Can a Person with Hepatitis B Immigrate to Canada? The Most Accurate Answer

Whether a person with Hepatitis B can immigrate to Canada is a concern for many people. When immigrating to the Maple Leaf country, you need to undergo a health check as part of the immigration process.

There are cases where Hepatitis B is detected during the health check, leading to questions about whether you can still immigrate to Canada with this condition.

In the following article, ImmiPath will help you resolve all your questions. Take a look now!

1. Can a Person with Hepatitis B Immigrate to Canada?

Canada is known as a welcoming country for immigrants. However, to be eligible for a Canadian immigration visa, you must go through several stages, including a mandatory immigration health examination. If you happen to discover that you have Hepatitis B and are unsure whether this condition will affect your ability to immigrate to Canada.

ImmiPath will answer to you “Hepatitis B does not eliminate your chances of immigrating, living, and working in Canada.”

When applying for immigration to Canada, your visa eligibility will still be considered based on your current health condition and the stage of the disease.

If you are in the early stages of Hepatitis B and are not expected to be a burden on the Canadian healthcare system, you may still be eligible to apply for immigration as usual.

If you are currently undergoing treatment for Hepatitis B, it’s essential to carefully consider whether immigrating to Canada is the right choice. ImmiPath advises that the treatment process can be exhausting, requiring ample time for rest and recovery.

If you feel that your health is fragile and that you may not be able to care for yourself adequately during this period, it might be best to reconsider immigrating to Canada.

2. Overview of Hepatitis B

2.1. From the World Health Organization (WHO)

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, not through casual contact. It can lead to severe liver damage, lifelong infection, liver cancer, liver failure, and even death.

Globally, around 2 billion people have been infected with the virus, and approximately 350 million people are living with chronic Hepatitis B.

It is estimated that around 600,000 people die each year due to the acute or chronic consequences of Hepatitis B.

About 25% of adults who were chronically infected during childhood eventually die from liver cancer or cirrhosis (liver scarring) caused by the chronic infection.

The Hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV.

However, Hepatitis B is preventable with a safe and effective vaccine.

2.2. From Health Canada

When issuing a residency visa, Health Canada evaluates Hepatitis B based on two criteria:

• Risk of Transmission to Others
• Excessive Demand on Health Services

During the medical examination process, the following evaluations are performed:

• Comprehensive medical examination for all family members.
• Chest X-ray and radiologist’s report for everyone aged 11 and older.
• Blood tests for everyone aged 15 and older.
• Urine tests for everyone aged 5 and older.
• HIV tests for all individuals aged 15 and older, as well as for children who have received blood or blood products or have a known HIV-positive mother.

You and each of your family members will need to complete your own Medical Report form, where you must answer the questions listed on the IMM 5419 form.

If there is a history of Hepatitis in individuals over the age of 15, the applicant must provide details, including the date and type of Hepatitis, if known.

Note: If the applicant is not exempt from the excessive demand requirement, results of serum AST and ALT should be provided. 

If these levels are abnormal (greater than 1.5 times the normal value), a specialist’s report, including Hepatitis C antibody and Hepatitis B surface antigen tests, should be submitted.

3. Tips for a Smooth Canadian Immigration Medical Examination

To ensure a smooth process during your medical examination for Hepatitis B as part of your Canadian immigration application, keep the following tips in mind:

• Bring the appointment notice issued by the National Visa Center of Canada.
• Prepare two recent 4×6 cm photos (no Photoshop, no smiling, with clear visibility of eyes, nose, mouth, and ears), taken within the last 6 months.
• Passport
• Obtain a vaccination certificate from the International Medical Quarantine Center.
• The examination costs approximately $110 for children and $140 for adults.

A medical examination is mandatory to complete your Canadian immigration application. Without it, your application will be returned.

The Consulate usually provides a pre-filled health exam request form via email. Print this form and bring it to the designated health examination center specified by the Canadian Consulate.

Schedule your appointment and arrive about 30 minutes early. Clearly state that your purpose is for a Canadian immigration health exam.

During the health examination to immigrate to Canada and test to see whether hepatitis B is allowed to immigrate to Canada, you need to limit eating a lot of sweets because increased blood sugar levels cause errors in the testing process.

You should consider eating bread, rice, or sticky rice to settle your stomach before the examination. Also, try not to drink too much water before your appointment.

After completing your health examination, retain the medical certificate provided by the doctor. You will need to include it when submitting your Canadian residency visa application.

4. Where Do You Get a Medical Examination for Canadian Immigration?

To undergo a medical examination for Canadian immigration, including testing for Hepatitis B, you should visit one of the two International Organization for Migration (IOM) centers designated by the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Department:

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Hanoi

• Address: 23rd Floor, Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower, Pham Hung, Me Tri, Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi.
• Contact Number: (84-24) 3736 6258

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ho Chi Minh City

• Address: 1b Pham Ngoc Thach, Ben Nghe, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
• Contact Number: 028 3822 2057

With the information shared above, you should now have a clearer understanding of whether Hepatitis B affects your ability to immigrate to Canada. ImmiPath hopes this will be helpful for those seeking experience in undergoing the medical examination for Canadian immigration.

If you have any further questions about the Canadian immigration medical exam or restricted conditions for entering Canada, feel free to comment below the article. ImmiPath’s consultant team will gladly assist you, providing thorough advice to help you successfully obtain your visa and travel to Canada to work or reunite with loved ones.

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