IRCC’s instructions for protected persons seeking permanent residence reflect regulatory amendments that replaced a temporary public policy on additional immigration medical examinations on October 30, 2025.
Medical examinations and health inadmissibility
IRCC says the former temporary public policy, introduced on September 10, 2020, exempted certain in-Canada protected persons and eligible family members from an additional immigration medical examination. It was replaced by regulatory amendments on October 30, 2025, which apply to new and pending applicants who meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
Protected persons, including members of the protected temporary residents class, and their accompanying family members in Canada and abroad are required to undergo an immigration medical examination. They are not subject to health inadmissibility based on excessive demand on health or social services, but an application may be refused where a person is likely to be a danger to public health or public safety.
Admissibility checks for protected-person applications
Before granting permanent residence, IRCC conducts medical and security clearances. Background, criminality and security checks are required for applicants and accompanying family members aged 18 or older to determine whether they have become inadmissible since arriving in Canada.
Police certificates are generally required from specified countries for applicants aged 18 or older. IRCC does not request police certificates from countries from which an applicant sought protection, as doing so could signal that the protected person is in Canada and may place family or friends at risk.
If IRCC relies on information from a source other than the applicant that the applicant does not know about or cannot access, officers must notify the applicant in writing and give them an opportunity to respond. The instructions say applicants should be given 60 days from the date of the letter to reply, with a possible extension where they contact the office promptly with a satisfactory explanation.
Effect of a family member’s inadmissibility
The inadmissibility of a family member does not affect the protected person’s own admissibility. IRCC may grant permanent residence to the protected person and other family members even if a family member for whom permanent residence is sought is inadmissible.
IRCC’s instructions also allow non-concurrent processing in these cases, meaning the principal applicant may be approved without waiting for admissibility results for all dependants.
Source: Official IRCC announcement