IRCC now requires an upfront immigration medical exam (IME) with Express Entry permanent residence applications; policy took effect Aug 21, 2025. Applications received on or after Oct 21, 2025 without an IME may be rejected — applies to EE‑FSW, EE‑FST, EE‑CEC and EE‑PNP.
Soheil Hosseini
October 21, 2025
Jurisdiction
Federal
Week
Week 43
Impact
Moderate
Programs Affected
Express Entry now requires upfront immigration medical exams; applications received on or after October 21, 2025, without an IME may be rejected
Summary: Canada has moved Express Entry to an upfront immigration medical examination model. IRCC’s updated completeness check instructions state that applications received on or after 2025-10-21 without an IME may be rejected. Canada’s immigration department (Source: IRCC) has updated Express Entry procedures, requiring applicants to submit an upfront immigration medical examination (IME) at the time of their permanent residence application. The change took effect on August 21, 2025, and IRCC has revised the Express Entry completeness check instructions to include facilitation period timelines. Under the updated instructions, applications received on or after October 21, 2025, without an IME may be rejected as required. Date of update: 2025-10-21.
Programs affected: Express Entry (EE-FSW, EE-FST, EE-CEC, EE-PNP). What this means: Applicants should ensure their IME is completed and included at submission to pass the completeness check, particularly for files received on or after October 21, 2025. Independent analysis:
- Potential positives: Upfront IMEs can reduce post-submission delays and offer clearer, earlier admissibility screening, potentially improving processing predictability.
- Potential negatives: The requirement adds upfront costs and logistical steps for applicants and may increase the risk of application rejection if the IME is not included at filing.
Closing: Stakeholders should review IRCC’s updated completeness check instructions and align filing practices immediately to avoid avoidable refusals once the post-facilitation enforcement date applies.
Tags: IRCC, Express Entry, Immigration Medical Exam, IME, Canadian Immigration, Completeness Check, EE-FSW, EE-CEC, EE-FST, EE-PNP, Policy Update 2025, Permanent Residence
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