Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant policy change requiring all Express Entry permanent residence applicants to complete medical examinations before submitting their applications. Currently, applicants submit their complete permanent residence application first, then await IRCC instructions to complete required medical exams. This change will not affect applications submitted before the implementation date or non-Express Entry permanent residence applications. Effective August 21, 2025, the change aims to reduce processing times by ensuring all medical requirements are fulfilled upfront, which may help eliminate delays caused by medical exam scheduling and results verification after application submission.
