If your parent(s) or grandparent(s) are medically inadmissible, they cannot get permanent residence through the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may consider your relative(s) medically inadmissible to Canada if their health condition(s) could pose a burden on public health services.
If you want to sponsor your parent(s) or grandparent(s) through the PGP, or to visit you in Canada on a super visa, plan ahead to address any potential medical inadmissibility issues that could lead to refusal.
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How IRCC determines medical inadmissibility
Your parents or grandparents may be considered medically inadmissible to Canada for three possible reasons:
- Being a danger to public health;
- Being a danger to public safety; or
- Causing excessive demand on health or social services.
IRCC officers will assess your relative’s immigration medical exam and specialist reports (if applicable) to gauge their level of risk.
For most applicants, their main concern will be whether immigration officials judge their condition(s) to be likely to cause excessive demand on health or social services.
IRCC considers whether the health or social services needed to treat their condition(s) are likely to increase wait times for Canadian services or exceed the allowable cost threshold.
For 2025, the excessive demand cost threshold is $27,162 per year or $135,810 over the course of five years.
As part of your application, you must disclose all medical and health conditions. You should aim to show that any chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, are being treated and are under control.
Conditions that may result in medical inadmissibility
Whether or not an individual is barred from entering Canada due to a health condition is dependent on the unique findings of their personal immigration medical exam and their medical history.
There are a number of medical conditions that may result in your parents or grandparents being found medically inadmissible, including the following:
- Autoimmune Disease(s)—such as AIDS or Lupus;
- Autism;
- Blood disorders—including blood clotting and bleeding disorders;
- Brain disorders;
- Cancer(s);
- Cardiac Disease;
- Cerebral Palsy;
- Chronic Kidney Disease;
- Crohn’s Disease;
- Diabetes;
- Down syndrome;
- Hepatitis B or C;
- Learning disabilities requiring special education;
- Liver Disease;
- Psychiatric disorders — such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder;
- Rare diseases and conditions;
- Total knee replacement; and
- Tuberculosis.
This is not an exhaustive list but rather is intended to provide a general understanding of the wide range of health conditions that could result in a finding of medical inadmissibility.
Reducing the likelihood of being found medically inadmissible
Simply having a condition on the list above does not in itself mean that your relative will be medically inadmissible.
IRCC assesses medical inadmissibility on a case-by-case basis including the person’s full medical history and the findings of immigration medical exams.
If your relative has any health conditions, it can help to present medical records and reports from doctors showing that any ongoing medical conditions have been receiving treatment and are under control.
If you can show that conditions are under control and that your relative’s health is stable overall, that makes it far less likely that the officer will determine that they are likely to exceed the cost threshold.
If, despite your best efforts to show stable health and control of any chronic conditions, your parent or grandparent is deemed medically inadmissible to Canada, there are two primary ways to challenge and potentially overcome this finding.
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Overcoming medical inadmissibility
Should your parent or grandparent receive or be at risk or receiving a medical inadmissibility determination, there are options available to them to potentially overcome this finding.
This may include
Responding to a procedural fairness letter
If IRCC suspects medical inadmissibility, it notifies a candidate or applicant through a “procedural fairness letter” and explains any concerns prior to making a final decision on their application.
The recipient may respond to this letter, either independently or with legal representation, to provide further details or evidence regarding their situation.
If your parent or grandparent receives such a letter, they will have 90 days to submit relevant information or evidence. If they can’t meet this deadline, they must request an extension from IRCC.
This may, for example, include details pertaining to
- Treatments they have undergone to cure or improve their health conditions(s);
- Doctor-recommended changes to medication(s) and/or services; and
- The cost of medication(s) and/or services, such as switching to more affordable medication(s).
A person with the legal authority to do so will assess this information and make a final decision on their application, which may require an interview with your family member.
Submitting a mitigation plan
At IRCC’s discretion, individuals issued a procedural fairness letter on the basis of potential excessive demand may be given the opportunity to submit a detailed mitigation plan.
This plan should outline how they will effectively manage their health-related needs to ensure they do not impose excessive demand on Canada’s health or social services.
This may involve, for instance, demonstrating that their prescription medication is covered through private insurance, or confirming financial capacity to access private long-term care.
A mitigation plan must show the following:
- The means by which necessary services will be obtained;
- How your family member intends to fund those services; and
- Evidence of your family member’s financial ability to maintain this support over time, supported by appropriate financial documentation.
They must also submit a signed Declaration of Ability and Willingness form, confirming their acceptance of responsibility for organizing any services they will need in Canada—and for covering their associated costs.
This mitigation plan will be reviewed by the appropriate authority, and a final decision will be made. An interview with your parent or grandparent may be required.
Obtaining a Temporary Resident Permit
If your parent or grandparent is deemed medically inadmissible, they will not be able to obtain PR through the PGP, nor will they be able to obtain a super visa.
To visit you for a short period in Canada, however, your parent or grandparent may be eligible to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP), which allows them to enter or stay in Canada temporarily.
In order to obtain a TRP, they must prove they have a compelling reason to enter Canada and that their entry into the country will not pose a danger to Canadian society.
A TRP can be issued for a minimum period of one day to a maximum period of three years.
It is at an immigration officer’s discretion whether your parent or grandparent will receive a single-entry TRP or multiple-entry TRP.
They may apply for a TRP at any Canadian consulate or, if eligible, at a port of entry (POE).
Schedule a Free TRP Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm
About the Parents and Grandparents Program
Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is a family reunification pathway to permanent residency.
Through this program, eligible individuals—including Canadian citizens, permanent residents (PRs), and registered Indians—can apply to sponsor their parents or grandparents for immigration.
Due to the program’s high demand and limited capacity, the government conducts a lottery to issue invitations to potential sponsors.
IRCC aims to accept a total of 10,000 complete sponsorship applications this year. Starting 28 July, the immigration department will send out 17,860 invitations over the course of two weeks to those who submitted interest to sponsor forms in 2020.
Those who receive an invitation must submit a complete application by midnight (Eastern Time) on October 9, 2025.
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About the super visa
If you are not invited to apply under the PGP, you may want to explore the super visa as a viable alternative.
Provided both you and your parent(s) or grandparent(s) meet eligibility criteria, you can sponsor your relative(s) to visit you in Canada for a prolonged period.
While a standard visitor visa typically permits stays of up to six months, the super visa grants visitor status for up to 10 years and allows your relative(s) to visit you for up to five years per stay.
Unlike the PGP, you can apply for a super visa at any time.
To be a host, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be the child or grandchild of the individual(s) being invited;
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian;
- Be 18 years of age and live in Canada; and
- Meet the necessary income requirements.
Your parent(s) or grandparent(s) must be outside Canada when applying and purchase health insurance which meets IRCC requirements.
Your parent(s) or grandparent(s) must also be admissible to Canada.
Get a Free Super Visa Telephone Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm