Medical Inadmissibility

Medical Inadmissibility — Salgado Law (Ontario)

Medical inadmissibility is a common but often misunderstood barrier for newcomers seeking admission or permanent residence in Canada. Under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), a foreign national can be found inadmissible on health grounds if their condition is likely to be a danger to public health or public safety, or might reasonably be expected to cause “excessive demand” on health or social services. These rules are applied during IRCC’s review of immigration medical examinations and can affect permanent residents, sponsored family members and some temporary residents. Justice Laws+1

What “excessive demand” means

“Excessive demand” is not a lay term — it has a statutory and policy meaning. IRCC assesses whether an applicant’s expected use of publicly funded health or social services will exceed a set cost threshold or significantly increase service wait times. Calculations and operational guidance explain how costs are estimated and which services are counted when officers decide inadmissibility on medical grounds. Certain classes of applicants (for example, some refugees, protected persons, and others set out in policy) may be exempt. Canada+1

How applicants are assessed

All immigration applicants required to do so must see an IRCC-approved panel physician for the immigration medical exam. The physician completes and submits a medical report to IRCC; officers then assess whether the medical findings meet inadmissibility thresholds under IRPA. The process considers diagnoses, treatment needs, projected costs, and whether an applicant would place an undue burden on Canada’s health or social systems. IRCC

Practical steps Salgado Law takes for clients in Ontario

At Salgado Law, we combine legal expertise with practical, medically informed advocacy to help clients navigate medical inadmissibility issues:

Early risk assessment: we review medical reports and records to identify issues that could trigger excessive-demand findings or public-health concerns. Canada
Evidence gathering: we obtain supporting medical documentation, expert letters, and treatment plans that clarify prognosis, current and future care needs, and the likely cost impact on public services.
Policy and legal argumentation: we prepare legal submissions that rely on IRPA, IRCC policy guidance, and recent operational bulletins to argue why a finding of inadmissibility is unwarranted or disproportionate. Justice Laws+1
Alternatives and exemptions: where possible, we assess whether the client qualifies for exemptions or other immigration streams less likely to be affected by medical inadmissibility.

Appeal and judicial options: if IRCC maintains an inadmissibility finding, we advise on next steps — from representations and ministerial relief requests to judicial review — depending on case specifics