Medical Inadmissibility in Canada: Your 2025 Guide to Health Grounds, Excessive Demand, and Solutions

Facing concerns about medical inadmissibility in Canada can feel overwhelming, but there are clear rules, exemptions, and evidence-based strategies you can use to strengthen an application. This guide explains how inadmissibility on health grounds is assessed, what counts as excessive demand, who is exempt, and what you can submit to respond to a procedural fairness letter.

If you need tailored advice, our team can help you plan the right response. Book a consultation today with Cristina Zohil-Morton and the team at Zohil-Morton Law.

What is Inadmissibility on Health Grounds

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a person may be found inadmissible on health grounds if an assessed condition is likely to:

• Be a danger to public health
• Be a danger to public safety
• Cause excessive demand on health or social services

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) relies on designated panel physicians and medical officers to assess conditions and projected service needs.

Excessive Demand and How IRCC Measures It

Excessive demand means the cost or use of publicly funded health or social services is expected to exceed a threshold or significantly affect wait times for services that are in short supply. IRCC evaluates:

• The diagnosis, prognosis, and expected duration of care
• The specific services required in Canada and their annual cost
• Whether the projected use would exceed IRCC’s cost threshold

Who is Exempt From Excessive Demand Rules

• Sponsored spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children in the Family Class
• Protected persons and certain refugee applicants

Even when exempt from excessive demand, IRCC can still assess risks related to public health or public safety.

Responding to a Procedural Fairness Letter

If IRCC believes you may be inadmissible on health grounds, you will usually receive a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL). This is your chance to answer the concerns before a final decision is made on your application. A strong response typically includes:

• Up-to-date medical reports and specialist letters that clarify the diagnosis and prognosis
• A detailed treatment plan that shows available care without undue burden on public services
• A costed mitigation plan showing how private insurance, personal funds, assistive technology, or community programs will offset projected costs
• Evidence of family or community supports

For strategic help with your PFL, contact our team at Zohil-Morton Law.

Practical Strategies to Address Medical Inadmissibility

• Close diagnostic gaps. Provide current test results and letters from relevant specialists.
• Price the plan. Obtain written quotes for medications, therapies, equipment, and insurance.
• Show continuity. Identify providers willing to accept you and confirm wait times where possible.
• Use private coverage. Demonstrate how insurance will reduce public system costs.
• Update IRCC proactively. If the condition improves, submit new evidence as permitted.

Temporary and Permanent Residence Pathways if Found Inadmissible

• Temporary Resident Permit (TRP): Allows entry when the need to travel to Canada outweighs the risk.
• Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) considerations: In compelling cases, IRCC may consider hardship factors and best interests of children.
• Re-apply with a stronger record: Address the reasons in the previous refusal and submit a robust mitigation plan.

When to Get Legal Help

Medical inadmissibility matters are technical and time sensitive. An experienced immigration lawyer can coordinate medical evidence, prepare a mitigation plan, and draft submissions that respond directly to IRCC’s concerns, before they even arise. Start with a consultation today with Cristina Zohil-Morton and the team at Zohil-Morton Law.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a licensed immigration professional regarding your specific situation.

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