Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has quietly updated the list of countries whose citizens must undergo an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) when applying for Canadian visas or permits. The change, published November 14, adds Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay and Venezuela to the mandatory-exam roster, while removing Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania and Taiwan.
The revisions apply to anyone who has lived or travelled in an affected country for six consecutive months during the year before entering Canada. Applications filed on or after November 3 must use the new list; files submitted earlier remain under previous rules.
![IRCC Updates Immigration-Medical-Exam List—New Rules Take Effect Immediately]()
Why it matters: global mobility teams planning intra-company transfers or business-visitor missions from Latin America must now factor in extra lead time—panel-physician appointments can add two to four weeks in busy cities such as Buenos Aires or Bogotá. Conversely, employers sourcing talent from the delisted countries may see faster processing and lower costs.
IRCC did not offer a public rationale, but medical-risk classifications generally follow World Health Organization data on tuberculosis incidence. Consultants expect the list to be reviewed annually.
Practical tips: 1) Flag any assignees with extended stays in newly listed countries and book IME slots early; 2) update document checklists in applicant portals; 3) communicate the change to relocation vendors so housing start dates align with realistic visa timelines.
The revisions apply to anyone who has lived or travelled in an affected country for six consecutive months during the year before entering Canada. Applications filed on or after November 3 must use the new list; files submitted earlier remain under previous rules.
Why it matters: global mobility teams planning intra-company transfers or business-visitor missions from Latin America must now factor in extra lead time—panel-physician appointments can add two to four weeks in busy cities such as Buenos Aires or Bogotá. Conversely, employers sourcing talent from the delisted countries may see faster processing and lower costs.
IRCC did not offer a public rationale, but medical-risk classifications generally follow World Health Organization data on tuberculosis incidence. Consultants expect the list to be reviewed annually.
Practical tips: 1) Flag any assignees with extended stays in newly listed countries and book IME slots early; 2) update document checklists in applicant portals; 3) communicate the change to relocation vendors so housing start dates align with realistic visa timelines.
