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Why GCKey may show a pending medical request even after your study permit is refused

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Step-by-Step

It can be confusing to see a new medical exam request appear in GCKey within an hour of receiving a refusal — but group members explained this is a known technical quirk, not an error in your case specifically.

What's happening:
  1. The medical field in GCKey is often updated from other Government of Canada systems, separate from the actual decision-making process. So a medical request notice can appear or update on its own timeline, unrelated to when the officer actually made their decision.

  2. Once a refusal decision has been made and communicated, it's final. Completing the outstanding medical request will not reopen or change the outcome — the application is already closed.


If you're in this situation, there's no need to scramble to complete the medical exam in hopes of reversing the decision. Instead, review the refusal letter for the stated reasons and consider whether a new application (addressing those reasons) or other options make sense.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Tip: Don't panic if GCKey shows a new or updated medical request right after a refusal — the medical field can lag behind the real decision because it's updated from other IRCC systems.
  • Don't: Don't assume completing a leftover medical request will reverse a finalized refusal — once IRCC has decided, the case is closed.

Have a question about this? Join the discussion.

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