Medical admissibility laws in Canada may affect the sponsorship applications of some parents and grandparents.

In general, foreign people who plan to stay in Canada for longer than six months must have an immigration medical examination. This is so that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can assess whether newcomers are medically fit to enter the country. These examinations must be performed by a panel physician.

If an applicant falls into one of the following categories, Canada may consider them medically inadmissible: risk to public health, danger to public safety, or excessive demand on health or social services.

A person who is a danger to public health, according to the Canadian government website, has an infectious disease such as tuberculosis or has been in close contact with people who have an infectious disease. Officers evaluate how the sickness would affect people residing in Canada while making this decision.

Someone who is at risk of being physically or mentally incapable could be considered a threat to public safety. It could also be used to describe someone who is unpredictable or violent.

Finally, if an applicant’s health condition creates an “excessive demand” on health or social services, IRCC may rule them ineligible.

If the officer concludes one of the following, the condition may be considered excessive demand:

Wait times for services in Canada would be affected by the applicant’s health or social services for treatment, or the services required to treat their health condition would cost more than the excessive demand cost threshold.

Every year, the IRCC adjusts the cost barrier based on the most recent Canadian average. It’s around three times the national average for health and social services. This amounted to around $21,798 per year in 2021. If the applicant’s therapy costs less than that, he or she will not be regarded as ineligible under this condition.

The rules against excessive demand do not apply to:

Refugees and their dependents; protected individuals; and some family members, such as children and spouses or common-law partners, who are sponsored by their families.

If the IRCC finds an applicant medically inadmissible, the officer must send you a procedural fairness letter stating why. Before IRCC reaches a final decision on the application, applicants have the chance to react to this letter.

The IRCC accepts proof of the following:

getting treatment to cure or improve your health condition; the type of medicine and services required, particularly if your doctor has amended your prescription; and the cost of your medications or services.

Applicants have 90 days from the date of the letter to submit new information. If they are unable to react before then, they may ask IRCC for an extension.

Candidates with “high demand” conditions may be asked to provide a mitigation plan as part of their answer to the procedural fairness letter. The officer will want you to show that you have a way to pay for your medical bills, such as through an employer-sponsored health plan or a private long-term care facility.