Admissibility for permanent residence

Economic permanent residence: admissibility

1. Documents

   Immigration medical exam for applicant and all family members

   Every PR applicant must have an immigration medical exam by an IRCC panel physician; family members must also be examined even if they are not coming to Canada. Express Entry applicants do an upfront exam after receiving the invitation and before submitting, and upload the panel physician's confirmation. Results are valid for 12 months; if the person has not become a PR in that time another exam may be needed. Some foreign nationals in Canada with an exam in the last 5 years showing low or no public health/safety risk may reuse it (until October 5, 2029).

   Medical examination for permanent residence applicantsChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-ADM-001
2. Admissibility

   Medical inadmissibility, including excessive demand (2026 threshold)

   A foreign national is 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 (IRPA 38(1)). Economic applicants are not exempt from excessive demand (exemptions cover refugees/protected persons and certain sponsored spouses, partners and dependent children). The 2026 excessive-demand cost threshold is $144,390 over 5 years ($28,878 per year). Before a decision IRCC sends a procedural fairness letter; additional information must be sent within 90 days, and a mitigation plan may be invited where relevant.

   Medical inadmissibilityChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-ADM-002
3. Admissibility

   Criminality and serious criminality

   Serious criminality (IRPA 36(1)): conviction in Canada of an offence punishable by a maximum of at least 10 years or with a sentence of more than 6 months imposed; conviction outside Canada, or committing an act outside Canada, that would be such an offence in Canada. Criminality (IRPA 36(2)): conviction in Canada of an indictable offence or two offences not arising from a single occurrence; equivalent foreign convictions or acts. Hybrid offences are deemed indictable; no inadmissibility for convictions with a record suspension or final acquittal, Contraventions Act offences, or youth sentences. Foreign convictions/acts can be overcome by individual rehabilitation (application after at least 5 years from completion of sentence or commission of the act) or deemed rehabilitation (generally 10 years for one indictable-equivalent offence punishable by less than 10 years; 5 years for two or more summary-equivalent offences) (IRPA 36(3); IRPR 17–18).

   Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27)Checked October 18, 2026Reference PR-ADM-003
4. Documents

   Police certificates for Express Entry applicants and family members

   The applicant and family members aged 18 or older need police certificates for each country (other than Canada) where they stayed 6 months or more in a row during the last 10 years, counting only time after age 18. The certificate for the current country of residence must be issued no more than 6 months before the application is submitted; for other countries it must be issued after the last stay of 6+ months there. If not all certificates are available within the 60-day window, a letter of explanation with proof of best efforts can be submitted.

   Express Entry: Police certificatesChecked October 18, 2026Reference PR-ADM-004
5. Admissibility

   Misrepresentation: inadmissibility and 5-year bar

   A foreign national is inadmissible for directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts relating to a relevant matter that induces or could induce an error in administering the Act (IRPA 40(1)(a)). The inadmissibility lasts 5 years from the final determination (outside Canada) or from enforcement of the removal order (in Canada), and the person may not apply for PR during that period (IRPA 40(2)–(3)). The applicant is responsible for all information, even if a representative prepared it; fake job offers, language results, diplomas or police certificates are examples.

   Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27)Checked October 18, 2026Reference PR-ADM-005
6. Admissibility

   Inadmissible family member (accompanying and certain non-accompanying)

   A foreign national is inadmissible if an accompanying family member (or, in prescribed circumstances, a non-accompanying family member) is inadmissible, or if they are an accompanying family member of an inadmissible person (IRPA 42(1)). For PR applicants, non-accompanying family members covered are the spouse (unless the relationship has broken down in law or in fact), common-law partner, and dependent children (and grandchildren) in the applicant's or an accompanying member's custody (IRPR 23).

   Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27)Checked October 18, 2026Reference PR-ADM-006