Maple News reports that applicants to Canada’s Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) may encounter challenges if their medical conditions render them inadmissible under Canadian immigration law. When sponsoring parents or grandparents for permanent residence, applicants must consider health-related admissibility criteria as a key part of the process.
In general, foreign nationals applying to stay in Canada for more than six months must undergo a medical examination. This evaluation, completed by a government-approved panel physician, helps Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) determine whether the individual poses a health risk or would place an undue burden on the Canadian healthcare system.
IRCC may deem an individual medically inadmissible for one of three reasons: if they are a danger to public health, a danger to public safety, or if they are likely to cause excessive demand on health or social services.
A public health risk typically involves infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, that could threaten the health of others. A public safety concern might stem from conditions that could cause sudden mental or physical incapacitation or unpredictable behavior. Meanwhile, “excessive demand” refers to conditions that would either lengthen healthcare wait times for Canadians or cost more than a set annual threshold in public health or social services spending.
As of 2021, the excessive demand cost threshold stood at approximately $21,798 per year — about three times the average per capita expense for health and social services in Canada. If an applicant’s projected costs exceed this amount annually, IRCC may refuse the application on medical grounds.
However, these rules do not apply to refugees, protected persons, or family sponsorship applicants who are spouses, common-law partners, or dependent children. Unfortunately, parents and grandparents sponsored under the PGP are subject to medical inadmissibility assessments.
If IRCC identifies a medical concern, they issue a procedural fairness letter to the applicant explaining the reasons behind the potential refusal. Applicants then have 90 days to respond with evidence to challenge the assessment. This may include documentation of ongoing treatment, changes in medication, revised cost estimates, or letters from healthcare providers.
Applicants flagged for potential “excessive demand” may also submit a mitigation plan detailing how they intend to privately manage or finance their healthcare needs — whether through private insurance or long-term care arrangements. This can help alleviate IRCC’s concerns and keep the application on track.
Being informed and proactive in addressing medical inadmissibility early in the sponsorship pipeline is essential. Maple News advises sponsors and applicants alike to understand these rules so they can better prepare compelling, well-documented applications.