‎Find out if you need an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.

Find a doctor in your country, territory or region for your Immigration Medical Exam (IME). Only Panel Physicians approved by IRCC can do this exam. If you have questions about your IME, contact Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada directly. 

• On your immigration medical exam, an IRCC physician assessed that you have inactive tuberculosis (TB) and you’re already in Canada. OR
• You’ve been contacted and informed you need medical surveillance by the Public Health Liaison Unit of IRCC.
  

Medical surveillance depends on your immigration medical examination (IME) results, which may have been a requirement for your immigration application process. If the results of your IME indicate inactive TB, you will need a medical check-up with a physician once you arrive in Canada. 

If you were given a document at the port of entry telling you to report to your provincial or territorial public health authority in Canada within 7 or 30 days after arriving in Canada, disregard it. 

The IRCC needs your contact information in Canada to start the medical surveillance process. Once you have your contact information, please email the Public Health Liaison Unit at IRCC. 

• Go to the IRCC website for all the information you should provide.
• The Public Health Liaison Unit will give the BCCDC TB Services your contact information. 
  
• Contact the Public Health Liaison Unit if you’ve changed your Canadian home address, phone number or email address.
  
• Provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number in your email.
  

Please wait for us to contact you.

• The Public Health Liaison Unit at IRCC will tell the BCCDC TB Services that you’ve arrived in Canada.
• The BCCDC TB clinics or your regional health authority are responsible for arranging your medical surveillance appointment. Each area has its procedure and timeline for managing these appointments. 
• It may take months for you to be contacted. Please be patient and know that they have your information and will contact you.
• If you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of active TB, please see a doctor as soon as possible.

If you develop signs and symptoms of active TB disease, it is vital to speak to a healthcare provider right away. 

Some symptoms of active TB disease include:

• cough for two weeks or more
  
• fever
• coughing up blood
• sweating at night
• constant tiredness
• loss of weight or appetite
  

Please wait for us to contact you.

• Attend your TB appointments with the BCCDC TB Clinic or your regional health authority public health unit.
  
• If you live in the greater Vancouver area (lower mainland), you will either receive a letter in the mail or a phone call from the BCCDC TB Clinic with an appointment day and time. Your appointment will be on the phone with a nurse. The nurse will ask you health questions and tell you what tests you need.
  
• If you live in another area of BC, your regional health authority public health nurses will contact you for an appointment and follow-up.
  

Yes, you will have to pay for TB tests, unless:

• You have the BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) health insurance coverage. Go to the MSP Eligibility and Enrolment to apply.
• You are a refugee. Refugees and refugee claimants may be eligible for coverage of IMEs and other TB-related medical services through the Interim Federal Health Program.
  
• You have private insurance. Depending on your provider, they may cover some or all of the costs of tests. Please check with your insurance provider.
  

‎You may have more than one TB appointment, depending on your test results, TB history or if you have any TB symptoms. It is essential to attend your TB appointments.

If you live in the greater Vancouver area (lower mainland)

Once you have completed all the recommended tests, a BCCDC TB doctor will review your results and make recommendations. The IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit will be notified of your medical surveillance completion. Continuing TB care may be recommended once medical surveillance requirements have been met.

Other parts of the BC

Once you have completed all the recommended tests, a TB doctor will review your results and make recommendations. Your regional health authority will call you to discuss your test results and the doctor's advice. The IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit will be notified of your medical surveillance completion. Continuing TB care may be recommended once medical surveillance requirements have been met.

The average time to complete Medical Surveillance in BC is 6-9 months.

You have completed your medical surveillance (met compliance) when:

• You had your TB appointment(s), and the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit informed you by email that you met your medical surveillance requirement.                 

OR

• You had an IME inside Canada, a TB clinic saw you, and the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit informed you by email that you met your medical surveillance requirement.

Note: The BCCDC TB clinics or your BC public health unit may continue to follow-up with you about TB. Follow their instructions as you are also required to reach compliance with both IRCC and BC public health.

• No. Active TB disease does not affect your immigration status in Canada or your family's status. 
• Active TB Disease can be cured and treatment is free in BC. 
• A TB nurse will work with you and your health care provider during treatment.
  

• If you received an email notifying you of non-compliance, this means that you haven’t complied with the medical surveillance requirement associated with your immigration or visa application.
• Medical surveillance is a condition of your status in Canada. You must complete your medical surveillance requirement as soon as possible. If you don’t, it may negatively impact any current or new immigration applications to Canada. For example, until BCCDC or your regional health authority confirms with IRCC that you’ve complied with medical surveillance. your Canadian citizenship application could be delayed.
  
• If you’re having trouble completing your medical surveillance requirement, or believe you’ve completed it, email the Public Health Liaison Unit.
  
• Provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number in your email.

• Notify the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit by email that you’re travelling outside Canada.
• If you have any signs or symptoms of active TB disease, see a doctor before travelling.
• If you return to Canada and change your home address, phone number or email, make sure you email the IRCC Public Health Liaison Unit. Provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number in your email.

Email:

If you have questions about medical surveillance, you can email the Public Health Liaison Unit at:

IRCC.MHBSurveillance-SurveillanceDGMS.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

Provide your full name and unique client identifier (UCI) number in your email.