Medical Inadmissibility means IRCC may refuse your visa or PR because of health reasons. Canada checks health to protect people and to manage costs. You must pass an immigration medical exam (IME) with a panel doctor. The IME looks for three things: danger to public health, danger to public safety, and excessive demand on health or social services.
Want a fast, calm review of your Medical Inadmissibility risk? Share your IME summary with us. We’ll map costs to the 2025 limit and outline a simple, step-by-step plan.
Key Takeaways
- Medical Inadmissibility has three grounds: public health, public safety, and excessive demand.
- The 2025 excessive demand cost limit is $27,162 per year or $135,810 over 5 years.
- Some groups are exempt from the “excessive demand” rule, like refugees and many family-class sponsorship cases.
- IME is done by IRCC panel physicians only. For Express Entry, you must do the medical before you apply (rule confirmed in September 2025).
What’s Medical Inadmissibility?
Under Canada’s law (IRPA s.38), a person can be refused on health grounds if their condition is likely to be a danger to public health, a danger to public safety, or could cause excessive demand on health or social services. This is the legal base for decisions by IRCC medical officers.
1. Danger to Public Health
This ground focuses on communicable diseases and their spread. IRCC looks at your lab tests, specialist reports, and the risk of infection. Active tuberculosis (TB) or untreated syphilis are classic examples that can delay or block approval until treatment is complete.
2. Danger to Public Safety
This ground assesses the risk of sudden incapacity or unpredictable or violent behavior. The officer checks stability, treatment, and control. Evidence from your doctor can help show a low risk.
3. Excessive Demand on Health or Social Services
IRCC may refuse if your expected use of public health or social services exceeds the cost limit, or if your care would exacerbate wait times.
✅ For 2025, the cost threshold is $135,810 over five years ($27,162 per year). IRCC updates this number yearly.
Important: even if your condition is serious, you may not be refused if your plan shows costs under the limit or if you are in an exempt category (for example, many family-class cases).
Which Health Conditions Include?
There is no fixed list of Medical Inadmissibility conditions. IRCC checks each case. But these examples are common in decisions and reviews:
- Public health risks: active TB, untreated syphilis, and other infections that can spread. Treatment and follow-up are key.
- Public safety risks: conditions that can cause loss of consciousness, sudden severe impairment, or poor impulse control if not managed. The focus is on risk and control.
- Excessive demand risks: long-term needs like dialysis, very high-cost medications, intensive home care, or special education services. The final call is about cost and system impact, not diagnosis names alone.
Tip: A well-managed condition with strong medical proof can pass. Many applicants with chronic illnesses succeed when care is stable and affordable under the threshold. (General guidance based on IRCC rules.)
Do I Need an Immigration Medical Exam (IME)?
Most applicants for Canada’s work permit, study permit, visitor visa, and PR must do an IME if IRCC asks, and only a panel physician can do it. You pay the clinic fee. For Express Entry, IRCC now requires an upfront IME before submission (policy active September 2025 Help Centre update). Results are uploaded to IRCC systems.
You can search for a panel doctor on the IRCC site. Book early. Bring ID and glasses or prescriptions. If IRCC needs more tests, they will tell you.
Denied Entry to Canada Due to Medical Reasons
If IRCC plans to refuse you for Medical Inadmissibility, they normally send a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL). The PFL explains the reason and gives you a chance to answer. You usually have 90 days to reply. Use this time well.
How to respond to a PFL (simple checklist):
- Read the reason: public health, public safety, or excessive demand. Match your evidence to that reason
- Get updated medical letters. Show diagnosis, current treatment, stability, and prognosis
- Provide lab results or specialist notes that show control and low risk
- For excessive demand, include a cost table with drugs, visits, devices, and support hours. Keep it realistic
- If invited, send a Mitigation Plan that proves costs under the yearly threshold and shows who pays (private insurance, personal funds, employer plans). Follow IRCC guidance
- Explain any change since the first IME (new meds, lower-cost options, improved condition)
- Keep the tone factual and calm. Ask for more time only if needed
Common Misconceptions About Medical Inadmissibility
- “There is a banned list of diseases.”
False; IRCC looks at risk and cost, not labels alone. - “One diagnosis always means refusal.”
False; Many people pass if the risk is low and the cost is under the limit. - “Family sponsorship is always refused for high cost.”
False; Many family-class cases are exempt from the excessive demand rule. - “I cannot send new medical proof after a PFL.”
False; You should send new, strong evidence within the deadline.
How to Overcome Medical Inadmissibility
1) Fix public health risks:
Complete treatment for infections like TB or syphilis and provide proof of cure or control. IRCC may hold your file until treatment is done.
2) Reduce public safety risk:
Show stable control, regular follow-up, and low risk of sudden incapacity. Provide doctor letters that explain medication adherence and safety to work or study.
3) Manage excessive demand:
- Build a Mitigation Plan that is credible, detailed, and personal. Show exact services, frequency, and yearly costs under $27,162. Add insurance letters, cost quotes, and pharmacy price proofs. IRCC has guidance on what a good plan looks like.
- Where possible, choose lower-cost but clinically equivalent options and explain them (generic drugs, shared-care models).
- For children, explain education supports and who pays. Show community or private supports if relevant.
4) Know the exemptions:
If you are in an exempt category, say it clearly and cite IRCC (for example, many family-class cases).
5) Get help when needed:
Complex files often need professional support. A licensed representative can organize medical evidence and prepare your PFL reply.
Final Thoughts
Medical Inadmissibility is about risk and cost, not labels. Clear medical proof, strong planning, and timely action can change the result. Keep your documents tidy. Follow IRCC instructions. Use the 2025 thresholds when you build your case. If you are unsure, speak with a licensed consultant or lawyer.
We referenced IRCC “Medical inadmissibility” (updated Jan 15, 2025), IRCC Help Centre updates on upfront IME (updated Sept 11, 2025), IRPA s.38, and guidance on mitigation plans.
FAQs
Danger to public health, danger to public safety, and excessive demand on health or social services. This comes from IRPA s.38 and IRCC policy pages
It is $135,810 over five years (or $27,162 per year). IRCC uses this number to judge “excessive demand.” Page last updated January 15, 2025.
Refugees, protected persons, and many family-class cases (including spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children).
Most applicants do, and it must be with a panel physician. For Express Entry, IRCC says you must do the medical before you apply (Help Centre updated September 11, 2025).
You get a Procedural Fairness Letter. You have 90 days to answer with new medical proof, costs, and a mitigation plan if invited.
IRCC page: “Medical inadmissibility” (includes 2025 threshold and PFL steps; updated Jan 15, 2025)
Justice Laws: IRPA s.38 (legal text for health grounds)
Legal note: This article is general information, not legal advice. Policies and numbers change. Always check the IRCC website and the IRPA text before you apply. For complex cases, consider a licensed representative.
