origin.
• Public Health-Sensitive Occupations: Anyone intending to work in roles where public health must be protected, such as healthcare (e.g., nurses, doctors), child care, or elder care. This applies irrespective of stay length or travel history.

Exemptions are implicit for short-term visitors (under 6 months) from non-designated areas, but always verify via IRCC’s online tool. Children under 2 and accompanying family members may share a panel physician’s assessment if traveling together.

Key Changes: Additions and Removals

The update expands the list to better align with evolving global health risks, such as infectious disease prevalence, while removing several territories previously flagged due to improved epidemiological data or control measures. Notably:

• Newly Added (IME Now Required): Applicants with qualifying stays in Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, or Venezuela must now obtain an IME. These South American nations were added likely due to concerns over vector-borne diseases like Zika, dengue, or tuberculosis rates exceeding IRCC thresholds.
• Removed (IME No Longer Required): Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan are off the list. This reflects positive developments, such as enhanced vaccination campaigns and lower incidence of reportable diseases in these areas.

These shifts affect a targeted subset of applicants—primarily long-term temporary residents from Latin America—while easing burdens for Eastern European and Asian travelers. IRCC emphasizes that the list is dynamic, reviewed periodically based on World Health Organization (WHO) data and bilateral health agreements.

Full Updated List of Designated Countries and Territories

The comprehensive list below includes all territories where an IME is required for qualifying applicants. It’s sorted alphabetically for ease, with the associated IRCC panel physician office (PPO) noted for booking convenience. New additions are highlighted in bold.

• Afghanistan (New Delhi)
• Algeria (London)
• Angola (London)
• Argentina (Ottawa) – New as of Nov 3, 2025
• Azerbaijan (London)
• Bangladesh (New Delhi)
• Belarus (London)
• Benin (London)
• Bhutan (New Delhi)
• Bolivia (Ottawa)
• Botswana (London)
• Brazil (Ottawa)
• Brunei Darussalam (Manila)
• Burkina Faso (London)
• Burundi (London)
• Cabo Verde (London)
• Cambodia (Manila)
• Cameroon (London)
• Central African Republic (London)
• Chad (London)
• China (PRC) (Manila)
• China (PRC), Hong Kong (Manila)
• China (PRC), Macao (Manila)
• Colombia (Ottawa) – New as of Nov 3, 2025
• Comoros, Union of (London)
• Congo-Brazzaville (London)
• Congo-Kinsha (London)
• Côte d’Ivoire (London)
• Denmark: Greenland (London)
• Djibouti (London)
• Dominican Republic (Ottawa)
• Ecuador (Ottawa)
• El Salvador (Ottawa)
• Equatorial Guinea (London)
• Eritrea (London)
• Eswatini (London)
• Ethiopia (London)
• Fiji (Manila)
• Gabon (London)
• Gambia (London)
• Georgia (London)
• Ghana (London)
• Guatemala (Ottawa)
• Guinea, Equatorial Rep. of (London)
• Guinea, Rep. of (London)
• Guinea-Bissau (London)
• Guyana (Ottawa)
• Haiti (Ottawa)
• Honduras (Ottawa)
• India (New Delhi)
• Indonesia (Manila)
• Kazakhstan (London)
• Kenya (London)
• Kiribati (Manila)
• Korea, North (Manila)
• Kosovo (London)
• Kyrgyzstan (London)
• Lao, People’s Democratic Republic (Manila)
• Lesotho (London)
• Liberia (London)
• Libya (London)
• Madagascar (London)
• Malawi (London)
• Malaysia (Peninsular and East) (Manila)
• Maldives (Manila)
• Mali (London)
• Marshall Islands (Manila)
• Mauritania (London)
• Mexico (Ottawa)
• Micronesia (Federated States of) (Manila)
• Moldova, Republic of (London)
• Mongolia (Manila)
• Morocco (London)
• Mozambique (London)
• Myanmar (Manila)
• Namibia (London)
• Nauru (Manila)
• Nepal (New Delhi)
• Nicaragua (Ottawa)
• Niger (London)
• Nigeria (London)
• Pakistan (New Delhi)
• Palau (Manila)
• Panama (Ottawa)
• Papua New Guinea (Manila)
• Paraguay (Ottawa)
• Peru (Ottawa)
• Philippines (Manila)
• Romania (London)
• Russia (London)
• Rwanda (London)
• Sao Tome and Principe (London)
• Senegal (London)
• Sierra Leone (London)
• Singapore (Manila)
• Solomon Islands (Manila)
• Somalia (London)
• South Africa (London)
• South Sudan, Rep. of (London)
• Sri Lanka (New Delhi)
• Sudan, Republic of (North) (London)
• Tajikistan (London)
• Tanzania (London)
• Thailand (Manila)
• Timor-Leste (Manila)
• Togo (London)
• Tunisia (London)
• Turkmenistan (London)
• Tuvalu (Manila)
• Uganda (London)
• Ukraine (London)
• Uruguay (Ottawa) – New as of Nov 3, 2025
• USA: Guam (Manila)
• USA: Northern Mariana Islands (Manila)
• Uzbekistan (London)
• Vanuatu (Manila)
• Venezuela (Ottawa) – New as of Nov 3, 2025
• Viet Nam (Manila)
• Yemen (New Delhi)
• Zambia (London)
• Zimbabwe (London)

Note: Territories like Greenland (under Denmark) or Hong Kong/Macao (under China) are listed separately. For the latest PPO assignments, check IRCC’s interactive map.

The IME Process: Step-by-Step Guide

Securing an IME is efficient and standardized. Here’s how it unfolds:

1. Determine Need: Use IRCC’s online questionnaire or consult your visa application portal.
2. Find a Panel Physician: Book with an IRCC-approved doctor in your area (search via the PPO linked to your country). Costs range from CAD 200–500, depending on location and tests.
3. Undergo the Exam: Expect a physical check-up, blood/urine tests, and chest X-ray. Disclose full medical history honestly—omissions can lead to refusals.
4. Submit Results: The physician sends reports directly to IRCC (up to 10 days processing). Results are valid for 12 months.
5. Track Status: Monitor via your IRCC account; incomplete exams delay applications by weeks.

Applicants should avoid eating 4 hours pre-exam and bring ID, glasses, and any prescriptions. For virtual options, limited telemedicine is available in select regions.

Implications for Travelers and Why It Matters

These updates could impact thousands of temporary visa hopefuls, especially from South America, where tourism and study flows to Canada have rebounded 15% in 2025. For instance, Colombian students (a top-10 source) may face added hurdles for programs over 6 months, potentially shifting preferences to Australia or the UK.

On the positive side, removals like Taiwan (a major tech talent hub) could accelerate work permit processing, fostering economic ties. IRCC’s rationale—though not explicitly stated—likely stems from WHO alerts on regional outbreaks (e.g., dengue surges in the Americas) and data-driven risk assessments to prevent importation of diseases like TB or HIV.

Critics, including migrant advocacy groups, worry about barriers for low-income applicants, but IRCC counters that IMEs protect Canada’s universal healthcare system, saving millions in potential treatment costs.

Advice for Applicants: Stay Ahead

• Pre-Apply Check: Run IRCC’s eligibility tool early—delays from unrequired IMEs are common pitfalls.
• Budget Extra Time: Factor in 2–4 weeks for the exam in your timeline.
• Alternatives: If ineligible, explore eTA for short visits (visa-exempt nationalities) or appeal via humanitarian grounds.
• Resources: Visit IRCC’s IME page or consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).

As Canada’s temporary resident intake hits 2.5 million annually, these tweaks underscore a proactive stance on health equity. For global nomads, it’s a reminder: Preparation is your best visa.