Medicals, Biometrics & Police Certificates
Most Canadian immigration applications require an immigration medical exam (IME), biometrics enrolment, and police certificates from countries where the applicant lived for six months or more after age 18. This pillar covers all three.
What this section covers
- Panel physician locator and the IME process
- Upfront medical exam vs requested medical
- Biometric enrolment fees and Visa Application Centres (VACs)
- Biometrics exemptions
- RCMP police certificate (from inside Canada)
- Police certificate requirements by country (top source countries)
- Validity periods (medical 12 months, PCC commonly 6 months)
- Apostille and legalization requirements
Latest in Medicals, Biometrics & Police Certificates
11 articles
Upfront medical exam vs waiting for IRCC's request: timing your IME
Guide to upfront medical exams for Canadian immigration, including timing, validity, and benefits for different streams
Read article →How much the immigration medical exam costs and who sets the price
Guide to understanding the costs of the immigration medical exam in Canada
Read article →Giving Biometrics for Canada When You Live in Iran
Guide to giving biometrics for Canada from Iran, including finding a collection centre and planning travel
Read article →Finding an IRCC panel physician near you and what the exam covers
Guide to finding an IRCC panel physician and understanding the immigration medical exam process
Read article →Biometrics and the Medical Exam for Ethiopian Applicants
Guide to biometrics and medical exam for Ethiopian applicants
Read article →Medical Inadmissibility and Excessive Demand, Explained
Medical inadmissibility and excessive demand in Canada explained
Read article →The Immigration Medical Exam: Panel Physicians and What to Expect
Learn about the immigration medical exam in Canada, including what to expect, how to find a panel physician, and associated costs.
Read article →Biometrics for Canadian Immigration: What They Are and How to Give Them
A plain-language evergreen guide to biometrics for Canadian immigration: what fingerprints and photos IRCC collects and why, who must give them and who's exempt, the step-by-step process from fee to appointment, and practical tips to avoid common mistakes and scams.
Read article →Medical inadmissibility Canada 2026: excessive demand rules
Medical inadmissibility in Canada: excessive demand rules and immigration medical exam process
Read article →Immigration medical exam Canada 2026: panel physician list and cost
Guide to immigration medical exam in Canada, including panel physician list and cost
Read article →IRCC Biometrics: Who Must Provide, Where, and What It Costs
IRCC requires biometrics (10 fingerprints + photograph) from most applicants between 14 and 79 for visitor visa, study permit, work permit, and most permanent-residence applications. Biometrics are valid 10 years, cost CAD $85 (individual) / $170 (family), and are collected at Vi
Read article →Frequently asked questions
How long does an immigration medical exam stay valid?
IRCC immigration medical exam results are typically valid for 12 months. If your application takes longer, IRCC may request an updated exam.
Do I need to give biometrics again if I gave them recently?
Biometrics enrolled for permanent-residence applications since 2018 are valid for 10 years (a one-time PR fee covers re-use across applications during that window). Temporary-resident biometrics are valid for 10 years across applications for the same period.
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