An essential part of the Canadian Immigration Process is seeing a panel physician who will assess your medical condition. This step of the process may seem confusing to some applicants, which is why we offer this easy guide on what happens when you have an appointment with panel physicians for Canadian immigration.
How to find a panel physician
As part of your application, the Canadian immigration authorities will provide you with a list of panel physicians that you can contact for the medical exam. Unfortunately, your long-time doctor is not eligible for this procedure.
You should know that the panel physician does not decide whether you are eligible to receive a Canadian residency based on your medical exam. Only the Canadian Department for Immigration will make that decision and send it to you in writing.
When to see the panel physician
Depending on the immigration plan you are applying for, you can undergo the medical exam before or after you apply for residency. Also, you can contact panel physicians for Canadian immigration directly for an upfront medical exam only if you are applying for the Express Entry Program.
How to apply for an appointment with a panel physician
When you submit your residency application, you receive instructions on how to get the medical exam done. From that point on, you have 30 days to undergo the exam. If you fail to get the medical exam in that period, the immigration commission may refuse your application.
What to bring to the medical appointment
- Identification documents, such as your passport or national identity card
- Eyeglasses or contact lenses, if you wear them
- Any medical reports or test results that you have for any previous or existing medical conditions
- A list of your current medications
- The Medical Report form (IMM 1017E), if you don’t get an upfront medical exam
Four recent photographs if the panel physician doesn’t use eMedical. Contact the panel physician before your appointment to find out.
How much does the medical exam cost?
Applicants for Canadian residency must pay all the fees that the medical exam involves, such as:
- The fee for the doctor or radiologist
- Any special tests, necessary investigations, or treatment
- Any specialists you need to see
If the immigration commission refuses your residency application, they will not refund the fees. Only refugees and asylum seekers are exempt from paying the costs of medical exams.
What happens during your medical exam
Keep in mind that only a panel physician for Canadian immigration that has been approved by the Canadian Government for this specific purpose can perform a medical exam.
When you arrive for the appointment, you will have to provide identification to confirm your identity. Additionally, the clinic staff will take your picture for their records.
Next, you and the doctor will fill a medical history questionnaire to determine any previous or existing medical conditions and if you are taking any medications at that given time.
You must provide accurate information about your overall medical history to ensure that the doctor makes a proper assessment of your health condition.
On the next step, you will undergo a physical examination, which may include:
- Weighing you
- Measuring your height
- Checking your hearing and vision
- Taking your blood pressure
- Feeling your pulse
- Listening to your heart and lungs
- Feeling your abdomen
- Check how your limbs move
- Looking at your skin
The medical exam for immigration purposes does not require a genital or rectal examination. However, the doctor may need to examine your breasts for potential breast cancer signs. In this case, the doctor will provide you with an explanation of why and how the examination takes place.
Depending on the results of your medical exam and the assessment of the doctor, you may have to see a specialist for additional testing. However, this extra step takes place only if the exam provides abnormal results of your health condition.
You have the right to a chaperone at any time during the medical exam. Also, you are free to ask for the exam to end at any time during the process if you are not comfortable with it.
What happens after the exam
After your exam is done, the panel physician will send the results to the immigration commission and provide you with a document confirming that you had a medical exam.
If you are not satisfied with the panel physician or the procedures that took place during your medical exam, you may complain to the immigration commission.
If you had your medical exam after submitting your application, you do not need to send anything to the commission. However, if you underwent it before submitting your application for residency, you will have to include a copy of the IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report form with your application. Your medical exam results are valid for 12 months only.
