Book the medical now. Do not wait for IRCC's formal request. Book a panel physician appointment, complete the exam, and submit a webform to IRCC with your e-medical confirmation. Waiting only adds weeks to your processing time. The only risk is that results expire after 12 months — not a concern for most SOWP applicants.
You submitted your Spousal Open Work Permit application, biometrics are done, and then you realized — you forgot to do the upfront medical exam. Now your IRCC account shows no updates and no medical request. What do you do?
The short answer: book the medical now. Here is exactly why, and how to do it correctly.
An upfront medical exam is a medical examination completed before or immediately after submitting your application, rather than waiting for IRCC to formally request one. Not all SOWP applicants are required to complete a medical exam — it depends on your country of citizenship and how long you intend to stay in Canada.
If you are required to complete one, IRCC will eventually issue a formal medical request. But submitting an upfront medical proactively tells the officer that your file is complete, which can speed up processing significantly.
Book now. Here is the practical comparison:
| Option | What Happens | Timeline Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Book proactively now | Complete exam, submit webform, officer sees complete file | Faster — no back-and-forth with IRCC |
| Wait for IRCC request | Officer eventually sends request, you book, complete, resubmit | Adds 4–8 weeks minimum to processing |
IRCC processes files in the order received. If your file is flagged as waiting on medical results, it sits idle until the medical arrives. Proactively completing the exam removes that bottleneck.
Only IRCC-approved panel physicians can perform immigration medical exams. Find one at the official IRCC panel physician search tool on Canada.ca. Search by city or postal code. In major Canadian cities, appointments are typically available within 1–2 weeks.
Bring your passport, your IRCC application number, and any relevant medical records. The panel physician submits results electronically to IRCC — you do not need to mail anything. You will receive an e-medical confirmation (IMM 5645 or similar) from the physician's office.
After the exam, log into your IRCC account and submit a webform notifying IRCC that your medical is complete. Reference your application number and attach your e-medical confirmation. This flags your file for the officer to check the medical results. Without this step, the officer may not know your medical is already on file.
Medical results are typically received by IRCC within 15 business days of the exam. After that, your file should move forward. If your account shows no update after 3–4 weeks post-exam, send a follow-up webform.
Medical exam results are valid for 12 months from the exam date. If IRCC has not made a decision before expiry, you will need to redo the exam. For most SOWP applicants in 2026, processing completes well within 12 months — this is not a practical concern unless your application is unusually complex.
In rare cases, IRCC may determine that a medical exam is not required for your specific application. In that case, the exam cost (typically $200–$400 CAD depending on the clinic) is not refunded. You can contact your panel physician before booking to confirm whether your profile requires a medical, but in practice, if upfront medical was listed as a requirement for your country, proceed.
Eight weeks post-biometrics with no update is normal. IRCC does not update the online account at every processing step. The absence of a medical request does not mean the medical is not required — it may simply mean your file has not yet reached the officer who would send that request.
Proactively completing the medical exam means that when your officer does open your file, everything is already there. This is the approach most experienced immigration practitioners recommend.
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Browse All GuidesInformation based on IRCC official guidance and Canada.ca, May 2026. Immigration rules change — verify current requirements at Canada.ca before taking action. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.