A senior government official told The Associated Press visitors will be excluded under the new law to be announced Thursday, precluding the prospect of suicide tourism. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details ahead of the announcement.
The official said to take advantage of the law the person would have to be eligible for health services in Canada.
The law also excludes the mentally ill and does not permit advance requests to end one's life in the future.
Canada's Supreme Court last year struck down laws that bar doctors from helping someone die, but put the ruling on hold while the government came up with a new law.
New Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government asked for a four month extension to come up with the new law.
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, Germany, Albania, Colombia, Japan and the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico and Montana.
California lawmakers also passed legislation, expected to take effect later this year, which would allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives.
The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg allow doctors, under strict conditions, to euthanize patients whose medical conditions have been judged hopeless and who are in great pain.
Canada's Supreme Court declared last year that outlawing that option deprives dying people of their dignity and autonomy. It had been illegal in Canada to counsel, aid or abet a suicide, an offense carrying a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
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