Canada Biometrics and Medical Exam in Nairobi: VFS Global and IOM Guide
Canada Biometrics and Medical Exam in Nairobi: Practical Guide for Kenyan Express Entry Applicants
After you submit your Express Entry application post-ITA, IRCC sends you a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) and a Medical Exam request. These are two separate physical appointments in Nairobi. Both have to be completed within the timelines IRCC specifies in those letters — typically 30 days for biometrics and 60 to 90 days for medicals.
Missing these appointments or misunderstanding how to book them delays your application by months. Here is exactly what you need to do.
Biometrics: VFS Global at ABC Place, Nairobi
IRCC does not collect biometrics directly. In Kenya, biometrics for Canadian immigration are collected by VFS Global at their service center inside ABC Place on Waiyaki Way in Westlands, Nairobi.
How to book your appointment:
Once you receive your Biometric Instruction Letter from IRCC, go to the VFS Global Canada portal at visa.vfsglobal.com/ken/en/can. Select the biometrics appointment option for Kenya. You will need:
- Your BIL reference number from IRCC
- A valid email address for confirmation
- Your passport number
The biometrics fee is USD 85 (approximately KES 11,000) for a single applicant. This covers a family of up to five people if they are all on the same application — a single fee applies per family, not per person.
Appointment availability:
During peak immigration periods — typically June through September — VFS Nairobi fills up two to three weeks in advance. Do not wait to book. Log in to the portal the day you receive your BIL and grab the earliest available slot. If you cannot find an appointment within a reasonable timeframe, check again the following morning — cancellations open up daily.
What to bring:
- Original passport (and copies of the main biographical page)
- Biometric Instruction Letter printed (some VFS staff will accept digital, but bring a print to avoid issues)
- The VFS appointment confirmation email
- Payment confirmation if you paid online; cash or card for any additional fees at the counter
The appointment itself takes about 15 to 20 minutes. A VFS officer photographs you and scans all ten fingerprints digitally. After the appointment, biometrics data is transmitted to IRCC electronically — you do not receive a certificate.
Note: biometrics are shared across Canadian immigration applications for ten years. If you have applied for a Canadian visa or study permit in the past decade and already submitted biometrics, check your IRCC online account — you may not need to repeat this step.
Medical Exam: IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre, Nairobi
Canada requires an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) conducted by an IRCC-approved Panel Physician. In Kenya, the primary authorized facility is the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC), located in Lavington, Nairobi — approximately on Gigiri Drive.
There are also a small number of private panel physicians in Nairobi authorized by IRCC. You can verify the current list through the IRCC panel physician locator on the Canada.ca website. Use this tool rather than trusting word-of-mouth, as authorization status changes.
How to book:
Contact the IOM Nairobi MHAC directly to schedule your appointment. Do not book this until you have received your medical exam request from IRCC — the exam must reference your specific application. IRCC sends medical instructions through your online account after your biometrics are processed.
IOM Nairobi typically has availability within two to four weeks. Call ahead rather than relying solely on email to confirm your appointment date.
What the exam includes:
The Immigration Medical Exam covers:
- Chest X-ray (to screen for tuberculosis)
- Blood tests (HIV and syphilis testing in most cases)
- Physical examination by the panel physician
- Review of your vaccination history (you do not need to get vaccinations at this appointment, but the physician may flag missing vaccinations relevant to Canadian public health requirements)
The physician submits results directly to IRCC — you do not receive a copy of the medical exam results to include with your application. IRCC tracks the exam through your unique medical case number.
Cost:
The IME costs approximately $350 CAD per adult, which at current exchange rates is roughly KES 33,000 to 38,000. Each person on the application — including dependent children — must complete their own exam. Children under 5 typically have a shorter examination with fewer tests. The IOM facility accepts payment in Kenyan shillings.
Additional blood tests or follow-up examinations requested by the physician cost extra and must be completed at IOM's direction.
Common reasons for medical holds:
IRCC places a medical hold on applications when:
- Tuberculosis screening requires further investigation (Kenya is a TB-endemic country, so additional follow-up steps — typically a sputum culture — are sometimes triggered by an X-ray result that does not indicate active TB but requires confirmation)
- Blood test results are outside normal parameters
- An undisclosed pre-existing condition is identified
A medical hold does not mean refusal. It means IRCC needs more information. The IOM physician will advise on the required follow-up, which can add several weeks to your timeline.
Timing Both Appointments
The ideal sequence:
- Receive your ITA, submit your full application to IRCC
- Receive your Biometric Instruction Letter — book VFS immediately for the earliest slot
- Complete biometrics at VFS ABC Place
- Receive your Medical Exam request from IRCC (comes after biometrics are processed)
- Book IOM MHAC for the IME — schedule within the specified deadline
- Complete the medical exam
Do not try to complete the medical exam before receiving IRCC's formal medical request. Unauthorized or premature medical exams cannot be linked to your application and will not be accepted.
The full timeline from ITA to receiving a Confirmation of Permanent Residence, including biometrics and medicals, typically runs four to eight months for Kenyan applicants once the application is submitted. The Kenya → Canada Express Entry Guide includes a month-by-month post-ITA timeline with the specific Nairobi locations and contact details for VFS and IOM — information that IRCC's generic instructions do not provide.
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