Yes, in many cases. If you live in Canada and had an immigration medical exam for an earlier application in the last 5 years, you can often reuse immigration medical exam results for Express Entry. You provide Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with your old IME number instead of booking a new exam.
The rule comes from an IRCC public policy, which is a temporary exception to the usual rules. It started on October 5, 2022 and now runs until October 5, 2029. It only helps people who are in Canada. If you live abroad, the picture is different, and we explain why below.
Can I reuse immigration medical exam results for Express Entry?
You can, provided you meet IRCC’s specific conditions. To qualify for the exemption, all of the following must be true:
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You currently live in Canada.
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Your previous medical exam was completed within the last 5 years.
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Your exam result was assessed as a low risk to public health (typically an M1, M3, or compliant M2 code).
If you meet these criteria, you simply enter your old IME number when submitting your permanent residence application.
Read IRCC’s wording closely. “May not need” is not a promise. If an officer cannot use your old results, IRCC sends you instructions after you apply.
This step comes after the invitation. Our guide on what to do when you receive an Express Entry ITA covers the rest of the 60 day checklist.
Who qualifies to reuse immigration medical exam results?
The amended public policy, last changed by IRCC on October 4, 2024, sets the test. You must have an application under the Act with a Canadian address on it. Your last exam must include a physical exam done within 5 years. Your health code must show you pose no danger to public health, or that you reported for monitoring as required.
Each medical exam generates a specific result code. Under this policy:
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Accepted Codes: M1 or M3 results qualify. An M2 result qualifies only if you complied with the required provincial health monitoring.
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Rejected Codes: Exams marked ‘TR only’ (Temporary Resident) or ‘EDE only’ (Excessive Demand Exempt) do not qualify for reuse.
The 5 years count back from the day you submit the new application. An old exam does not need to be still valid. It only needs to fall inside that window.
In an October 4, 2024 notice, IRCC said the policy “has benefited more than 286,000 clients” in its first 2 years. The same notice extended it to October 5, 2029.
What if you live outside Canada?
The exemption does not cover you. IRCC’s Express Entry page limits the previous exam option to people currently living in Canada.
If you are abroad, plan for a new exam with a panel physician (a doctor IRCC has approved to do these exams) after you get your invitation. Book it early, since your 60 days to apply start on the day of the invitation.
This trips up people who studied or worked in Canada, went home, and then got invited. Your earlier exam may be recent, but your address now is outside Canada. The public policy looks at where you live when you apply.
IRCC’s Express Entry page also gives a plain warning: “Don’t book more than one IME appointment.”
What do you upload with your Express Entry application?
If you are reusing an exam, you give IRCC proof of it. The Express Entry medical page lists two documents: the information printout sheet from your panel physician, or the IMM 1017B Upfront Medical Report form. You can also enter your IME number or unique medical identifier in the online form instead.
Keep a copy of whichever you use.
Your family members count too. IRCC’s permanent residence medical page says your family members must have a medical exam even if they are not coming with you. Each person needs their own exam record, new or reused.
How long are immigration medical exam results valid?
A new exam is valid for 12 months, according to IRCC’s permanent residence medical page, updated August 4, 2026. If you do not become a permanent resident within those 12 months, you may need another exam.
For people outside Canada, timing matters. IRCC suggests getting the exam as close as possible to the date you apply online. That gives you the most time on the clock before landing.
Check where the current rounds stand before you plan your timing. Our breakdown of the October 1, 2026 trades draw shows the latest cut-off.
What happens if IRCC cannot use your old exam?
IRCC may contact you with instructions to do a new exam. This can happen if your old result was coded “TR only”, if it fell outside the 5 year window, or if your health status needs a fresh look. It is not a refusal, just a request for more evidence. Answer it by the deadline IRCC gives.
The panel physician does not make the final call. IRCC does. So a clean exam from three years ago is still subject to an officer’s review.
If your profile is close to the line, every delay counts. Our look at why the Express Entry pool is more competitive explains the pressure on scores this year.
FAQ
Do I need a new medical exam for Express Entry if I already did one for a work permit?
Not necessarily, provided you meet the exemption criteria. If you currently live in Canada and your work permit exam was completed within the last 5 years with a low-risk result, the public policy covers your Express Entry application.
Can I reuse my medical exam if I am applying from outside Canada?
No, you cannot reuse your exam if you are applying from outside Canada. The current public policy strictly limits the exemption to applicants physically residing in Canada. If you live abroad, you must complete a new exam with an approved panel physician after receiving your invitation.
When does the medical exam exemption end?
The temporary public policy is scheduled to end on October 5, 2029. However, IRCC retains the authority to amend or terminate public policies at any time. Check the official page before you rely on it, especially if your application is close to that date.
Medical rules are one part of a complete Express Entry file. Our page on the Express Entry invitation to apply walks through every document, and the official rules are on the IRCC website.
Not sure if your old exam will hold up? Book Your Strategy Consultation and we will review your file before you submit.
Sources: IRCC, Express Entry medical exams (modified June 22, 2026); IRCC public policy on IME exemptions (modified October 4, 2024); IRCC, medical exams for permanent residents (modified August 4, 2026). Checked October 11, 2026.
