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This paper is a literature review examining the evidence for and against the existence of the "healthy immigrant effect" for mental health in Canada, a phenomenon where the foreign-born population has better levels of mental health compared to the national-born population. The methodological strengths and weaknesses of the present body of literature are examined, followed by recommendations for future research. The literature review yielded inconclusive evidence. The "healthy immigrant effect" for mental health did not hold true across all immigrant populations. It varied by factors such as country of origin, visible minority status, and wave of immigration. Future studies need to consider these important factors and include analyses of longitudinal data to further elucidate the "healthy immigrant effect" for mental health in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]