Any foreigner submitting an application for permanent residence for Quebec, or any other province or territory of Canada, must undergo a medical examination.
In the case of an application for temporary residence, a foreign national from a designated country or one who has lived for more than six (6) consecutive months in one of the designated countries during the year preceding the date of filing of the application, must undergo a medical examination, if the expected length of stay in Canada is more than six (6) months.
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act provides that any person whose state of health is likely to cause an undue burden on the Canadian health care system is inadmissible to Canada. For example, a person may be inadmissible for medical reasons because of the cost of prescription drugs or social services required by their circumstances. One can also be temporarily declared inadmissible, subject to the duration of the medical treatment required by one’s situation.
Excessive demands on the healthcare system are analyzed in light of the applicant’s financial resources and his ability to finance the costs of his own care, medication, and services required by his medical condition.
Health prohibition:
Thus, a candidate accepted by Quebec or by another province could be inadmissible on health grounds.
However, the persons in the sponsored family class (spouse, spouse, child, father or mother of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident) are exempt from the constraints related to their health status. Their application for permanent residence will not be refused health grounds, even if their state of health could lead to excessive demand on health and social services.
If you or any of your family members accompanying you in Canada have an illness or if your situation or that of a family member requires care, medication or social services, consult a lawyer before applying for permanent residence. If you have received a decision based on medical or health grounds, it is in your best interest to consult with a lawyer to validate the correctness of the decision and, perhaps, assess the relevance of challenging that decision.