The government of Canada announced changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) on March 16, 2022.
These new amendments will allow the government to better align the medical inadmissibility policy with Canadian values of diversity and inclusion of people with disabilities.
Under the new guidelines, the cost threshold that determines medical inadmissibility for PR applicants has been tripled and special education, social and vocational rehabilitation, and personal support services have been removed from the list of social services that include treatment costs for some medical conditions.
Foreign nationals applying for a permanent resident visa or seeking permanent residence in Canada, as well as certain categories of temporary residents, must undergo a medical examination. A health condition does not automatically lead to inadmissibility, but rather is assessed individually based on the results of the immigration medical examination and the cost of the medical treatment the applicant would need.
In addition, these changes will promote inclusion for people, including people with disabilities, who, despite their health conditions, are able to contribute to Canada.