Changes to Medical Inadmissibility Policy

On April 16, 2018, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant changes to its policy on medical inadmissibilty.

If a foreign national has a medical condition that will cause an "excessive demand" on health and / or social services in Canada, they may be considered "medically inadmissible" and their application could ultimately be refused on this basis (subject to certain exemptions).

A foreign national's medical condition may be considered to cause an "excessive demand" on health and / or social services in Canada if the anticipated cost of the services required to treat the said condition will likely exceed the average Canadian per capita costs for health and social services which is currently CAD$6,655 per year.

In addition to some procedural changes, the new policy will increase this cost threshold by threefold and amend the definition of "social services" so that it no longer includes special education, social and vocational rehabilitation services, and personal support services.

It is anticipated that the new policy will come into effect on June 1, 2018 and IRCC will re-evaluate all applications in inventory and evaluate all new applications pursuant to the new policy from this date.