Canada has revised its Excessive Demand threshold for immigration applicants, raising the annual limit for medical inadmissibility to $27,162, effective January 2025. This marks an increase from the 2024 threshold of $26,220 and affects individuals who require government-funded health or social services.
How the Excessive Demand Threshold Works
The Excessive Demand threshold is based on the cost of government-funded health and social services in Canada. Immigration applicants whose projected medical costs exceed this limit over a five-year period may be deemed medically inadmissible.
There are two primary conditions under which an applicant may be found inadmissible:
- Their anticipated healthcare or social service costs exceed the annual threshold when calculated over five years.
- Their medical condition is likely to add pressure on existing waitlists, potentially affecting mortality or morbidity rates in Canada.
This policy ensures that the country’s healthcare system can sustain the needs of both current residents and newcomers without additional strain.
Health and Social Services Considered Under This Policy
The medical inadmissibility rule applies to various government-funded health and social services in Canada. However, some services remain exempt from the threshold calculation. The following do not contribute to an excessive demand finding:
- Special education services
- Rehabilitation programs
- Personal support services
These exemptions ensure that certain essential services, particularly those related to disability and rehabilitation, do not become barriers to immigration.
Exemptions for Humanitarian and Compassionate Applicants
Applicants seeking immigration under Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds are exempt from the Excessive Demand policy. This means that those applying under these special considerations will not face medical inadmissibility due to high healthcare or social service costs.
What This Means for Immigration Applicants
The update to the Excessive Demand threshold reflects the latest adjustments to Canada’s medical inadmissibility policies. While the increase in the threshold offers a new cost benchmark, immigration applicants must still meet admissibility requirements under this framework.
