Any individual applying to enter Canada as either worker, student, visitor, or permanent resident must undergo a medical examination by an approved panel physician. To have their application approved, applicants under these categories must show that they meet all medical requirements. If they do not meet the medical requirements, applications may be deemed medically inadmissible. There are 3 possible reasons for medical inadmissibility:
- danger to public health (e.g. communicable disease)
- danger to public safety
- excessive demand for health or social services
One of the most common reasons for medical inadmissibility is excessive demand for health or social services. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) might deny your application if they believe that your health condition may cause an excessive demand on health or social services in Canada by negatively affecting wait times for such services or costing more than the excessive demand cost threshold. In 2022, the cost threshold is $120,285 over 5 years (or $24,057 per year). Any medical issue which may cost more than $24,057 per year or $120,285 over five years, may cause you to be deemed medically inadmissible.
There are exceptions to this inadmissibility which are as follows:
- refugees and their dependents
- protected persons
- certain people being sponsored by their family, such as dependent children, spouses, and common-law partners
In the event IRCC deems you to be medically inadmissible, they will send you a “Procedural Fairness Letter” prior to the final decision on your application. This letter will explain the reason that you have been deemed medical inadmissible. You must respond to this letter within 90 days.
How you respond to a Procedural Fairness Letter is very important. It is recommended that you retain a professional to help you respond in an appropriate way. A professional understands what is required in a response and can assist with organizing documents and medical reports in support of your application.
Your reply to the Procedural Fairness Letter will be reviewed by IRCC and the final decision on your application will be made. Any individual who does not provide a response in a satisfactory manner may have their application denied. Once a final decision has been reached and an application is denied, nothing further can be done to try and change the denial.
If you or your family have any of the following medical conditions, we can help you with your application:
- Cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- Cardiac disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Bladder disease
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- Autoimmune disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Blood disorders
- Lung disease
- Psychological/psychiatric disorders
Please contact us to discuss how we can help you with your application.