The September 1 update clarifies an existing exemption

IRCC updated its protected-person permanent residence admissibility instructions on September 1, 2026. The change reflects regulations that took effect on October 30, 2025 and replaced the earlier temporary public policy.

This is not a new blanket exemption starting in September. It clarifies the continuing rules under which eligible protected persons in Canada and eligible accompanying family members in Canada do not have to complete another immigration medical examination for the permanent residence application.

Who may qualify for the exemption

  • The person has been granted refugee protection in Canada and is applying to remain as a permanent resident.
  • The applicant or accompanying family member in Canada previously completed an immigration medical examination that did not indicate a likely danger to public health or public safety, or complied with any required medical surveillance.
  • Since the most recent medical examination, the person has not spent six consecutive months in a country or territory identified as having a higher incidence of serious communicable disease than Canada.

Who may still need another medical examination

The exemption does not automatically cover accompanying family members outside Canada. It also does not apply when the required earlier examination was not completed, medical surveillance was not followed, or the person spent the relevant six-month period in a designated higher-risk area after the most recent examination.

IRCC may issue medical forms when another examination is required. Applicants should respond to the instructions in their file and should not assume that a previous examination removes every medical requirement in every case.

Health inadmissibility rules still matter

Protected persons and their family members are not assessed for medical inadmissibility based on excessive demand on health or social services. They can, however, still be medically inadmissible if their condition is likely to be a danger to public health or public safety.

The same updated instructions confirm that protected-person PR files remain subject to criminality and security checks. The medical-exam exemption changes the need for a repeat examination in eligible cases; it does not waive the broader admissibility review.

General information only

This article is not legal advice. Immigration rules and program instructions can change, and the result depends on the facts of each case.