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.
Reminder: IRCC.com is an independent news and information site — we do not handle applications or give advice. Verify all program details on canada.ca. For personal advice, contact a CICC-licensed consultant or a Canadian immigration lawyer.
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
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.
Latest in Medicals, Biometrics & Police Certificates
1 article — sourced from canada.ca and explained.
Other immigration topics