Medical Surveillance Undertaking

  • Instructions
  • Public Health Unit (PHU) Confirmation
  • Client Information and Consent
  • Demographic Information
  • Immigration Information
  • Health Information
  • Preview
  • Complete
0%

Tuberculosis immigration medical surveillance (TB IMS) is a requirement of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for specific individuals.

When you applied to come to Canada to live, work, study or visit for six months or more, you are required to have an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) by an IRCC doctor. If your IME showed that you have inactive TB or had TB disease in the past, this means you have a higher risk of getting sick with TB in the future. Therefore, a second TB health assessment is required after arrival in Canada to protect you, your family and the general public.

Reporting for tuberculosis immigration medical surveillance
1

Report to your local public health unit

  • You must report to the public health unit where you live. If you live in York Region, complete this form to report your TB status to the York Region Public Health unit. If you live outside of York Region, use the Ontario Public Health Unit Locator to find which public health unit is for you
  • Alternatively, you can call the York Region Tuberculosis program at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76000 (interpreters are available if you speak another language)
  • By reporting to York Region, you have initiated the immigration medical surveillance process
2

See a doctor

  • Once you have reported in, a TB nurse will send you a TB medical assessment form with instructions to see a health care provider within 6-8 weeks. Bring the TB medical assessment form to a doctor or nurse practitioner of your choice. York Region does not see clients for medical appointments. Initial medical assessment should be completed within 4-12 weeks depending on your immigration status
  • The doctor/nurse practitioner will complete the form, order a chest x-ray and other tests if necessary
  • Ask your doctor/nurse practitioner to fax your completed form, chest x-ray report and other tests to York Region at (905) 895-5450
3

Get your TB immigration medical surveillance compliance letter

  • Once all your medical reports have been received by York Region, your TB nurse will review them. If no further follow-up is needed, the nurse will notify IRCC that you have complied with the requirements of TB IMS. The TB nurse will send you a letter as proof of your compliance within 4-6 weeks after your doctor/nurse practitioner submits your medical reports 

Cost of TB immigration medical surveillance

The cost of TB IMS in Ontario can be covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). To find out if you are eligible, please call the Service Ontario INFOline at 1-800-268-1154 or visit the Ministry of Health website to Apply for OHIP and Get a Health Card.

  • If you are waiting a few months until your OHIP coverage comes into effect, you can wait to book your TB medical check-up until you have OHIP coverage
  • If you develop signs and symptoms that could be active TB disease before you have your TB IMS medical assessment, speak to your doctor/nurse practitioner right away
  • If you are not eligible for OHIP and have private health insurance, contact your insurance provider directly to find out if the TB immigration medical surveillance medical assessment is covered by your policy
  • If you are not eligible for OHIP and do not have any insurance coverage, you must pay for the costs of the TB IMS medical assessment and tests. Costs are variable
Leaving Canada before completing TB immigration medical surveillance

IRCC will only accept TB medical assessments carried out in Canada to meet the requirements of TB immigration medical surveillance.

It can take up to twelve (12) months to complete the TB IMS process. If you are staying in York Region now, but plan on moving to another city in the next few months, we recommend you get your TB medical assessment in the health unit you will be living in for at least six (6) months.

It is important to tell us if you change your address, phone number, or leave the country while you are on TB immigration medical surveillance. Please notify:

  1. York Region Public Health by calling 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76000 or by emailing @email
  2. Public Health Liaison Unit – Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) by email at @email

In the email include your:

  • Full name
  • Unique client identifier (UCI) number on your immigration documents

If you leave the country before completing TB immigration medical surveillance, the TB IMS condition of landing will still be on your immigration file. This means border officials may ask you about it when you re-enter Canada.

How does TB immigration medical surveillance affect immigration status
  • If IRCC refers you for TB immigration medical surveillance, there will be a “condition of landing” on your immigration file.  This condition will be removed from your immigration file once you have completed TB immigration medical surveillance
  • If you do not complete TB medical surveillance, it may impact your current and/or future immigration applications
  • If you are diagnosed with active TB disease during the medical assessment, it will not affect your immigration status or your family’s status
  • If you have any questions about why you were placed on TB medical surveillance, please contact Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada

This information is being collected under the authority of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.H.7 for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining a medical history to provide or assist in the provision of treatment for tuberculosis, for the purpose of case management, client follow up, monitoring and contact tracing, for the purpose of public health administration and for the provision of statistical data to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. This information will be retained, used, disclosed, and disposed of in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, S.O. 2004, c. 3. Any questions regarding this collection may be directed to the Manager of Tuberculosis Control Program, 9060 Jane Street, 5th Floor, Vaughan, Ontario L4K 0G5, (905) 830-4444 extension 76000