It can be alarming to be asked for a second medical exam when your existing one is technically still valid and less than two years old. Group members explained the likely reasoning behind this.
What group members said:- Medical exams are generally valid for about one year, not two. If your understanding was that it's valid for two years, that may be the source of the confusion — members confirmed the standard validity window is one year.
- If your existing medical is set to expire in the coming months, IRCC may proactively request a new one so that a valid medical is on file by the time they're ready to finalize a decision, rather than risk approving a permit with an expired medical.
One member noted their own application was ultimately refused after being asked to redo their medical, which is a reminder that a re-medical request itself isn't necessarily a bad sign, but it's worth completing it promptly and making sure every other part of your application is in order.