published on 28 October 2024 @ 3:14 pm · COMMENT

IRCC Extends Exemption for Immigration Medical Examinations (IME) to 2029

On September 27, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced an extension to the temporary public policy exempting certain low-risk foreign nationals from the requirement to undergo a new Immigration Medical Examination (IME). Initially introduced on October 12, 2022, the policy was designed to accelerate application processing by allowing individuals who had completed an IME within the last five years to bypass the requirement for a new medical exam. Although the policy was originally set to expire on October 6, 2024, it has now been extended until October 6, 2029.

This policy applies to foreign nationals residing in Canada with either pending or new applications for permanent or temporary residence. To qualify, applicants must have completed an IME within the last five years, demonstrated no risk or low risk to public health or safety, or complied with any required public health monitoring. Those eligible should include their previous IME number in their current application to benefit from the exemption.

The policy extension is part of IRCC’s broader strategy to manage increasing inventories and improve processing times across various immigration streams. This initiative aligns with Canada’s commitment to maximizing economic benefits through an efficient and responsive immigration system, helping foreign nationals secure their status more swiftly.

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE