Two questions come up more than almost any others when applicants are preparing for their Canadian immigration medical exam: how long will the appointment itself take, and how long will the results be valid before they expire?
Both questions matter practically. The first affects how you plan your day. The second affects how you time your entire application. This post answers both clearly, along with the related timing questions that follow — how quickly results are submitted to IRCC, what happens if results expire before your application is decided, and how to avoid the most common timing mistakes that delay applications by months.
For a full walkthrough of what actually happens during the appointment, see our step-by-step guide to the immigration medical exam. For a complete overview of the exam including costs and who needs it, see our complete guide to the Canadian immigration medical exam.
How long does the appointment take?
Plan for two to four hours at the clinic from arrival to departure. Most applicants finish in around two hours, but clinics vary in how they schedule components and how busy they are on a given day.
The appointment is not one continuous procedure — it is a series of components done in sequence, with waiting time between each. The physical examination itself typically takes 20 to 40 minutes. The chest X-ray takes a few minutes once you are in the imaging room, but you may wait to be called in. The blood draw takes under five minutes. Providing a urine sample adds a few minutes. Registration, identity verification, and completing the medical history questionnaire at the start add another 15 to 30 minutes.
The biggest variable is whether all components are done on-site or whether you need to go to a separate facility for your X-ray or lab work. Clinics that handle everything under one roof are faster and more convenient — when you use the IRCC Doctors directory to find a panel physician, check whether labs and imaging are on-site before booking. It can save you significant time on the day.
Children’s appointments are typically shorter because fewer tests are required at younger ages. A child under 11 does not need a chest X-ray, and a child under 15 does not need blood tests, so their appointments can be completed in under an hour at some clinics. For a family with multiple children being examined on the same day, stagger appointments if possible — booking everyone at the same time can create long waits.
How quickly are results submitted to IRCC?
The panel physician does not send your results immediately after your appointment. Lab results — particularly blood tests — take time to process. Most clinics submit complete results to IRCC through the eMedical system within five to ten business days of your appointment. Some clinics are faster, submitting within three to five days once all results are in.
You will not receive a notification when results are submitted. You will not see the results yourself — they go directly to IRCC. What you do receive at the end of your appointment is a proof document: either an Information Printout Sheet or, for Express Entry upfront medicals, an IMM 1017B form. Keep this document — it is your confirmation that the exam was completed, and for Express Entry applicants it is what you upload with your application.
For Express Entry applicants completing an upfront medical, you do not need to wait for IRCC to receive and process the results before submitting your application. You submit the proof document from your appointment — not the results themselves. This is an important distinction that trips up many applicants: you can submit your application within days of your exam, as long as you have the proof document in hand.
How long are results valid?
Immigration medical exam results are valid for 12 months from the date of your appointment. This is set by IRCC and applies universally — it does not matter which panel physician you used, which country you were in, or which immigration stream you are applying through. The clock starts on the date the panel physician completes your assessment, which in most cases is the same day as your appointment.
To be precise: if your exam was completed on May 25, 2026, your results are valid until May 24, 2027. After that date, results expire automatically. IRCC does not grant extensions to the 12-month validity period. If your application is not finalized before results expire, you will need to redo the exam.
What happens if results expire before my application is decided?
If your application is still being processed when your medical results reach the 12-month mark, IRCC will contact you with a re-medical request — written instructions to complete a new exam. This is routine. It does not mean there is a problem with your file or that your application is at risk. It simply means your results are no longer current and IRCC needs fresh ones before making a final decision.
When you receive a re-medical request, respond promptly. Book a new appointment with an IRCC-approved panel physician as quickly as possible and complete the full exam again. You pay the full cost again — there is no discount for a repeat exam. See our immigration medical exam cost guide for what to budget.
The most common reason results expire before an application is decided is that the applicant timed their exam too early — completing it months before submitting, then watching the validity window close during a long processing period. The next section covers how to avoid this.
How to time your exam correctly
Timing your immigration medical exam correctly is one of the most practical things you can do to protect your application timeline. The right timing varies by immigration stream.
Express Entry applicants should book their medical exam immediately after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Do not book before your ITA — if you complete the exam speculatively and then wait several months for a draw, the 12-month window may close before you can submit. Once you have your ITA, book within the first few days. You have 60 days to submit a complete application, and the medical exam is one of the most time-sensitive components. See our Express Entry upfront medical exam guide for the full timeline.
Family sponsorship, PNP, and other stream applicants complete their exam after IRCC sends a medical instruction letter following their application submission. You typically have 30 days from receiving those instructions to complete the exam. Book as soon as the instructions arrive — do not wait until day 25.
Work permit and study permit applicants whose applications may take several months to process should factor the 12-month validity window into when they book. If your permit application is expected to take eight to ten months to process, completing your exam early in that window means results could expire before a decision is made. Aim to complete the exam once your application is well underway, not at the very beginning.
All applicants should factor in that results must remain valid not just until IRCC makes a decision, but in some immigration streams until you actually arrive in Canada. Confirm the specific validity requirements for your stream with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer if your timeline is tight.
The most common timing mistakes to avoid
Completing the exam too early is the mistake that causes the most re-medicals. Applicants who do their exam months before they are eligible to apply — to get ahead of the process — often find their results expire before their application is finalized, costing them the full exam fee again and adding weeks of delay.
Booking too late within the application window is the other common problem. Express Entry applicants who wait until day 40 or 50 of their 60-day ITA window to book risk not having their proof document in time to submit. Most clinics can schedule within one to two weeks, but this is not guaranteed during peak periods.
Missing a re-medical request is more serious. If IRCC sends a re-medical letter and you do not respond within the deadline specified, your application can be refused or returned. Check your IRCC online account and the email address linked to it regularly throughout your application process.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to book?
Use the IRCC Doctors directory to find an approved panel physician in your city or country. Many clinics list their availability and pricing directly on their profile so you can plan your timeline before you call.
Last updated: May 2026. Always verify current IRCC requirements at canada.ca before your appointment.