What’s a Panel Physician?

A panel physician is a doctor who’s been approved by the Canadian government (IRCC) to do medical exams for people applying to move to Canada. These are called Immigration Medical Exams, or IMEs for short.

If you’re applying for permanent residency—or coming to Canada as a student, temporary worker, visitor or even as a refugee—you’ll probably need to get one of these exams done.

One important thing to know: you can’t just go to your regular family doctor for this. It has to be done by a panel physician who is approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Our panel doctors handle all the checks required for the immigration process. That can include tests for things like tuberculosis, plus other basic health checks to make sure you’re in good shape and ready to start your new life in Canada.

How Do Panel Physicians Work with IRCC?

Panel physicians work closely with IRCC by handling the medical exams (IMEs) needed for immigration. If you're applying to move to Canada, there's a good chance you’ll need to complete one. IRCC will let you know if it’s required and give you a list of approved panel doctors near your area.

Once you choose a doctor, just book your appointment and head in for your exam. The panel physician will take care of the full medical check-up, including organizing all parts of the IME like blood tests, X-rays, and any other required screenings. They’ll make sure everything is done properly and sent to IRCC for review.

What is IRCC?

IRCC stands for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. It’s the government department that handles everything related to coming to or staying in Canada.

Here’s what they do:

• Process immigration applications

• Grant permanent resident (PR) status

• Support refugees who are seeking asylum

• Handle citizenship applications

• Issue travel documents like passports

Basically, if you're planning to move to Canada, become a citizen, or need official travel papers, IRCC is the one in charge.

CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) used to be the name of the department, but in 2015 it was renamed IRCC to better reflect its role in handling not just immigration and citizenship, but also refugee cases. Even though the name changed, the main job stayed the same—managing immigration, citizenship, and refugee services more efficiently.

What Happens During an Immigration Medical Exam (IME)?

When you go in for your IME, you’ll need to bring a valid ID and fill out a short form about your medical history. It’s helpful to bring any medications you’re currently taking, along with medical notes or records from your previous doctors if you have them.

Here’s what typically happens during the exam:

• Physical exam – The doctor will measure your height and weight, check your hearing and vision, and listen to your heart and lungs. They’ll also take a look at your abdomen, how your joints move, and your skin—just to make sure everything looks healthy. No genital or rectal exams are involved.

• Chest x-ray – Required if you’re 11 or older. Most of our clinics can do this right on-site.

• Creatinine test – Needed if you’re 15 or older, or if you’ve had kidney issues in the past.

• Blood tests for syphilis and HIV – Required for everyone aged 15 and up.

• Mental health check – This might be done if you’re over 75 or have certain medical conditions. It’s nothing to worry about—just a general check-in to make sure you’re doing okay mentally. No prep needed.

Please note: IRCC no longer requires blood pressure checks or urine tests as part of the IME.

Do Panel Physicians Decide the Outcome of Your Immigration Application?

No, we don’t. Our job as panel physicians is simply to carry out your Immigration Medical Exam (IME) and send the results to IRCC. We’re not involved in making any decisions about your immigration status. That decision is entirely up to IRCC, and they’ll look at your IME results along with everything else in your application to make their determination.

Looking for a Panel Physician for Your Immigration Medical Exam?

Completing your Immigration Medical Exam (IME) is a key step in your move to Canada—and we're here to help make it stress-free. Our panel physicians are approved by the Canadian government and perform IMEs in a welcoming, well-maintained environment. We make sure everything is done properly and your results are sent to IRCC without delay.

At GTA Immigration Physicians, we’re proud to support you through this exciting process and would be thrilled to help welcome you to Canada!

If you have any questions or are ready to book your exam, just get in touch. Our team is always happy to help you take the next step with confidence.