Medical Reasons Why You Might Be Denied Entry to Canada – For someone with the intention of entering Canada either on a permanent basis or to visit temporarily, you should know that there are medical conditions that can prevent a person from entering the country. Meeting the medical inadmissibility rule is one criterion that ensures your entrance into Canada.
Medical inadmissibility affects anyone applying to visit, study, work or live permanently in Canada. Three (3) possible reasons exist as grounds for medical Inadmissibility
- Danger to Public Health
- Danger to Public Safety
- Excessive demand for Health or Social Services
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Danger to Public Health
Your Canadian visa could be denied if it is determined that your health condition may pose a danger to Canada’s public health. This decision is based on the result of your immigration medical exam which is a mandatory requirement for your application.
The visa officers will consider your medical laboratory test results and any other specialist results required to check for infectious diseases such as active tuberculosis or active syphilis and determine whether or not this disease could affect other people living in Canada.
Danger to Public Safety
Applications can also be denied if it is determined that your entrance into Canada would pose a risk to the Nation’s safety. As with Public health, this decision is also based on your immigration medical exam results. There are no listed conditions considered to pose a danger to public safety, decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis. However, the IRCC considers your risk of,
- Unpredictable or violent behavior
- Sudden incapacity (loss of physical and mental abilities)
At this point, it is safe to point out that, it is extremely rare for an individual to be denied entry as a danger to public health or safety.
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Excessive demand for Health or Social Services
Your application may be refused if it is determined that your health condition may cause excessive demand for health or social services. Again, your Immigration medical exam determines this.
Your condition may be deemed to cause an excessive demand if the health or social services needed to treat or manage your health condition would negatively affect wait times for services in Canada or would likely cost more than the excessive demand cost threshold.
The threshold for Excessive Demand
Excessive Demand Cost is an amount used to determine if the cost of a medical condition places excessive demand on Canada’s health and social services.
Under a policy announced by the Canadian government in June of 2018, the cost threshold amount is increased annually. The new amount is now three times the Canadian average cost for health and social services. This amount is updated every year, based on the latest Canadian average.
Persons sponsored by their families, such as spouses, common-law partners, and dependents as well as refugees and protected persons are exempted from this rule
What To Do If You Are Denied Entry to Canada Due to Medical Inadmissibility
Usually, someone who is applying for a permanent residency and is facing possible rejection due to a medical condition will receive a Procedural Fairness Letter from CIC explaining the reasons why they were found medically inadmissible. This letter is received before a final decision is made on your application. This affords you an opportunity to find a solution before the final decision. If you have received a Procedural fairness letter, you should contact an experienced professional on the way forward. Responses are required to be made within 90 days of the receipt of the letter.