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Could a health condition make me inadmissible to Canada (excessive demand)?

IRCC may refuse an application if a health condition might cause an excessive demand on health or social services: costs above its threshold, or longer wait times. Some people are exempt. A few questions find IRCC's own words for your case. Nothing here predicts a decision: it follows your immigration medical exam, and a lawyer or licensed consultant can advise on yours.

Answer for your situation

Every quote below was checked word for word on IRCC’s own pages on October 25, 2026. Each answer names its source page and that page’s date.

What IRCC says, situation by situation

Yes, if costs pass IRCC's threshold or worsen wait times.

Excessive demand means costs above IRCC's threshold, or longer wait times for services

In IRCC’s words:
Cost threshold: “$144,390 over 5 years (or $28,878 per year)”
What the threshold is: “This is an amount that we use to decide if the cost of your condition places an excessive demand on Canada’s health and social services.”
Wait times: “the health or social services needed to treat your health condition would negatively affect wait times for services in Canada, or”
“the services needed to treat and manage your health condition would likely cost more than the excessive demand cost threshold”
“Your condition is considered to cause an excessive demand if:”
“This includes any health service where most of the cost is paid by the government.”
“Social services help people to function physically, emotionally, socially, psychologically or vocationally (at work). Most of the cost for social services are paid by government or through publicly funded agencies.”

IRCC Help Centre: how officers decide on excessive demand

Source: IRCC, page dated July 23, 2026
Yes, if your medical exam shows excessive demand.

The excessive demand rules may apply to you; the decision follows your immigration medical exam

In IRCC’s words:
“Medical inadmissibility affects anyone applying to visit, study, work or live permanently in Canada.”
“We may refuse your application if we believe that your health condition might cause an excessive demand on health or social services . This decision is based on the results of your immigration medical exam .”
“Your condition is considered to cause an excessive demand if:”
“the health or social services needed to treat your health condition would negatively affect wait times for services in Canada, or”
“the services needed to treat and manage your health condition would likely cost more than the excessive demand cost threshold”
“$144,390 over 5 years (or $28,878 per year)”

IRCC Help Centre: what being inadmissible for excessive demand means

Source: IRCC, page dated July 23, 2026
No

No: the excessive demand rules don't apply to refugees, protected persons and their dependants

This exception is for excessive demand only. IRCC's other medical reasons, danger to public health or public safety, are separate.

In IRCC’s words:
“Medical inadmissibility rules for excessive demand reasons don’t apply to:”
“refugees and their dependants”
“protected persons”
Source: IRCC, page dated July 23, 2026
No

Usually not: the excessive demand rules don't apply to certain sponsored family members

IRCC's examples are dependent children, spouses and common-law partners being sponsored by family. The exception is for excessive demand only, not the other medical reasons.

In IRCC’s words:
“Medical inadmissibility rules for excessive demand reasons don’t apply to:”
“certain people being sponsored by their family, such as dependant children , spouses and common-law partners”
Source: IRCC, page dated July 23, 2026
Yes, but certain sponsored family members are exempt.

It depends: IRCC exempts only certain sponsored family members

IRCC's examples are dependent children, spouses and common-law partners. Ask IRCC, or a lawyer or licensed consultant, whether your relationship is covered.

In IRCC’s words:
“certain people being sponsored by their family, such as dependant children , spouses and common-law partners”
“Medical inadmissibility rules for excessive demand reasons don’t apply to:”

IRCC Help Centre: does excessive demand apply to everyone?

Source: IRCC, page dated July 23, 2026
Not yet: you can respond within 90 days first.

You can respond within 90 days, before IRCC decides, and a professional may help

In IRCC’s words:
Information you may send: your condition: “your health condition or the medical diagnosis”
Information you may send: medication and services: “the kind of medication and services that you need”
Information you may send: costs: “the cost of medications or services that you need”
“If we believe you may be medically inadmissible, we’ll send you a letter which explains the reason why. This letter is called a procedural fairness letter. You’ll receive this letter before a final decision is made on your application. You’ll have the opportunity to submit information to respond.”
“All additional information must be sent within 90 days from the date of the letter. If you can’t respond by that date, you must contact us to request an extension.”
“You are allowed to get advice or representation from a professional to help you respond to the procedural fairness letter, but it’s not required.”
“If we believe your health condition might cause excessive demand on Canada’s health or social services, we may invite you to send us a mitigation plan. You’ll only be invited to do this if it applies to your specific situation.”

IRCC: check if a representative is authorized

Source: IRCC, page dated July 23, 2026
Not yet: send your mitigation plan with your response.

Send a mitigation plan with your response, if IRCC invited one

In IRCC’s words:
“A mitigation plan explains what you’ll do to make sure you won’t cause an excessive demand on health or social services . Not everyone can give a mitigation plan. If it applies to you, you’ll be invited to send us one. Your plan must be credible, detailed and individual to you.”
“You need to include your mitigation plan in your response to the procedural fairness letter we sent you.”
“Your plan must show:”
“how the services you need will be provided”
“how you’ll pay for those services”
“what your financial situation will be for the entire time you need services (include financial documents)”
“You can’t opt out of publicly-funded health services, except for outpatient prescription medication in some provinces or territories. So you can’t submit a mitigation plan to cover the cost of health services.”
“You must also submit a signed Declaration of Ability and Willingness form. When you sign this form, it means that you agree to take responsibility for arranging the services that you’ll need in Canada along with their costs.”
“You may get advice or representation from someone to help you respond to the procedural fairness letter, but it’s not required.”

IRCC: mitigation plans for excessive demand

Source: IRCC, page dated July 23, 2026
Yes, if IRCC finds a danger to public health or safety.

Two other medical reasons: a danger to public health or to public safety

In IRCC’s words:
“We may refuse your application if we believe your health condition will endanger Canada’s public health. This decision is based on the results of your immigration medical exam .”
“We may refuse your application if we believe that your health condition will endanger public safety. This decision is based on the results of your immigration medical exam .”
“There are 3 possible reasons for medical inadmissibility:”

IRCC: medical inadmissibility

Source: IRCC, page dated July 23, 2026

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Answer for your situation

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Written by AHI Life from IRCC’s own pages; the quotes are IRCC’s words, re-read on their pages every day. General information, not legal advice, and not yet reviewed by a licensed consultant (RCIC). Only a licensed representative may charge you for immigration advice.