Facing Medical Inadmissibility When Sponsoring Parents or Grandparents to Canada? Here’s What You Must Know in 2025
As Canada opens its annual intake for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), thousands of Canadians are preparing to reunite with their families. However, one critical issue could halt their plans: medical inadmissibility.
Medical inadmissibility is one of the most common reasons Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) refuses permanent residence applications under the PGP. It can also affect super visa applications. Here’s what applicants need to understand, how to plan ahead, and what options are available if a parent or grandparent is deemed medically inadmissible.
What Is Medical Inadmissibility?
IRCC may refuse a parent or grandparent’s application if their health condition is considered:
- A danger to public health;
- A danger to public safety; or
- Likely to cause excessive demand on Canadian health or social services.
For 2025, the excessive demand cost threshold is $27,162 per year, or $135,810 over five years. If IRCC believes that treating the applicant’s medical condition could surpass this cost or strain the healthcare system, the application could be denied.
Health Conditions That Could Trigger Medical Inadmissibility
A wide range of chronic or high-cost medical conditions may result in medical inadmissibility, including:
- Cancer, Cardiac Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease
- Diabetes, Hepatitis B or C
- Autoimmune Disorders (e.g., Lupus, AIDS)
- Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome
- Psychiatric Illnesses (e.g., Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia)
- Tuberculosis, Liver Disease
- Blood and Brain Disorders
- Learning disabilities requiring special education
Note: Having these conditions doesn’t automatically make someone inadmissible. IRCC evaluates each case individually, based on the applicant’s medical exam, history, and reports.
How to Reduce the Risk of Medical Inadmissibility
To prevent refusals, families should take proactive measures, including:
- Provide updated medical records and doctor’s reports showing that any condition is under treatment and well-managed.
- Demonstrate stability of chronic illnesses like high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Submit evidence that required medications or services will not burden Canada’s public system—especially if covered by private insurance.
What Happens If IRCC Finds a Parent Medically Inadmissible?
There are three main options for addressing medical inadmissibility:
1. Respond to a Procedural Fairness Letter
- If IRCC suspects medical inadmissibility, they issue a procedural fairness letter.
- Applicants get 90 days to respond with new medical evidence or explanations.
- This may include updated treatments, lower-cost alternatives, or specialist assessments.
2. Submit a Mitigation Plan
- In some cases, IRCC allows submission of a Mitigation Plan.
- This should outline how the applicant will manage their condition without relying on Canadian public healthcare.
- Evidence must show:
- How services will be accessed (e.g., private care)
- How they’ll be paid for (e.g., savings, insurance)
- Financial capacity and Declaration of Willingness to cover expenses.
3. Apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
- If PR or super visa is not possible due to medical inadmissibility, a TRP might be an option.
- TRPs allow entry for short-term stays (up to 3 years).
- Applicants must prove their visit is important and not a threat to Canadian society.
The 2025 PGP Lottery
IRCC is sending 17,860 invitations to sponsors who submitted Interest to Sponsor forms in 2020. The intake opened on July 28, 2025, and invited applicants must submit full applications by October 9, 2025.
Only 10,000 complete applications will be accepted under the program this year.
Alternative: Apply for a Super Visa
If you’re not selected in the PGP lottery, you can apply for a Super Visa, which allows your parents or grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years per visit (within a 10-year validity period).
Eligibility for a super visa requires:
- The applicant must be outside Canada.
- They must purchase private health insurance.
- The sponsor must meet income requirements.
- The sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, PR, or registered Indian, and at least 18 years old.
Takeaway
Medical inadmissibility is not the end of the road. With proper planning, documentation, and financial preparation, many families can still succeed in reuniting with their loved ones.
If you’re sponsoring a parent or grandparent this year, start preparing medical records early, consider obtaining private insurance, and consult with professionals to reduce the risk of delays or refusal.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
