New Medical Requirements for Express Entry Applicants

New Express Entry Rule: Medical Exams Now Required Before You Apply

For many international students and foreign workers, permanent residence (PR) is the long-term goal—and Express Entry is one of the most common ways to get there.

If you’re planning to apply under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or another Express Entry stream, you already know how many documents and deadlines are involved. Now, there’s a new IRCC rule that could affect when and how you apply.

Starting August 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will require proof of a completed medical exam at the time you submit your Express Entry application.

What is Changing?

Starting August 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will require proof of a completed medical exam at the time you submit your Express Entry application.

Previously, Express Entry applicants could wait for IRCC to request a medical exam after submitting their PR application. That’s no longer the case.

This means if you don’t include proof of your Immigration Medical Exam (IME) when you apply, your application may be returned or refused.

What This Means for You

This change shifts a critical step earlier in the PR process, and it puts the pressure on applicants to plan ahead. If you’re preparing to apply for PR this fall or winter, here’s how this affects you:

• You must now book your medical exam before you apply
• You’ll need to visit a panel physician approved by IRCC
• IME results are only valid for 12 months—if your application is delayed, you may need to repeat it
• The cost of the exam (typically $200–$400) is your responsibility

Don't miss a PR intake window just because your medical wasn’t ready.

Step-by-Step: What You Need to Do

1. Confirm you’re eligible under Express Entry by checking your CRS score, work experience, education, and language results. BorderPass makes this easy with built-in score calculators, real-time eligibility checks, and personalized improvement tips. Calculate your score using BorderPass.
2. Find a panel physician near you using IRCC’s approved list
3. Book and complete your medical exam as soon as you’re eligible, BorderPass alerts you of this step early to avoid delays
4. Upload your IME proof with your PR application, BorderPass walks you through document prep to make sure it’s submitted properly.
5. Track the 12-month validity of your results — our platform reminds you when it’s time to rebook, so your application stays valid.

What If You Don’t Include a Medical?

IRCC has confirmed that applications submitted without proof of an IME will be considered incomplete. That means they may be returned or refused outright. In a system as competitive and time-sensitive as Express Entry, even one missing step can cost you months.

“When applications get returned for missing documents, like a medical exam—it’s avoidable, but it still costs people time and momentum. Applying through a platform that checks every step before submission makes a real difference,” says Karun Samra, Immigration Lawyer at BorderPass.

Applying for PR Is Complex. BorderPass Makes It Clear.

Express Entry requirements can shift, and even small changes, like when to complete your medical—can affect your entire timeline. That’s why we built BorderPass: to make sure you know exactly what’s required, when to do it, and how to do it right.

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If you’re applying for PR through BorderPass, we’ll help you:

• Book your medical exam at the right time
• Upload the correct IME documents with your application
• Stay compliant and complete from day one
  

Start your PR journey with BorderPass.