Your immigration medical exam is an essential part of the immigration process - and a requirement for permanent residency. In this post, our Ottawa and Orleans immigration physicians share tips on how to find and choose an IRCC-approved panel physician.
What is a Panel Physician?
If you've never heard the term 'Panel Physician' in connection with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, you might be wondering exactly what we do, how we're approved and how you can find the type of physician you need to conduct your Immigration Medical Exam (IME) so you can immigrate to Canada with all the proper paperwork you'll need to complete and submit.
A Panel Physician is a doctor who has been approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to perform Immigration Medical Exams. We understand the requirements of the Canadian government and are here to answer your questions and make the process as easy as possible for you.
Immigration Physician Ottawa's experienced Panel Physicians can conduct all the medical exams you'll require to immigrate to Canada at either of our locations in Ottawa or Orleans.
We are members of the International Panel Physician Association and registered as Interim Federal Health Program providers.
How can I find and choose a Panel Physician in Ottawa?
Here are the steps we recommend taking to find a Panel Physician who can conduct your Immigration Medical Exam:
1. Visit Canada Immigration & Citizenship's (CIC) website.
Go to the CIC's website and select the country (e.g. Canada) and province (Ontario) where you'll be taking your exam. You'll be presented with a list of Panel Physicians located in different cities.
Keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to schedule your medical exam with a Panel Physician who's near your current city of residence. For example, if you live in Perth but work in Ottawa and would prefer to see a Panel Physician before or after work in Ottawa, you can do this. In fact, you can see a Panel Physician anywhere in Canada to take your medical exam.
The CIC's site links to numerous Panel Physicians' websites where you can find more information about their availability, location, and prices, as well as their Google Reviews.
2. Learn more about each Panel Physician, their services and fees.
You'll find most Panel Physicians' service fees and prices on their websites. If you aren't able to find their fees, feel free to call them. Some clinics' offer all-inclusive fees, while others may price their tests separately or offer additional services.
For example, at one clinic you may pay a physical medical exam fee, and another fee for urine and blood tests. Remember to ask for total fees for all tests to conduct a fair comparison between fees at different clinics.
3. Consider Important Factors
Here are some factors you may want to consider as you search for and choose a Panel Physician:
Availability
Depending on the date you need to book your medical exam (IRCC will provide you with instructions on when to get your exam done), your chosen physician's availability may factor into your choice.
Contact us to schedule your exam today.
Fees
A client's age also determines the fees they will pay. Since younger clients (0-14 years old) require fewer tests, their medical fees will be lower compared to older clients (age 15 or above) who will need to take all tests.
Services & Ratings
A Panel Physician's overall service rating is another important factor that can help you decide which one is right for you.
While there is no accredited central website to view service ratings of all Panel Physicians, comparing Google Reviews by past clients of Panel Physicians near you is one way to establish expectations on the level of service, value and experience you'll have at that particular clinic.
You may consider whether the clinic you're considering offers additional procedures such as X-rays, which can make the process more convenient. Both of our clinic locations offer X-rays.
