Stanley Muwanguzi says he is on track to become a permanent resident. (CBC)

A critical care doctor whose immigration application was rejected because his daughter might be a drain on the health-care system says he will be allowed to remain in Calgary after all.

On Friday, South African physician Stanley Muwanguzi received word that Ottawa was waiving a requirement for a physical for his 22-year-old daughter on humanitarian grounds.

Muwanguzi says that while he is likely several months away from completing all his paperwork to become a permanent resident, the waiver means it's clear he will be able to stay in Canada.

"I'm extremely excited today. I'm very, very happy. My wife is happy, my kids are happy," he said. "We hope that everything will go smoothly from now on."

His daughter, who has cerebral palsy, has been institutionalized in South Africa since she was a toddler, and Muwanguzi insists he has no intention of moving her to Canada.

Muwanguzi works at the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary and has been practising in Canada since 2002.

He was initially turned down for permanent residence because under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, a "person whose health condition, severe developmental delay associated with cerebral palsy, might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services," is inadmissible to Canada, according to a letter he received from the government.

Since Muwanguzi's "non-accompanying family member is inadmissible to Canada," he was also "inadmissible."

Muwanguzi, who is in Canada on a temporary foreign worker permit, appealed the determination.