Yes – and here is what that means in practice
As IRCC’s Help Centre confirms, you can choose a panel physician anywhere in the world, even in a different country from where you currently live. There is no requirement to use a physician in your home country, your country of current residence, or in Canada itself.
This is genuinely useful flexibility — and most applicants do not realize they have it. This guide explains exactly how it works, when it makes sense to use a physician in a different country, what to tell the physician when you book, and the one rule that never changes regardless of where in the world you go.
For a full overview of the exam and who needs it, see our complete guide to the Canadian immigration medical exam.
The one rule that never changes: the physician must be IRCC-approved
Wherever in the world you choose to complete your exam, the physician must appear on IRCC’s current approved list. This is the only rule that applies universally.
Your family doctor cannot do it. A hospital cannot do it. A private clinic cannot do it — unless the specific doctor performing the exam is personally listed as an approved panel physician by IRCC. The approval is individual, not institutional. A clinic being associated with an approved physician does not mean every doctor at that clinic is approved.
Using a physician who is not on the current approved list means your results will be rejected regardless of the quality of the exam. You will need to redo the entire appointment at full cost, which can mean rebooking travel as well if you went abroad for the exam.
Always verify the physician’s current status before booking. IRCC updates its approved list regularly — physicians can be added, suspended, or removed. Use the IRCC Doctors directory to find approved physicians and verify their current status, or cross-check against IRCC’s official panel physician list.
When it makes sense to use a physician outside your home country
Most applicants complete their exam in the country where they currently live. But there are several situations where using a physician in a different country is practical or even necessary.
You live in a country or region with no approved physicians nearby. IRCC’s panel physician network covers most major cities worldwide but is not universal. If you live in a rural area or a country with very few approved physicians, travelling to a nearby country with better availability can be more practical than a long domestic journey.
Wait times are shorter elsewhere. In some countries, demand for immigration medical exams far outstrips clinic capacity. If you are an Express Entry applicant on a 60-day ITA window and your local clinics are booked out for four weeks, checking availability in a neighbouring country can save your application timeline.
You are already travelling. If you receive an Invitation to Apply while abroad for work or personal travel, you can complete your exam in the country you are visiting rather than returning home first. This is entirely permitted.
You live in Canada and want to use a Canadian clinic. International applicants are not required to return to their home country for the exam. If you are already in Canada on a work or study permit and applying for permanent residence, you can use any approved panel physician in Canada. Search for physicians in Ontario, British Columbia, or Alberta, or find a physician in Toronto specifically if you are in the Greater Toronto Area.
Your home country’s clinics are more expensive. Medical exam costs vary significantly by country. The same exam that costs CAD $350 in Canada might cost the equivalent of CAD $150 in another country. If you are travelling anyway, it may be worth factoring in the cost difference.
What to tell the physician when you book outside your home country
When you book with a panel physician in a country other than where your application is being processed, tell them the following at the time of booking:
Where your application is being processed. This is the IRCC office or visa processing centre handling your file — not necessarily your home country or the country where you are having the exam. The physician needs this information to route your results to the correct IRCC location in the eMedical system. Results sent to the wrong office can cause delays.
Your immigration stream. Tell the physician whether you are applying through Express Entry, family sponsorship, a work permit, or another stream. For Express Entry upfront medicals, confirm this clearly — the booking and documentation process is slightly different from instruction-triggered medicals.
Your UCI or UMI number if you have one. This links your exam to your existing IRCC file. If you are a first-time applicant without a UCI yet, the physician will create a UMI for you.
For a complete list of what to bring and what information to have ready, see our immigration medical exam checklist and step-by-step booking guide.
Practical considerations before booking abroad
Confirm all exam components are available on-site. Not all clinics in every country offer blood tests, chest X-rays, and physical examinations under one roof. If the clinic refers you to an external lab or imaging centre, factor that into your travel plans. Arriving in a foreign city for a same-day exam and then being sent to a second location is a significant inconvenience.
Check the cost before you commit. Exam fees outside Canada can be lower or higher depending on the country. Some clinics also charge in local currency, which adds exchange rate considerations. Use the IRCC Doctors directory to find clinics with pricing listed on their profile, and contact the clinic directly to confirm the total cost before booking travel.
Book in advance. Popular clinics in major cities book up quickly regardless of country. If you are travelling specifically for the exam, confirm your appointment is secured before booking flights or accommodation.
Language. If you are completing your exam in a country where your language is not widely spoken, confirm the clinic has staff who can communicate with you for the medical history questionnaire and physical examination. The IRCC Doctors directory lists languages spoken at each clinic.
Finding approved physicians internationally
The IRCC Doctors directory covers approved panel physicians worldwide. Here are direct links to find physicians in some of the most commonly used international locations:
Panel physicians in India — a large network of approved clinics serving one of the highest volumes of Canadian immigration applicants in the world.
Panel physicians in Australia — convenient for applicants in the Asia-Pacific region or those already in Australia.
Panel physicians in the USA — widely used by Canadian applicants living or working in the United States, and by US-based applicants applying through Express Entry or family sponsorship.
For applicants already in Canada, search by province:
Panel physicians in Ontario Panel physicians in British Columbia Panel physicians in Alberta Panel physicians in Toronto
Or search the full IRCC Doctors directory for any city or country worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
Find an approved panel physician near you
Use the IRCC Doctors directory to search for an approved panel physician in your city or country. Each profile includes contact details, languages spoken, and in many cases pricing — so you can compare options and book with confidence wherever you are in the world.
Last updated: May 2026. Always verify a physician’s current approval status before booking. Check IRCC’s official panel physician list or the IRCC Doctors directory to confirm current status.