How long are immigration medical exam results valid before they expire?
Immigration medical exam results are valid for 12 months, after which a new exam is generally required. The 12-month period is set by regulation, though IRCC can exempt some applicants already in Canada from a new exam by public policy, so confirm your position with IRCC before relying on an older exam.
Relying on an exam that has quietly expired since it was completed is a common, avoidable source of delay, particularly for applicants who completed a medical exam well before actually submitting their application, or who are trying to reuse an older exam for a new, later application. The gap between when an exam is done and when it is actually used matters here.
Anyone relying on a previously completed medical exam, especially one done some time ago, should confirm its current validity status before submitting or relying on it in a new application, so that a fresh exam can be arranged in time if the old one has already expired.
Key takeaways
- Medical exam results are valid for a defined period, after which a new exam is required.
- Medical exam results are valid for 12 months under the Regulations; confirm whether any exemption applies to you.
- An exam completed well before an application is submitted may have quietly expired.
- Check the exam's current validity before relying on it, so a new one can be arranged in time.