Anyone have any experience getting a visa/citizenship if you have a cancer history?
Posted by violetgay@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 25 comments
I'm considering leaving the United States but I have a history of breast cancer. I'm 33 and have been NED for about 2 years but I still need medical monitoring and mammograms.
From my research I've found many countries require a person to be in good health in order to get a visa or citizenship, so I'm concerned my options may be limited.
If you have any experience with this I would greatly appriciate any guidance or advice, it is very overwhelming.
rachaeltalcott@reddit
When I moved to France there were no questions on the visa application about health. There is a medical screening after arrival. They appear to be mostly interested in preventing the spread of infectious disease. I got a polio booster out of it.
violetgay@reddit (OP)
Thank you, that's great to hear. I am up to date on all my vaccinations, I'll make sure to bring those records.
Western_Pen7900@reddit
How are you planning to come? Ive moved to 3 european countries with Type 1 diabetes and none have even asked for a medical screening at all. But I am on a work visa so perhaps its presumed Im not some sort of medical tourist I guess?
SeanBourne@reddit
I think it’s all country based. I moved to Australia on a sponsored, skills shortage visa (and my employer also suggested a ‘global talent’ visa during one part of the process), and the visa type didn’t make a difference on their diligence - they required medical histories and the PR application included a physical alongside submission.
unnecessary_otter@reddit
None in Germany either. Actually applied for naturalisation and my health has never been brought up.
carltanzler@reddit
Canada, Australia, New Zealand have health requirements and afaik that's about it in the 'western world'.
SeanBourne@reddit
Can confirm that Australia vets this - in addition to taking your history during substantive visa steps, they conduct a physical that is part of your PR application. This is regardless of if you’re a global talent, sponsored, skill-shortage, etc.
Feenster01@reddit
South Africa, as well.
Quirky-Camera5124@reddit
cancer is not infectious or contagious, so under those rules you are healthy. there is no reason for anyone to deny you a visa on health grounds.
Beneficial-Sound-199@reddit
Not universally true
fanny33133@reddit
You might want to look into insurance policies where you’re going to see if anything were to come up if they’d consider it a “pre existing condition”
batch1972@reddit
My mum applied for an Australian residency visa. She had been clear of breast cancer for five years but was rejected on the basis that she would be a burden on the taxpayer. That was 17 years ago. She had never felt so worthless. They were willing and able to work. They had several investment properties. They would have been fully self funded.
nonula@reddit
France wants to make sure new immigrants don’t have TB. You do need health insurance, which might entail excluding preexisting conditions for a time. Unless you come based on a job, in which case you’ll be given access to the French health system and you won’t need insurance of your own.
juleskittyt@reddit
I’m in Norway as a 6 year breastfeeding cancer survivor. No health questions on the residency process and the healthcare here has been great.
Tardislass@reddit
It depends which country and I wouldn't be shocked if requirements got tougher with the requirements for immigrants getting stricter.
Also you may want to look at the national healthcare for that countries. In many European countries , routine yearly mammograms are not covered for younger women like yourself. It's not like America. The yearly testing is not as prevalent in many countries.
Just something to think about.
itslilou@reddit
For Canada they will not rule you out immediately but they will try to figure out if you will surpass the threshold of what you will cost money wise in healthcare needs. What that threshold is I don’t know, but there has been people with past cancer diagnosis that passed their medical.
Good luck 💗
CoffeeWithDreams89@reddit
Mexico has no such restrictions. They will likely not allow you to be insured by the national health system because of a pre existing condition, but private pay healthcare in Mexico is excellent and affordable, and often English speaking.
dobbythehufflepuff@reddit
Great that you have been healthy for two years!
It would be helpful if you give an indication of which region of the world or which countries you are looking into. Any ideas? Or open to everything?
violetgay@reddit (OP)
Thank you! 😊
I'm open to anywhere with the caveat that there has to be decent healthcare infrastructure so I can get mammograms and treatment if something happens (knock on wood).
Somewhere that is accessible to English speakers would be ideal. No matter where I end up I plan on learning the predominant language but as of right now I am only fluent in English and have a basic knowledge of Spanish.
SideStreetHypnosis@reddit
I recommend looking into Uruguay.
polyetc@reddit
Panama has good healthcare. There is a health exam to get in but they don't review your whole medical record to dig into your history. I think they are mostly looking for infectious diseases. However I will mention I haven't been through this process myself yet, I am researching but not able to move at this time. I have medical problems but nothing I've seen suggests I'll be denied for a visa on that basis.
However you may have difficulty getting Panama health insurance because they have limitations for pre-existing conditions. Some people use foreign insurance that has coverage abroad, but many expats do self-pay because the healthcare is fairly affordable there.
LongjumpingAd9071@reddit
Brasil has public healthcare and for visas/residency/naturalization they don’t ask about healthcare.
Legally in Brasil if I am not mistaken I do not think they can discriminate against anyone who is disabled or has a chronic health condition like cancer when it comes to immigration related matters.
The healthcare here is the best I have gotten having been to hospitals in the U.S. and South America. All the beaIlians who live overseas always come back here to do health and dental care.
Personally, I am at a higher risk for breast cancer. So my doctors have been monitoring me for years, and GYN things here are years ahead of the U.S.
I got genetic testing for hereditary cancers here in 2022 and they looked at 141 genes and I saw a genetic oncologist not a genetic counselor. My aunt has a rare genetic disease and has gotten treatment at NIH, when I told her how thorough they have been here with me she said the only place I’d get care this good in the states is probably at NIH.
Here when you get exams it’s usually the doctor doing the exam instead of a tech or some assistant.
As a resident in Brazil you have guaranteed access to SUS our public health system and won’t pay. SUS includes the dentist and the cancer care in Rio via the public health system I have heard is great, sometimes better than what you might get via private healthcare/health insurance
And medical care here is a lot more thorough, more focused on prevention.
For visas and residency it’s more a question of getting the right documents and following the rules, they want someone who will contribute and not commit crimes or other things. Our taxes pay for SUS so that’s a net net for them.
Learning Portuguese isn’t easy and good health insurance is expensive but health insurance is way more regulated and transparent than the U.S.
It’s easier for me to deal with health insurance and healthcare and taxes here in Brazil, in my third language than in the U.S. in my first language.
I hope this helps and good luck.
HVP2019@reddit
Only handful of countries have strict health restrictions for some types of visa, so your health is NOT your main limiting factor
violetgay@reddit (OP)
Okay, that's heartening. What would you say is the main limiting factor, or what was it for you?
HVP2019@reddit
Finding legal paths to move to a country where I have high probability to have better life as an immigrant ( not just today but 30-50 years in the future) compared to what my life would be if I were to continue to live my life as a citizen of my country.