Medical inadmissibility is a condition where a foreign national may be denied entry as a student, worker or permanent resident in Canada due to health-related reasons. The IRCC assesses medical admissibility based on three key factors:

A. Danger to Public Health- An individual may be inadmissible if they have a health condition that could pose a serious risk to public health in Canada.
Examples:

• Active infectious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, untreated syphilis)
• Conditions requiring quarantine or public health intervention

B. Danger to Public Safety- An applicant may be deemed inadmissible if their medical condition could cause unpredictable or violent behavior that endangers others.
Examples:

• Severe uncontrolled psychiatric disorders
• Conditions causing sudden incapacitation (e.g., severe epilepsy)

C. Excessive Demand on Health or Social Services- A person may be inadmissible if their medical condition could cause excessive demand on Canada’s publicly funded health and social services.

• A demand is considered “excessive” if the cost of treatment or care is higher than the Canadian average for health and social services.

Examples of conditions that may cause excessive demand:
✔ Chronic illnesses requiring costly treatment (e.g., kidney failure requiring dialysis)
✔ Developmental disabilities requiring long-term special care (e.g., Down syndrome, autism)
✔ Expensive prescription drug dependency (e.g., hemophilia requiring regular medication)

 

2025 Excessive Demand Cost Threshold : The current cost threshold is three times the average per capita health expenditure (updated annually).

 As of January 1, 2025, the new threshold is CAN$27,162 per year.

💡 What does this mean?
Medical officers use this threshold to determine if an applicant’s health and social service costs exceed 3 times the Canadian average, as defined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). The threshold applied depends on when the medical assessment was conducted:

📌 2025: CAN$27,162
📌 2024: CAN$26,220
📌 2023: CAN$25,689
📌 2022 (Mar 16 - Dec 31): CAN$24,057
📌 Before Mar 16, 2022: CAN$8,019

Who is Exempt from Medical Inadmissibility Due to Excessive Demand?

✔ Refugees and Protected Persons
✔ Sponsored Spouses, Common-Law Partners, and Dependent Children

However, the danger to public health and public safety rules still apply to these applicants.

How IRCC Assesses Medical Inadmissibility

🔹 All applicants for permanent residence and some temporary residents (e.g., certain work or study permit holders) must undergo a medical exam conducted by a panel physician approved by IRCC.
🔹 If the results raise concerns, IRCC may issue a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL), allowing the applicant to provide additional evidence or a mitigation plan.

How to Overcome Medical Inadmissibility

If an applicant is found medically inadmissible due to excessive demand, they may still be able to challenge the decision by:
✅ Providing a Mitigation Plan – Demonstrating that they can cover the costs of their medical needs privately (e.g., through private insurance or personal funds).
✅ Requesting a Procedural Review – Providing additional medical assessments or expert opinions to counter IRCC’s decision.
✅ Applying for an Exemption – Some humanitarian and compassionate grounds may allow for exceptions.

To help you navigate your Immigration Journey , overcome Medical Inadmissibity ro seek assistance in your Immigration applications, let us help you:

Book a Consultation with Us:

WhatsApp:+16475621925
Web: www.bluevervain.ca
Email: info@bluevervain.ca
Instagram: @bluevervainimmigration

 

Disclaimer : Please be advised that immigration laws in Canada are constantly subject to change. As a result, at the time of your application, some of the above-mentioned details and descriptions might not be relevant or may not be applicable to your application. Before making any decisions, please verify your information with reliable (government) sources or get assistance from a legal counsel.