tourist visa australia medical test

Do I Need a Health Examination for an Australian Tourist Visa?

For a Visitor visa (Subclass 600), you may undergo medical examinations if you answer “Yes” to any of the questions under health declarations. Otherwise, if you answer “No” to all questions, you may not undergo medical examinations (see screenshot below).

Specifically, you will undergo the following tests if you fall in any of the following situations:

An email will be sent to you by the Department of Home Affairs instructing you to arrange for a medical examination within the specified period.

The email will contain a letter specifying the type of examination you need to undertake and a HAP ID. You will then need to bring this letter to any of the following accredited panel physicians:

• Nationwide Health Systems AUX Inc. with offices in Makati, Davao, Cebu, and Baguio
• St. Luke’s Medical Extension Clinic – Global City in Taguig

Address, clinic hours, telephone numbers and email addresses of these accredited panel physicians are here .

Check out this link to have a full understanding of the health requirements in your visa application.

Please note that your visa application will only be processed once you complete the medical examination requirements.

Go back to the main article: How to Apply for an Australian Tourist Visa: A Complete Guide for Filipino Tourists

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Medical and Health Requirements for Australian Visa

Health requirements for australian visas, applicants for most types of visas for australia are required to meet health requirements (medical checks), who must meet health requirements.

• Applicants for most types of visas for Australia are required to meet health requirements, among other prescribed criteria, before a visa can be granted. All applicants for permanent migration visas are required to undergo a full medical examination and chest x-ray with a “panel doctor” (see below) before a visa can be granted. Some applicants for temporary stay visas may also be required to undergo one or both examinations, or provide a “fitness to travel” letter from a doctor before a visa can be granted.
• All children / dependents included in your application aged 11 + must undertake full medicals and X-ray examination.
• All the persons included in your application as well as all of your dependents (even if they are not included in your application) MUST undertake a medical exam, and must “pass” the medical. If one fails, all fail – and the visa will be refused.

Who is a dependent ?

• a dependent is any person included in your application e.g. a partner / spouse as well as children. Dependents can also include an aged parent if that parent is included in your application
• Dependents do NOT include people other than those included in your application. Note however, that you can not exclude a member of your family unit e.g. a dependent child or partner.
• If you have questions regards your dependents, discuss this with your consultant

Why would you fail a medical ?

• Certain medical conditions e.g. TB will result in an immediate refusal of your application. Other conditions, including HIV, cancer and certain disabilities (physical or mental disability) may potentially result in a visa refusal.  If you are concerned, please contact us to discuss your position.

PANEL DOCTORS

• The Australian Government has designated a group of medical practitioners and radiologists, commonly known as “panel doctors”, to conduct medical examinations on its behalf. A list of panel doctors is available from us
• Please note: Female doctors are included in the list of panel doctors. A woman has the right to have a chaperone present during the examination if desired. Children should be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian during all medical examinations.

FITNESS TO TRAVEL LETTERS

If you have been asked to provide a doctor’s letter, testifying to your fitness to travel to Australia, you can obtain the letter from any GP. That is, it does not have to be from a panel doctor. The doctor’s letter should comment on your fitness to travel to Australia, to remain for the proposed length of stay and to return to your home country. If the doctor has identified a health condition, she/he should comment on how the condition is being treated and how it is to be managed in Australia.

Why do I need a health clearance to come to Australia?

Australia enjoys some of the best health standards in the world. In order to help maintain these standards you must satisfy the health requirements specified in the Migration Regulations before you can be granted a visa for Australia. Dependants and family members who are included in the visa application are individually required to satisfy health requirements.

Australia’s health requirements are designed to:

• minimise public health and safety risks to the Australian community,
• contain public expenditure on health and community services, including Australian social security benefits, allowances or pensions, and
• maintain access of Australian residents to health and other community services.

In line with Australia’s global non-discriminatory immigration policy, the health requirement applies equally to all visa applicants from all countries. Please note that Australia reserves the right to request medical information in any circumstances.

In view of the World Health Organisation’s declaration of a global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB), particular care is taken to screen for this disease including stringent treatment recommendations where signs of earlier infection, however small or old, are apparent. Should you have Tb, you will not be permitted to visit Australia until you have completed recommended treatment and successful re-testing.

I have cancer/heart disease /diabetes /tuberculosis /HIV/AIDS /am obese…will I meet health criteria?

No health condition, with the exception of tuberculosis, automatically precludes the issue of a visa. Apart from tuberculosis, every condition identified in the course of the examinations, or through the questions you are asked in your application, will be individually considered for possible impact on the Australian community, including the costs of treatment or support that would be attracted by that condition. Visa officers are not authorised to advise on medical conditions: the opinion on whether a condition means an applicant does or does not meet the criteria comes from the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth.

If my doctor says there are no signs of active tuberculosis in my x-ray, or that they are old scars, why do the Australian authorities keep asking me for further x-rays and proof of treatment?

Tuberculosis is in global epidemic and emergency status, as declared by the World Health Organisation, with the disease now being the biggest killer of adults in the developing world. Australia has managed to maintain a position of third lowest on the world for some years, so that the disease is no longer common here. Many other countries have not been so fortunate, nevertheless, and where there is a high prevalence, indeed some signs of tuberculosis will be seen in such a high proportion of the population that local doctors may regard them as ‘within normal limits’. As ‘old’ tuberculosis that has formed calcification or scars may reactivate in ten percent of cases, and as relocation, and the stress of travel is often a triggering factor in reactivation, a much stricter view of small, old signs of tuberculosis is maintained by Medical Officers of the Commonwealth.

Why is a health clearance needed if I am going to care for myself/my dependent at home, as there will be no costs to Australian taxpayers?

Australia has a national health insurance and benefits schemes, including income support, nursing home entitlements, and other allowances which, once there is an entitlement based on need, cannot be denied to an Australian resident or citizen. The potential eligibility based on the medical condition of you and/or your family member concerned will be calculated according to the standard accepted medical practice available across Australia, regardless of the level of wealth or private care intended.

Do I need to arrange another health examination if I have recently had one?

If you have completed a health examination in the last twelve months you may not need to undertake a fresh examination if the visa processing office can confirm the details, substance and date of the earlier reports.

How do I arrange a health clearance?

Medical examinations and x-rays are conducted by qualified doctors and radiologists usually nominated by the Department.

Outside Australia: Do not complete your health examination before you lodge your visa application – you will be advised when you need to do so. Contact your nearest Australian diplomatic office for the health requirements, forms and available doctors.

In Australia: You may complete your health examination before lodging your application for a visa (and for some visas it is a formal requirement that you do).

When you present yourself for your health examination, you should bring the following:

• The HAP letter
• your passport for identification,
• any prescription spectacles or contact lenses that you may wear, and
• where you have a known medical condition, any existing specialist reports.

If you think or know that you are pregnant you must tell the person taking the x-ray. It is most likely that you will be asked to complete the x-ray examination after the birth. If you are female, you should not undergo the medical examination during your menstrual period.

What health examinations are needed for visitors to Australia?

Australia enjoys some of the best health standards in the world. In order to maintain these standards everyone entering Australia must meet health requirements, although this does not always require a formal examination.

If you are visiting Australia and not using ETA, you are required to declare your health status on your visa application form. In certain circumstances you may be asked to provide a doctor’s report or undertake a medical and/or radiological examination. These may include where you are:

• aged 70 years old or older,
• a parent of an Australian and you have a “queued” migration application, and intend to stay for more than 6 months,
• likely to enter a hospital or other health care environment, including nursing homes as a patient, visitor, trainee or employee, or for any purpose,
• likely to enter a classroom environment, including preschool, creche and child care situations,
• known or suspected of having a medical condition, regardless of your length of stay, or
• intending to stay in Australia for more than 3 months, and you have recently visited or lived in a country with a Very High-risk rate of tuberculosis (Tb).

What health examinations are needed for Overseas Students?

Individuals applying to study in Australia must satisfy the health requirements specified in the Migration Regulations . Any family unit members who are included in the visa application are also required to undergo at least the same level of health assessment examinations. The health of overseas students studying in Australia is of special concern due to the close contact in the classroom environment. Classroom situations include all levels of schooling and study.

Overseas countries are divided into four risk levels in terms of public health – low, medium, high and very high – according to the incidence rates of tuberculosis, as reported by the World Health Organisation, or as otherwise advised by Australian health authorities.

Please note that if you are required to undergo health examinations, whether you are applying in or outside Australia, processing of your student visa application cannot be completed until medical examinations and x-rays results are provided to the visa processing office.

Outside Australia: You will be requested to undertake health examinations once you have met the criteria for the student visa.

In Australia: You should complete health examinations before lodging an application for a student visa.

If you have completed a health examination in the last twelve months you may not need to undertake a fresh examination, if the details, substance and date of the earlier reports can be confirmed to your visa officer by Departmental staff. Nationals of Sweden and Norway, applying for a student visa in Stockholm or in Australia, are not required routinely to undergo formal health examination.

What health examinations are needed for temporary residence?

If you are intending a temporary stay in Australia, you are required to declare your health status on your visa application form. In certain circumstances you may be asked to provide a doctor’s report or undertake a medical and/or radiological examination. This may include where you are:

• likely to enter a hospital or other health care environment, including nursing homes as either a patient, visitor, trainee or employee,
• known or suspected of having a medical condition, regardless of your length of stay,
• intending to stay in Australia for more than 12 months, or

What health examinations are needed for migration/permanent residence?

All applicants for permanent visas, or for a temporary visa (for example, a provisional spouse visa) that leads to the grant of a permanent visa, are required to undergo health examinations.

You and all dependent family members must meet strict health standards designed to protect Australia from high health risks and costs. All members of your immediate family, including dependent family members who do not intend to migrate, must meet the health requirement. If an applicant cannot meet the health requirement, the visa application must be refused under the Migration Regulations, and refusal of one family member will mean the whole family unit will not be able to proceed. There are strictly limited provisions for overriding a failure to meet the health criterion.

If you are applying outside Australia, please do not complete health examinations before lodging your visa application. You will be informed by staff processing your migration application when to arrange your medical examination. Processing of the entire application can be a lengthy process, and health clearances undertaken too early may expire before other matters are prepared. Costs will be your responsibility, unless you are a UNHCR recognised refugee (accepted subclass 200 applicant).

If you are applying in Australia, you may complete health examinations before lodging your visa application, but be aware that clearances have limited validity.

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What can you expect in your Australian visa health examinations?

Home > Health > What can you expect in your Australian visa health examinations?

As part of your Australian visa application, you may be requested to undertake health examinations to ensure visa applicants meet minimum health standards in order to: 

• protect the local community from public health threats; 
• estimate the cost the applicant will bear to the healthcare system; and
• assess the impact it may have on services in short supply. 

The type of health examinations required by an applicant will depend on specific factors such as:

• the length of the visa being applied for; 
• the country in which the applicant is applying;
• other significant circumstances; and
• pre-declared medical conditions.

Who needs medical examinations?

You can read more about who needs health examinations (and what kind) in our previous blog post here .

If you do require a health examination, the process is detailed below.

What are the types of tests in an examination?

The specific tests you will require depend on your personal circumstances, as detailed in the above blog post. The types of tests performed at a visa medical health examination are set out in the tabs below:

• Chest x-ray
• Medical examination
• HIV test, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B and C test
• TB Screening Test

How do you book an examination?

Firstly, in most cases, you can only book an examination after you have lodged your visa application (and subsequently received the HAP ID). 

Secondly, the process of booking will depend on your location.

In Australia

Onshore appointments must be booked via the Bupa Visa Medical website here . Health examinations can not be completed with other health providers. 

Outside of Australia

Applicants who are offshore must book their appointment with an approved panel physician. These are doctors and radiologists who have been approved by the Department to perform Australian immigration health examinations. To locate your closest panel physician, check the list of panel physicians on the Department’s website here . On the website you will need to:

• select your country;
• scroll down to the tab listed “panel physician” and click on “details”;
• contact the panel physician you prefer.

What are the costs for the medical examinations?

The cost of medical examinations will depend on your location in line with local rates.

In Australia, you can expect to pay the following rates depending on your location:

Metro A Centres include: Sydney, Parramatta, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Greensborough and Bondi Junction

City B Centres include: Baulkham Hills, Belconnen, Bankstown, Corrimal, Darwin, Forest Hill, Hobart, Newcastle, Robina, Royal Park, Preston and Ringwood

Regional C Centres include: Ballarat, Bendigo, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Mount Isa, Orange, Port Augusta, Port Macquarie, Toowoomba, Townsville, Echuca and Wagga Wagga

Regional D Centres include: Alice Springs, Launceston, Albany, Bunbury, Tamworth, Geraldton, Albury, Mildura, Norfolk Island

For the Broome, Carnarvon, Kalgoorlie, Karratha and Kununurra Bupa locations: the costings for tests vary which you can read more about here .

Concessions apply where you are booking more than one test in the same appointment. For example, if you were to book a Medical Examination and X-Ray in a metro A centre, the cost would be $333.20, and to add a HIV and Hepatitis B test to the appointment, it would be a total of $445.10 . 

Unfortunately, visa medical appointments are not eligible for private health rebates. 

Each overseas clinic will have its own individual pricing, therefore patients will need to contact the specific clinic they would like to book into to receive a quote. A few examples of the most popular offshore location pricing are as follows (noting that pricing may vary):

New Zealand

United kingdom, what do you need to bring to your appointment.

When attending your visa medical appointment, make sure to take:

• a current passport, or if expired, the expiration date is no more than 2 years prior to the appointment date (other identification is not accepted);
• your eMedical referral letter to show the examinations required, and to confirm your HAP ID;
• prescription contacts or lenses (if applicable); and
• any specialist reports (if applicable).

What should you expect at the appointment ?

On the day of your appointment, it is good practice to arrive 15 minutes early to allow the staff to check your details and identity documents. They will cross-check the answers provided on your eMedical referral letter and take a passport-style photo for the physicians to identify you. You will then be requested to put your eMedical referral letter, photo, passport and medical reports into a folder, which must be kept on you at all times.

Once the registration process is complete, you will be transferred to the secure waiting room. Any people who are not undertaking medical examinations will be unable to go past this point unless they have prior authorisation, for example, a parent or carer. 

In the secured waiting room, you will then be given a scrub-style shirt and a key to an assigned locker where you can safely store all of your belongings. You will also be asked to enter a changing room and undress from the waist upwards. 

Once complete, you will then be called to each room to undertake each examination.

What should you expect after your appointment?

Upon completion of all of the examinations, you will be asked to return the folder with all of your details to the medical staff, who will confirm that what is required has been completed. 

The results from your health examinations will be transmitted electronically to the Department within 5 business days of completion. The results of the examinations are for the Department’s use only and will not be accessible to anyone else, including yourself. 

You can check the status of your health examinations online via the ImmiAccount used to lodge your application.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about health examinations for you or your family members, feel free to contact us by email at [email protected] or phone +61 3 9016 0484.

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Join the discussion 20 Comments

What are the approved clinics for medical examination to travel to Australia in the State of Qatar?

Hi Abdallah, Gulf Laboratory and X-Ray, Medical and Radiology examinations​​, Street address: 64, Alkinana Street Al Nasr ​ Kind regards, Hannan Tew

What kind of blood tests are done for HIV? Draw blood or pin prick on finger? Absolutely terrified of blood tests

Hi Natasha, Unfortunately they are likely to withdraw blood via needle (though you might contact the clinic before to confirm). Whatever the case, it’ll all be worth it for permanent residence! Hannan Tew

What all tests will be done for a 4 year old kid.

Hi Anuj, That will depend on what visa you will apply for (see here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/health/what-health-examinations-you-need ). Kind regards, Hannan Tew

Colour blind test included or not. if the Australian Visa is rejected if a person is detected as Colour Blind ???

Hi Pape, Being colour blind is unlikely to fail the health test (significant cost or prejudice to access) but feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have specific concerns. Kind regards, Hannan Tew

What time frame is given to undertake the medical examination for a 417 visa application? And how who would I contact to arrange an extension if I’ve missed the given window. (Some people say it’s 28 days. I applied on 6th Dec 22 and have been travelling so not yet managed to get to an approved physician). Many thanks in advance.

Hi Harry, If you are requested to provide medicals, you are generally required to undertake them within 28 days. If you are unable to attend within that time frame, you should upload the reason for your delay in a cover letter (with any supporting evidence) into your ImmiAccoutn within that timeframe, and request further time. Good luck, Hannan Tew

What are the approved physicians for australin medical exams in Poland ( I am a student Applying for Visitor Visa and I am living in Poznan City ) . I some one has information he or she can help me : Thamks , WHATUP and Calls :+48721872768 Or Email: [email protected]

Hi Alain, There are two panel doctors in Poland: (a) Global Health Panel Physician Clinic in Krakow (+48 50 659 0693) or (b) Poradnia lekarsk ‘Sylfium’ in Warsaw ( +48 22 632 1524​). All the best, Hannan Tew ​

Do we have to undress underwear. Are they gonna check private parts or around private parts like groin etc?

Hi Afridi, Generally not, unless it is required for a diclosable assessment. If you are sensitive about this, you may wish to contact the relevant clinic to confirm. Kind regards, Hannan Tew

Can an onshore applicant take their medical exam overseas? My 28 days will lapse while I am travelling, and no slot available currently for the clinic in my city. Thanks

Hi Kay, You can undertake a medical examination offshore (you just need to book with the relevant clinic). Kind regards, Hannan Tew

I had shoulder surgery in October 2022 and have my Medical is 3 weeks time. I’m all good and back to work now. Should I be worried or will I need to take any documents in for this? Do I need to mention it at all?

The only way they’d know is by the little scars.

Also I have thalassemia trait so clicked no to having a blood disorder even though it says includ thalassemia but the trait just means I’m a carrier and don’t have the blood disorder. Is that OK?

Hi Dan, Short term physical injuries are unlikely to impact your overall health assessment. Re your blood disorder disclosure – you can also speak to your medical assessor on the date of your appointment to clarify. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you’d like to discuss further. Kind regards, Hannan Tew

Hi can you please tell that how much hepatitis C detect in blood like mine partner was hepatitis C positive before but now He is taking medicines for cure.

Hi Meet, It’s difficult to determine without knowing specifics, so feel free to contact us at [email protected] to discuss. Kind regards, Hannan Tew

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The medical examination required for your australian visa.

Australia maintains strict health and safety policies to protect the Australian population. As part of the public interest criteria, you might be required to take a medical examination when applying for certain visa types to Australia.

All applicants for permanent visa including the primary applicant, spouse and any members of the family unit applying for the visa must be assessed against the health requirement. Also, under certain circumstances, family members who are not applying for the visa (these are called non-migrating family members) will be assessed against the health requirement, for example, in carer visa.

Are my family members required to take medical examinations?

According to certain visa types, all members of the family unit of the applicant are required to meet the health requirement, regardless of whether they are applying for or intending to join the applicant’s visa at the future.

For these visas, the health requirement is a "one fails, all fail" rule which means that if any member of the applicant's family unit fails to meet the health requirement and no health waiver is available, no other family member will be granted a visa including the primary applicant.

Which health examinations are required when applying for a Permanent Resident visa?

If the applicant is under 2 years of age - a medical examination is required.

If the applicant is between the ages of 2 to 11 - a medical examination is required. Also if the applicant is from a high-risk country for Tuberculosis (TB) or applying for a refugee or humanitarian type visa - TB Screening test will be required as well.

If the applicant is between the age of  11 to 15 – a medical examination and chest x-ray are required.

It the applicant is 15 old and up – a medical examination, chest x-ray and HIV test are required.

What does a medical examination contain?

Blood pressure check

Eyesight – read letters from a chart

Weight – to determine your BMI

Height – to determine your BMI

Heart check

Reflexes check – on the legs

Ears and throat

Lumps underarms and belly

Which health examinations are required when applying for a Temporary visa?

If you are applying for a temporary visa to Australia, the health examination you will be required to undergo will depend on some factors including:

The type of visa you are applying for and the country you are applying from

The length of your intended stay in Australia

The level of tuberculosis risk in your country

Your planned activities in Australia, for example, an applicant from the age of 15 years or older who intends to work as, or study to be, a doctor, dentist, nurse or ambulance paramedic will be required to take specific medical examinations

Any exceptional circumstances which might be applicable

Any significant medical conditions

Which countries do not require immigration health examinations for a temporary visa?

The countries below, are considered lower risk for TB, do not generally need to complete immigration health examinations for a temporary visa unless particular significance applies:

Albania; American Samoa; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Aruba; Australia; Austria; Bahamas; Bahrain; Barbados; Belgium; Belize; Bermuda; Bonaire; Bouvet Island; Bulgaria; Canada; Cayman Islands; Chile; Christmas Island; Cocos (Keeling) Islands; Cook Islands; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cuba; Curacao; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Dominica; Egypt; Estonia; Falkland Islands; Faroe Islands; Finland; France; French Polynesia; FYR Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia); Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Heard and McDonald Islands; Hungary; Iceland; Iran; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kosovo; Kuwait; Lebanon; Lichtenstein; Luxembourg; Malta; Mauritius; Mexico; Monaco; Montenegro; Montserrat; Netherlands; Netherlands Antilles; New Caledonia; New Zealand; Niue; Norfolk Island; Norway; Oman; Palestinian Authority; Pitcairn Island; Poland; Portugal; Puerto Rico; Reunion Island; Saint Eustatius & Saba; Saint Helena (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha); Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Martin (Dutch); Samoa; San Marino; Saudi Arabia; Serbia; Seychelles; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Spain; Svalbard & Jan Mayen; Sweden; Switzerland; Tokelau; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turks and Caicos Islands; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom (British citizen); United States of America; Uruguay; Vatican City; Virgin Islands (British); Virgin Islands (US); Wallis and Futuna Islands.

Any country which is not listed above, is considered a higher risk regarding TB and therefore a health examination will be required.

When applying for a temporary visa, if you are planning to stay in Australia for less than 6 months you are usually not required to take a medical examination unless a particular significance applies.

If you are planning to stay for longer than 6 months and you are not from the countries mentioned above, you will be required to take a medical examination and a chest x-ray only.

What is considered an unusual or significance situation?

If you are from a higher TB-risk country and likely to enter a healthcare or hospital environment – you need to have a chest x-ray examination and a medical examination

If you are pregnant and intend to deliver your baby in Australia - you need to have a Hepatitis B test

If you plan to work as or study to become a Doctor, Dentist, Nurse or Paramedic – you need to have a chest x-ray, medical examinations, HIV and hepatitis B and C blood tests

If you plan to have your training at a childcare centre in Australia - you need to have a chest x-ray examination and a medical examination

If you are 75 years old and above, and plan to arrive in Australia on a visitor visa - you will be required to take a medical examination

How to book an appointment for the medical examination?

If you already applied for a visa while being in australia, you will need to take the following steps:.

The Department of Home Affairs will determine which health examinations you require to undertake and will provide you with a HAP ID (health identifier) to undergo these health examinations.

You will need to complete an eMedical online application and download your referral letter.

You will need to book an appointment through Bupa online services and provide your HAP ID.

You will need to attend the appointment (don’t forget to bring your referral letter and passport).

A panel of physician and/or radiologist will grade and submit your results to the Department directly.

If you are applying for a visa from outside Australia: ​

You are required to complete the eMedical Client process online, and download your referral letter.

You must book your health examinations with a panel physician. A panel physician is a doctor and/or a radiologist who has been appointed by the Department of Home Affairs to perform your health examinations while being outside Australia. To locate the closest panel physician in your country/area, check the list of panel physicians .

The panel physician can process your health examinations online using the eMedical system in more than 100 countries.

If you have any questions about the medical examination, you are welcome to contact us,

The LifeinAus Team

+61 449 550 100

Medical Examinations for an Australian Visa | You Must Know

Are you planning to travel to Australia? Wait for a moment! 

Do you know what are the key medical examinations for an Australian visa? You don’t, right? No need to worry. This blog post has got you covered by providing a comprehensive overview of the medical examinations for an Australian visa. So, get ready to embark on a journey that explores everything you need to know about medical examinations for an Australian visa.

Australia is an excellent destination to study, work or live permanently. It offers everything from a clean and pollution-free environment to an advanced lifestyle. The community is welcoming, the educational institutes rank in the world’s best education system, and the health facilities are world-class. So, it is the ultimate destination to visit. But before planning to move to Australia, you must be aware of the certain criteria every Australian visa demands. And do you know what is the top priority? You must complete the health requirements set by the Australian Government.

To know the medical examinations for an Australian visa and the key requirements and documents needed for a medical exam, you must read this blog post. Let’s discover together about the medical tests required to complete health requirements for an Australian visa.

What are the Medical Examinations for an Australian Visa?

The Australian Government mandates that applicants for Australian visas undergo medical examinations. The Department of Home Affairs provides the procedures and guidelines to conduct medical examinations for Australian visas. Every applicant must undergo a thorough physical examination. The authorized center conducts these investigations; tests brought in from other healthcare facilities are unacceptable . 

The physician may also prescribe any additional tests that are thought essential in order to process the medical report. The Immigration Medical Examinations (IME) for applicants for Australian visas include a physical examination, a laboratory and radiographic test, a Tuberculosis screening test, and a medical history . However, in general, the radiological and laboratory examination consists of the following:

These tests mentioned above may also be required for lower-age children depending on their medical status. Please be aware that an average health evaluation takes three to four hours.

Let’s discuss medical examinations for different Australian visas to have a better understanding.

Medical Examinations for Australian Permanent and Provisional Visas

Australia offers permanent residency to those individuals who come into the country under permanent and provisional visas. These visas include skilled migration subclasses and partner or parent visas.

• A general medical examination is required for applicants under two years of age .
• For applicants aged between 2 and 11 years , general medical examination and tuberculosis screening (TST or IGRA) are required.
• For applicants aged between 11 and 15 years , a general medical examination and chest x-ray are needed.
• For candidates aged 15 or older , a general medical examination, chest x-ray, HIV screening test and serum creatinine are required.

Additional Medical Examinations 

If any of the following scenarios apply to you, you might need to undergo extra testing for your consultation.

• For pregnant women , a Hepatitis B test is a must.
• If you are above 15 years of age and planning for a refugee visa , you are required to complete a syphilis test.
• If you are 15 years older and plan to work as a doctor, dentist, nurse, or paramedic , you must undergo Hepatitis B and C screening tests.
• If you are 15 years or older and wish to apply for an onshore protection visa , you must undergo syphilis test and Hepatitis B and C screening tests.
• Suppose you are 15 years older and from a higher-risk country and plan to work as a healthcare professional, study to become a healthcare worker, or want to work in an aged care, disability care, or healthcare institution. In that case, you need to complete a Latent TB infection screening test.

You may be asked for further testing if a health concern is discovered during your first health screening or during the visa application process.

Medical Examinations for Australian Temporary Visas 

Australian temporary visas allow you to stay in the country for a specified time period. Under these visas, you can work, study or live in the country temporarily. Student visas, visitor visas, and temporary skills shortage visas come under the category of temporary visas. The medical examinations for an Australian visa depend upon several factors , including; 

• The type of visa you are seeking for 
• The length of time you intend to spend in Australia.
• What degree of danger of TB does your nation pose? 
• Whether a serious medical condition was discovered during your examination or the visa application procedure.

In general, if you are applying for a temporary visa , you need to undergo the following medical examinations for an Australian visa.

You should also read: Top 10 FAQs about Student Visas – Study in Australia!

Additional Tests for Australian Temporary Visa

Under certain circumstances, you may need to undergo additional tests

• Suppose you’re from a nation where Tuberculosis is more common and intend to work in a medical facility or hospital in Australia. In that case, you must undergo a medical examination, chest x-ray, and serum creatinine (if you are 15 years or older). 
• If you are pregnant and planning to have a baby in Australia, you must complete the Hepatitis B test.
• Suppose you are above 15 years of age and planning to become a doctor, dentist or nurse . In that case, you must undergo a medical examination, chest x-ray, serum creatinine, HIV, hepatitis B and C screening tests are required.
• If you are fifteen years older or above and want to work as a healthcare worker or in a disability care facility. In that case, you need to undergo a medical examination, chest x-ray, latent TB infection and serum creatinine test.
• For applicants who are planning to work at childcare centers in Australia, medical examinations, including chest x-rays and serum creatinine, are required.
• If you are 75 years older and traveling to Australia on a visitor visa subclass 600, you are required to complete the medical examination and serum creatinine tests.

When you visit the panel clinic, you will be asked if you intend to apply for a permanent stay within the next six to twelve months . If so, they’ll inquire whether you’d want to be further assessed for a permanent residence. If you do, you’ll need to undergo more exams. The further tests will be at your expense. 

Planning to go for medical examinations? Wait! Take a moment to read these instructions before going to the healthcare facility. It will save your time and energy.

Instructions to Follow Before Going for Medical Examinations

You must apply for an Australian visa before going for medical examinations. Moreover, you need to follow these instructions for medical examinations for an Australian visa:

• When you visit the clinic for a medical examination, bring the letter from the Home Affairs department and the examination referral letter with your TRN ID.
• As none of the first blood and urine tests needs a fast, applicants are free to eat before coming over for their medical examination.
• It is recommended that fertile women avoid scheduling their tests during their menstrual cycle. If they do, they must return one week after the final day of their menstrual cycle.

1. For Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)

Children from two to eleven will be examined for a Tuberculin Skin Test. This exam takes 48–72 hours to read . In order to read the test results during the specified times, the youngster must reappear. Please confirm that your kid can return for the test reading. If the test is not read aloud at the medical conference, the report will not be finished. An alternative to TST for the detection of latent TB infection is the IGRA blood test. Unlike TST, which requires two visits, IGRA just requires one visit . Please avoid scheduling an appointment on Thursdays if you have children with you who need to take the TST since the test cannot be read in the allotted time period.

2. For Pregnant Women

Candidates who are less than three months along in their pregnancy will need to postpone their chest x-ray till the last trimester. The medical will not proceed until the chest x-ray is completed. To safeguard the fetus, an x-ray is taken after three months of pregnancy while wearing a double lead protection cover. If a pregnant applicant chooses not to undergo an x-ray, their visa application will be delayed until the x-ray is completed at the medical facility, and their medical records will be incomplete.

Documents Required for Medical Examinations for Australian Visa

For a proper and smooth medical examination for an Australian visa, you must bring the following documents on your visit to the clinic;

• Two photocopies of your original valid passport . However, some authorities also demand the original passport.
• You need to appear in person at the clinic on the day of the appointment.
• Bring your previous medical tests or notes if there are any. 
• Bring your original immunization polio certificate and photocopies of the authorized certificates.
• Moreover, bring a confirmation letter or email of appointment.

Did you know?

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 10 million new Tuberculosis cases worldwide in 2020 . What’s interesting here is that the incidence of disease was less in Australia despite the widespread bacterium tuberculosis. The reason for this lies in the strict screening process of the Department of Home Affairs Australia. The department makes sure that the candidates entering the country are not infected with TB.

Tuberculosis Screening Test

The World Health Organization has designated Tuberculosis a worldwide epidemic and emergency, making it the leading cause of death for people in poor nations. For a while now, Australia has been able to hold the third-lowest ranking in the globe, meaning that the disease is no longer widespread there. Medical Officers of the Commonwealth maintain a much stricter view of small, old signs of Tuberculosis because ten per cent of cases of “old” Tuberculosis may reactivate, especially during immigration activities.

The legal document issued by the Minister of Home Affairs includes a list of nations considered to have a low risk of TB. The World Health Organization provides this list.

Let’s have a look at the countries with minimal risk of Tuberculosis;

Final Thoughts

So there you have it- a complete picture of medical examinations for an Australian visa. Everything you need to know, from the medical tests for different age groups to what to bring for the test, has been covered in this blog. Now, what’s next? It’s definitely a practical step towards your medical checkup. However, it is better to seek professional help in this regard for smooth and hassle-free visa processing. The Migration is a registered company that provides authentic and cost-effective consultation regarding Australian visa processing. So, book a consultation now and enjoy a wonderful experience ahead.

Why would you not pass medical examinations for an Australian visa?

Your application will be immediately rejected if you have certain medical issues, such as Tuberculosis. Certain diseases, such as HIV, cancer, and physical or mental impairments, may also lead to a denial of a visa.  

What happens if your medical examinations for an Australian visa fail?

Your case will be evaluated upon fulfilling the health criteria for an Australian visa, and you will get notification of your eligibility for Australian immigration. If this isn’t the case, y ou won’t be able to obtain a visa since your illness will have been considered a serious danger to the health of Australian society. This is frequently the case for those who are impacted by illnesses that are highly dangerous for the community, such as active TB cases. You could be eligible for a health undertaking, which allows you to apply, provided you see a doctor and finish the prescribed treatment for your medical abnormality. You should seek professional help if you fail a medical examination.

Why is a health clearance required for travel to Australia?

Australia has some of the highest global health requirements. Before being granted a visa to enter Australia, you must meet the health requirements outlined in the Migration Regulations to contribute to maintaining these standards. Each dependent and family member on the visa application must meet specific health conditions.

Samavia Shahid

I, Samavia Shahid, am providing guidance to aspiring Australian migrants through my blogs. I share comprehensive information regarding complex visa pathways that will guide you towards the right course of action to acquire your immigration goals.

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Medical exams for Australian Visa Applicants and COVID 19

Medical exam for visa applicants is mandatory for anyone planning to migrate to another country. Usually, it’s part of the vetting process, and depending on the outcome, one can either get a refusal or approval. 

The cost of medical examination varies depending on the applicant’s age, current medical condition, and medical history. Therefore, when you visit a medical facility designated for the medical exam for visa applicants, be sure to carry enough funds. 

However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, most medical facilities are either closed or set aside for COVID-19 patients. As such, getting a medical exam for visa applicants might not be as easy before. In addition to this, applicants may have to undergo some additional tests. For instance, those planning to travel must be tested for Coronavirus and remain in mandatory quarantine for 14 days upon the arrival.

Who Needs a Medical Exam

Anyone applying for a visa needs medical examination as part of the application process. This means the family members applying for a visa with you must undergo medical examinations to prove that they meet the health requirements of the country they are migrating to. If you’re coming from a country that has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have to undergo several medical examinations. However, since the disease has spread to almost every country in the world, the COVID-19 test is mandatory for anyone migrating to another country.

For permanent and provisional visa applicants, family members who are not travelling with them to Australia may also need to have health examinations. Even so, the examinations you need depends on several factors. These include:

• The visa you are applying for
• How long you plan to stay in Australia
• What you plan to do in Australia
• The country you apply from
• Any special circumstances that might apply to you
• Whether you have any significant medical conditions

In all the given circumstances, applicants must meet Australia’s health requirements. Nevertheless, if you’ve had health examinations in the last 12 months, you might not need to have all the health examinations again. Even so, you need to check with your immigration medical examination officer to see the tests that are required to complete the medical exam for visa applicants. 

What You Need To Bring For Medical Exam

When you go for a medical exam for visa applicants, be sure to bring your HAP ID and a valid passport. A HAP ID is an identifier contained in the referral letter you’re given once you complete your medical history. Without it, you can’t arrange for your medical exam.

In case you lodged a paper visa application, the HAP ID is in your Health Examination list or the document you’re given. On the other hand, if you made the application online, the HAP ID is contained in the referral letter you downloaded online. Remember, the medical facility you visit will not be able to locate your Australian eMedical without your HAP ID.

Other items to bring include your prescription spectacles or contact lenses if you have them, existing specialist or other medical reports for known medical conditions, and previous chest x-rays. Additionally, if you’re lodging your visa application outside Australia, you’ll have to provide your polio vaccination certificate during the appointment. 

Australian eMedical

All Australia immigration health examinations are processed through their electronic health processing system known as the eMedical. All medical information of Australian visa applicants is stored in the eMedical. The medical information stored here includes medical history, digital photos and x-rays, and your examination results. Any medical exam for visa applicants results submitted through this system get to the immigration department instantly. 

Not all clinics have access to the eMedical, and, therefore, you can’t just go to any medical facility. To find out whether the clinic uses eMedical, you can look for the eMedical logo next to the clinic’s name on Australian immigration offices and locations page. 

Keep in mind that in countries where eMedical is available, applicants are required to submit their medical exam for electronically, unless otherwise stated.

Medical Facilities Open For Medical Exam for Visa Applicants

With the COVID-19 pandemic, most clinics are closed or some reserved for COVID-19 patients. However, we still have some clinics that are carrying out medical exam for applicants planning to migrate to countries like Australia.

If you’re lodging your visa application from Australia, you must have heard about Bupa medical visa services. Bupa operates all medical centres around Australia on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs to provide immigration health examinations to those applying for Australian visas.

In case you don’t know which facilities are open for the medical exam for visa applicants during this COVID-19 pandemic, you can always check with them. To use Bupa medical services, you’ll need to book an immigration health examination through their online booking system. They’ll be able to connect you with the right medical facility.

However, you should take note of the following requirements concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

• If an applicant has symptoms of fever or respiratory infection, they shouldn’t attend a medical medical exam for visa applicants until they have sought medical care, and their symptoms have fully resolved
• If an applicant has recently been anywhere overseas, they must not attend for medical exam for visa applicants at least 14 days after arriving in Australia
• If an applicant has been in recent contact with a known case of COVID-19, they must not attend a medical exam for visa applicants until at least 14 days after the last contact

All visa applicants must adhere to this for a successful medical exam. To apply for the medical exam for visa applicants through Bupa, just visit their website and book your appointment as soon as possible.

The immigration health examination is an important part of your visa application. At this time of the pandemic, it might not be easy to access the available medical facilities for the medical exam for visa applicants. However, some facilities are still open for this, and so, you can check with your immigration department to be directed accordingly. 

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Health Criteria For Australian Visas

If you are thinking about applying for a visa to Australia, an important factor to consider is whether you are required to satisfy a health criterion for the visa to be granted. Whether you are required to undergo a medical examination for an Australian visa will depend on a range of factors, including the visa subclass which you are applying for, your country of citizenship/residence, how long you intend to stay in Australia, and your intended activities in Australia.

To qualify for grant of most permanent visas, as well as well as those provisional and/or temporary visas that lead to a permanent visa, members of your family unit also need to meet the health requirement for Australian visa, even if they are not migrating to Australia with you.

There are a range of medical tests for an Australian visa that may be required, including a medical examination for an Australian visa, an HIV test and/or a Tuberculosis screening test.

In this article, we provide a general overview of the health criteria, including the health examination requirements that apply to certain visas and the process for completing medical testing (including what is included in medical examination for Australian visa), health waivers, health undertakings and health insurance requirements that may apply.

Please note that streamlined requirements that were introduced for certain temporary visa applicants In Australia during the COVID pandemic which waived the requirement to undertake a medical examination and chest x-ray have now ceased. These applicants are now required to again undertake health tests, as outlined in this article.

What Is Meant By The Health Criteria?

An important policy aim of Australia’s migration program is to ensure that the nation’s high health standards, which are some of the best in the world, are safeguarded and maintained. This is achieved by implementing a risk-based approach to screening visa applicants to assess their health for any diseases or conditions, including emerging health epidemics, which may be a threat to the community, that may result in significant costs being incurred, and place added demand on healthcare resources and services that are already in short supply.

A risk-based approach known as the ‘Health Matrix’ is applied to determine the type of medical examinations and processes an applicant will need to undergo for the purpose of meeting the health requirement and are based on a number of factors including the applicant’s country of citizenship/residence and its Tuberculosis incidence rate, their intended activities and length of stay in Australia.

Tuberculosis Is A Key Aspect Of The Health Criteria

Tuberculosis (TB) is a health condition which is identified in the migration provisions as posing a significant risk to public health and is one which cannot be effectively mitigated. As a result, all visa applicants must be free of active TB with no exceptions (complex provisions apply in cases of TB, for example, active and latent form of TB are distinguished in the migration provisions, and once specified TB treatment has been completed, the health requirement may be satisfied in certain circumstances).

To qualify for grant of a visa to Australia, you may need to meet a Health Requirement and complete a health examination to assess whether you present any of the identified risks listed above. This requirement is facilitated through Public Interest Criterion  (PIC) 4005 and 4007 (which form part of the visa grant requirements for most visas). To meet the health requirement, health examinations may need to be completed. The migration provisions specify when a health examination for an Australian visa is required, and the type/s of medical testing to be conducted.

As mentioned above, most visas include a health requirement for Australian visa grant purposes. There are a few visa subclasses, however, which do not have this requirement, such as the Subclass 155 and 157 Resident Return visa (RRV). Very few visas do not impose a health requirement.

Temporary Visas

The Health Requirement for Australian visa applies to some temporary visa applicants, depending on:

• The visa being applied for;
• The visa applicant’s age (special provisions apply to children);
• The intended length of stay in Australia;
• The intended activities in Australia;
• The applicant’s country of citizenship, residence or where they have spent more than three consecutive months in the last five years;
• Any special circumstances; and
• Any significant health conditions identified as part of the applicant’s health examinations.

Note also that where an applicant for a temporary or permanent visa declares that they intend to participate in any of the prescibed special significance activities, additional immigration medical examinations are required, irrespective of their period of stay in Australia or TB-risk country (this does not apply to the Subclass 651 eVisitor visa, unless related to TB).

Permanent And Provisional Visas

The Health Requirement for Australian visa applies to all permanent and provisional visa applicants (a provisional visa is a temporary residence visa which may lead to a permanent residence visa). As noted in the introduction, depending on the visa for which you are applying, members of your family unit may also need to meet the health requirement for Australian visa to be granted to you (even if they are not migrating with you to Australia).

Under the risk-based apprach, each country is assigned a “TB-risk level” in the Health Matrix, which is based on World Health Organization (WHO) data.

A health examination for an Australian visa may also be required if your home country is affected by certain identified health concerns which are considered a threat to public health, such as Polio, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and Yellow Fever.

Which Health Tests May Be Required?

So what is included in a medical examination for Australian visa? The following types of medical testing may need to be performed:

• Medical examination
• Chest x-ray
• Hepatitis B test
• Hepatitis C test
• TB Screening test

As of 1 July 2023, applicants aged 5 years or older, who are required to undertake a medical examination, are no longer required to undergo a urine test to detect chronic kidney disease. The urine test, which forms part of the medical examination, has been replaced with a blood test (serum creatinine/eGFR) for applicants aged 15 years or older.

Children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old are not required to undertake urine or blood tests unless clinically indicated.

When Do You Need To Have A Health Examination For An Australian Visa?

If you are applying for a temporary visa, what is included in medical examination for Australian visa?

The following health requirements for Australian visa apply:

If you are applying for a permanent or provisional visa, what is included in medical examination for Australian visa?

The following health examination for an Australian visa requirements may apply:

Applying The Health Matrix

All provisional and permanent visa applicants must undergo an immigration medical examination to a permanent standard.

To determine what (if any) health examinations are required for grant of a temporary visa to Australia, the following elements are key:

• The total length of the applicant’s stay in Australia (determined by the period of stay allowed on their visa) and any cumulative stay period;
• The applicant’s passport country or countries (if multiple passports held), country of residence and TB-risk level; and
• Whether the applicant intends to undergo any activities in Australia which make their health of special significance.

Let us now examine these three factors further below.

Factor 1: Stay Period In Australia

For temporary visa applicants, we need to distinguish between the following periods when applying the health matrix:

• The total length of the applicant’s stay in Australia (this is the period of stay allowed on the visa) and;
• any cumulative stay period.

Period Of Stay

The applicant’s total period of stay in Australia depends on whether they are onshore or are outside Australia:

• if outside Australia – the stay period for the new visa that they have applied for; or
• if in Australia – the period from when they last arrived in Australia until their intended departure date (i.e. the date their new visa will cease).

Cumulative Stay Period

The cumulative stay period is only applicable to higher-TB risk applicants who:

• have previously been granted a visa; and
• at the time of visa application, have not spent 28 consecutive days or more outside Australia.

The cumulative stay rule requires the visa applicant to have been offshore for 28 consecutive days or more at the time of visa lodgement. If the applicant has not been outside Australia for more than 28 consecutive days, the relevant period of stay considered would be from when the visa applicant initially entered Australia (rather than the stay period for the new visa being applied for).

Any period of 28 consecutive days or more outside Australia will “break” the applicant’s stay period, and their cumulative stay in Australia will no longer be relevant for health purposes. In this case, only the stay period for the new visa being applied for will be relevant when applying the health matrix.

Note that the cumulative stay rule does not apply to Subclass 417 Working Holiday visa applicants. In this case, applicants are assessed against the health matrix for their proposed stay of up to 12 months on their Working Holiday visa only. The cumulative stay rule also does not apply to applicants from lower TB-risk countries because, irrespective of their period of stay in Australia, they would ordinarily not be required to complete health examinations.

Additionally, under immigration policy, the cumulative stay rule also does not apply if the applicant is in Australia and is seeking an additional stay of less than 29 days (unless they declare a significant health condition in their new visa application).

Why Is There A Cumulative Stay Rule?

The reason for the cumulative stay period is to account for visa applicants who apply for multiple short-stay visas in Australia. By applying the cumulative stay rule, this ensures that higher-TB risk applicants are screened based on their actual length of stay in Australia, rather than periods of stay on individual visas. Otherwise, you would have a situation where an applicant from a higher-TB risk country who is actually in Australia for an extended period of time (e.g. for more than 6 months) on muitiple visas avoids the health requirement. The cumulative stay rule addresses this.

So to summarise, apply these steps to work out whether the cumulative stay rule applies:

• Has the applicant previously held an Australian visa?
• Has the applicant been outside Australia for less than 28 consecutive days?
• Is the applicant from a higher-TB risk country?
• Is the applicant applying for an additional stay of 29 days or more?
• If the answer is ‘yes’ to all of the above, the cumulative stay rule applies and therefore the applicant would be required to undergo a health examination for an Australian visa.

Example Where Cumulative Stay Period Applies

Let us demonstrate how the period of stay and the cumulative stay period applies with an example. Say you hold a South African passport and have been studying in Australia for the last five months. You then depart Australia for 21 days and are now applying for a Visitor visa for a three month stay. Because you have not been outside Australia for 28 consecutive days before applying for the Visitor visa, the cumulative stay rule applies. Therefore, the relevant period of stay is eight months when applying the health matrix (and not the stay period of the visitor visa, which is three months). And since South Africa is a higher-TB risk country (as it is not listed in IMMI 15/144), you would be required to undergo a health examination for an Australian visa (that is, for the visitor visa to be granted).

Example Where Cumulative Stay Period Does Not Apply

Now lets say that you hold a Brazilian passport and have been in Australia on a visitor visa for four months. You departed Australia and have been offshore for 6 weeks (42 days). You now seek to re-enter Australia and apply for another visa (say a visitor visa for three months). Since you have been outside Australia for 28 consecutive days when you apply for the second visitor visa, the relevant stay period for health matrix purposes is only three months (the stay period for the second visitor visa). The initial four month stay is not relevant because you were offshore for 28 consecutive days before applying for the second visitor visa. Had you remained in Australia, or been offshore for less than 28 consecutive days when applying for the second visitor visa), then the relevant stay period would have been seven months (the initial four months spent in Australia on the first visitor visa plus the subsequent three month period of stay on the second visitor visa). And since Brazil is a higher-TB risk country (as it is not listed in in IMMI 15/144), you would be required to undergo a health examination for an Australian visa (that is, for the second visitor visa to be granted).

Factor 2:  Country TB-risk Level

What Are The Lower TB-risk And Higher TB-risk Countries?

The prescribed list of countries considered to be Lower TB-risk  and which therefore do not generally require medical examinations for Australian visa are specified in  Migration Regulations 1994 – Specification of Required Medical Assessment – IMMI 15/144 . Any countries which are not listed in Schedule 1 of Column A are deemed to be Higher TB-risk for this purpose.

It is important to point out that under immigration policy, medical tests for Australian visa for each applicant in a family unit are determined individually . But in instances where there are concerns regarding TB for any member of the family unit (migrating or non-migrating), or concerns regarding a medical condition that could be shared by family members , the rest of the family unit may be required to undergo the same immigration medical examinations.

The TB-risk country which you will be assessed under will be based on the highest TB-risk country when you consider the following:

• Your country of Citizenship (generally as per the passport used to lodge your visa application);
• Your country of residence; and
• Countries where you have spent three or more consecutive months (90 days) in the last five years (as at time of visa application lodgement).

Factor 3: Special Significance

What Are Special Significance Requirements?

If you are applying for either a temporary or permanent visa and you make a declaration in your visa application that you intend to participate in any of the special significant activities listed below, you will be required to complete additional medical examination for Australian visa (regardless of your intended period of stay in Australia and the relevant TB-risk country that applies in your circumstances).

What is included in medical examination for Australian visa in these circumstances?

Additionally, if you are likely to work (or be a trainee) at an Australian childcare centre (including preschools and crèches), you need to undertake a medical examination, chest x-ray and serum creatinine/eGFR if you are 15 years or older.

Additional blood medical tests for Australian visa are required for the following permanent visa applicants:

Be aware that the above discussion is not an exhaustive list of all medical tests for Australian visa that may be required. They are the minimum requirements only. Depending on your personal situation, you may be referred for other types of medical tests for Australian visa grant.

Special Cases When The Health Matrix Is Not Applied

In specified circumstances, special arrangements are in place which require applicants for certain visa subclasses to undertake medical examinations outside of the health matrix requirements. An example of this is the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa . In this case, visa applicants must undergo all immigration medical testing (i.e. medical examination, chest x-ray examination and HIV test).

Non-Migrating Family Members

As mentioned earlier in this article, certain visa subclasses require all members of the family unit of the primary applicant to meet the health requirement, irrespective of whether they themselves are a visa applicant and/or intend to join the primary applicant in Australia (or are already resident in Australia on a temporary visa).

This applies to almost all permanent and provisional visas, as well as those provisional and/or temporary visas that lead to a permanent visa. For these visas, the health requirement is a ‘one fails, all fail’ criterion .  This means that if any member of the applicant’s family unit fails to meet the health requirement and no health waiver is available, no family member (including the primary applicant) can be granted the visa.

Be mindful, however, that in the case of provisional and permanent visas, the migration provisions allow for this requirement to be set aside in circumstances where the Department deems it to be ‘unreasonable’ to require the person to undergo immigration medical examinations. Policy sets out circumstances which would warrant the request of health examinations for non-migrating family members. This includes, for example, a situation where a young child is remaining in their home country without parental support (as the parents are migrating to Australia).

Pregnant Visa Applicants

Special health examinations for an Australian visa also apply to pregnant visa applicants.

For pregnant applicants who are from a lower TB-risk country and intend to give birth in Australia, they must undergo a hepatitis B test. If the applicant expects to incur medical costs, or require treatment or medical follow-up for pregnancy in Australia, then they must complete a medical examination, a chest x-ray and a serum creatinine/eGFR test.

For pregnant applicants who are from a higher TB-risk country and intend to give birth in Australia, they must undergo a medical examination, a chest x-ray, a serum creatinine/eGFR test and a Hepatitis B test. 

If they are likely to enter a health care or hospital environment in Australia, or expect to incur medical costs, or require treatment or medical follow up for pregnancy in Australia, then a medical examination, chest x-ray and serum creatinine/eGFR test is required.

How Does The Health Requirement Apply To Visas Subject To Two-stage Processing?

Special arrangements are in place for visa applicants who hold, or previously held (within the last 12 months), a substantive temporary or provisional visa and who then apply for the corresponding permanent visa. An example of this is the Subclass 820/801 Partner visa . In this case, the applicant is required to undertake a health assessment to the permanent standard at stage one of the application process (that is, to be granted the initial subclass 820 visa). Why is this the case? Because such applicants are intending to stay permanently in Australia in the longer term.

So what happens to these visa applicants at the permanent residence visa processing stage (that is, the Subclass 801 Partner visa in our example)? Such applicants who received a permanent health clearance for their provisional visa (or had a health waiver, this is discussed further below) are not ordinarily required to undertake any additional health checks at the second stage.

Another example is the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa and Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa , both of which provide a pathway to a permanent residency visa via the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (to be introduced from 16 November 2022). In this case, the applicant will be required to undergo medical testing for grant of the temporary visa. When they reach the processing of the permanent residence visa stage, no additional medical testing would be required.

There are exceptions however. The following circumstances (under policy) require medical testing to be undertaken at the permanent residence visa stage (note this list is not exhaustive):

• Where the Department has reason to believe that the applicant failed to disclose a health condition at the first stage, or there are concerns that fraud may have been involved, or if the Department has information the applicant’s health condition has changed since the first stage; or
• Where the applicant’s temporary or provisional visa ceased more than 12 months before the Department commences assessment of the associated permanent visa.

How Long Do Health Examination Results Last For?

To be granted a visa, a visa applicant’s immigration medical examination results must be assessed and they must be granted a  health clearance (which are valid for a limited time only).

Health examinations for Australian visa application purposes are generally valid for a period of 12 months (under immigration policy, this can be extended in very exceptional circumstances). You may not need to undertake medical tests for an Australian visa when you apply for a visa if you have previously completed health examinations for visa application purposes (i.e. previous test results may be re-used in certain circumstances). To re-use medical test results, the health clearance must still be valid, and all the immigration medical examinations required for the new visa application must have been completed.

In certain cases, particularly if you are applying for a visa which has significant estimated processing delays, you would be best advised to wait until closer to the expected processing time that applies to your application before completing any required health examinations for an Australian visa. This way, you avoid a situation where the medical test for Australian visa results are no longer valid by the time your application reaches the Departmental processing stage (e.g. if processing takes more than 12 months). If this occurs, you may need to repeat the medical examination for Australian visa (and thus incur additional costs and further processing delays) before the visa can be granted.

How Will You Know If You Need To Have A Health Examination For An Australian Visa?

If you lodge your visa application online, any health examination for an Australian visa that you need to complete will be listed under the ‘health assessment’ link on ImmiAccount. You will first need to fill in your medical history. The system will then generate a referral letter with your HAP ID, which you will need to book your health examination/s.

If you lodge your application as a paper form, you will be contacted by your case officer if a health examination for an Australian visa is required. If you need to have medical test for Australian visa completed, the process will be the same as outlined above (i.e. you will receive a referral letter, etc.).

How Do You Arrange Your Health Examination For Australian Visa?

Once you have been issued with your HAP ID, you can then proceed to book an appointment for your health examination/s. The process will be different, depending on whether you are located onshore or outside Australia.

If You Are In Australia

All medical examination for Australian visa performed in Australia for migration purposes are conducted by Bupa Medical Visa Services . You can make an appointment either online  or by telephone on 1300 794 919.

If You Are Outside Australia

Medical examination for Australian visa performed offshore can be completed only by a select list of panel physicians and radiologists who have been approved by the Department for this purpose. To arrange your appointment, you will need to refer to the Immigration office  located nearest to you. Details of approved health service providers and their contact details will be listed there for your reference.

What Do You Need To Bring With You To Your Appointment?

Ensure that you take the following items:

• Your passport
• Your Referral letter
• Prescription glasses/contact lenses, where applicable
• Any existing specialist/other medical reports for known medical conditions
• Any previous chest x-rays

How Much Does The Health Examination For An Australian Visa Cost?

If you complete your medical test for Australian visa onshore, the cost for this service will be advised to you by Bupa Medical Visa Services. You can check the schedule of current fees on their website .

For health examinations performed offshore, the costs will differ for each country. These details will be advised to you when you contact the Department’s overseas approved panel physician or clinic.

What Happens After You Have Completed Your Required Health Examinations?

If no health issues are identified (or non-significant health issues), the Department will determine that you have satisfied the health requirements for Australian visa and will grant a health clearance . It will then continue to process your visa application.

Significant Costs Assessment

If health issues are identified, a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC), which is a registered medical practitioner appointed by the Department, will determine whether you meet the health requirements for Australian visa. The MOC will assess whether your health condition or disease is likely to result in significant health care and community service costs to Australia if a visa were to be granted.

Under immigration policy, the threshold for the level of costs that are regarded as ‘significant’ is currently set at $51,000.

If you are applying for a temporary visa, the MOC will estimate the expected costs to be incurred over the period of your proposed stay in Australia. So if you apply for a Subclass 500 Student visa for a term of two years and your estimated health care cost is $20,000 per year, you will meet the health requirement as this is below the threshold. But say you apply for a four-year student visa, you would not meet the health requirement as this would exceed the threshold over the period of your proposed stay as a student in Australia.

Note also that for temporary visas, certain health care and community services are excluded from the cost assessment.

For permanent and provisional visa applicants, the relevant period assessed will be five years, or three years if you are aged 75 years of age or older, unless:

• you have a condition that is permanent and the course of the disease is inevitable or reasonably predictable (65% likelihood) beyond the five year period – in this case, you will be assessed for a maximum of 10 years; or
• you have an inevitable or reasonably predictable (65% likelihood) reduced life expectancy due to your health condition or disease – in this case, you would be assessed for a time period up to a maximum of 10 years.

Prejudice To Access Of Australians To Health Care And Community Services

The MOC must also assess whether your condition or disease would be likely to prejudice the access of Australians to health care and community services if the visa were to be granted (i.e. would you require access to health care or community services that are in short supply (as advised by the Department of Health)?

According to immigration policy, prejudice to access is deemed to occur if in the MOC’s opinion, a hypothetical person with a condition of the same form and severity as yours would be likely to require access to the following services, which are considered to be in short supply:

• organ transplants; and

On this basis, the MOC will determine whether you meet the health requirements for Australian visa. If they assess that it has not been satisfied, the visa will not be granted, unless a health waiver  is applied.

What Is A Health Waiver?

In certain specified circumstances, the Department may apply a health waiver, which means that Immigration will waive the need for you to meet the health requirements for Australian visa. A health waiver can only be applied to certain visa applications for which PIC 4007 is a requirement for the grant.

Where PIC 4005 applies, if an applicant (or a non-migrating family member) fails to meet the health requirement for a visa, there is no provision for a health waiver to be considered.

A health waiver can not be exercised if you fail to meet the health requirement due to:

• Having active TB; or
• Having a disease or condition which is, or may result in, a threat to public health in Australia or a danger to the Australian community.

A health waiver can be exercised in the following circumstances:

• The MOC has assessed that either you or a non-migrating family member has not met PIC 4007 due to having a disease or condition which is:
• likely to result in significant health care and community service costs; or
• prevent access of Australian citizens or permanent residents to these services (which are currently in short supply, such as organ transplants and dialysis);
• Immigration has determined that you have satisfied all other requirements for grant of the visa (i.e. it is the last stage in the visa assessment and processing stage); and
• Immigration has determined that granting the visa would be unlikely to result in undue cost to the Australian community or prevent access of Australians to these services.

You cannot apply for a health waiver. If this option is available, you will be contacted by your case officer to advise that you have not met the health requirements for Australian visa. You will have an opportunity to comment on the opinion of the MOC, provide information and complete a submission outlining the reasons why the health waiver should be exercised in your case (with appropriate supporting evidence to be supplied, as applicable).

Health waivers are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account a number of factors, including:

• The capacity to mitigate the likely potential costs of your disease or condition, or lessen the impact of preventing access of Australians to services in short supply; and
• Any compelling and/or compassionate circumstances that may exist.

The Department will make a decision based on the above, and if it decides to exercise the health waiver, your visa will be granted. Otherwise, it will be refused.

What Is A Health Undertaking?

If you have a health condition or disease which is considered non-threatening (such as inactive TB or Hepatitis B or C), you may be requested to sign a health undertaking. This is an agreement with the Australian Government whereby you agree to attend a health clinic in Australia to follow up on your condition.

Signing the health undertaking will be a pre-requisite to granting the visa. In this case, the Department will determine that you have satisfied the health requirement. A health undertaking is valid for six months.

Under the agreement, you would be required to contact Bupa Medical Visa Services within 28 days of your arrival in Australia and provide any required information. You may be requested to attend an appointment at a specified health clinic. You must then undergo any treatment or investigation as directed.

What Happens If Tuberculosis Is Diagnosed?

Applicants who are offshore and are found to have active TB cannot be granted a visa as they will be unable to satisfy health-related visa criteria. Visa applications from such applicants will have their health cases deferred until they successfully complete TB treatment.

Where an applicant in Australia is found to have active TB (or for whom active TB has not been ruled out), their health case will be deferred and processing of their visa application placed on hold, until they are assessed as being free from TB.

Offshore applicants who are found to have latent TB will be able to travel to Australia but, if applying for permanent migration, they will likely be requested to comply with a health undertaking (as TB can develop at any time).

Applicants in Australia who have latent TB are not placed on a health undertaking but are provided with an information sheet and asked to attend a health clinic for further monitoring.

Health Insurance

Another important aspect of the health requirement for certain visa classes is the need to make adequate arrangements for health insurance cover for the duration of your stay in Australia. It may also be applied as a visa condition once the visa is granted. For example, visa condition 8501, which applies to student visas, specifies that you must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance whilst you are in Australia.

Minimum acceptable policies are specified for each visa class (where applicable), and you must ensure that you provide evidence to demonstrate that you meet this requirement before a visa will be granted. For some visa classes, only specific types of health policies are accepted (e.g. if you are applying for a student visa, you must be covered by Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)). The policy cover will need to be valid for a certain period to meet these requirements. Members of your family unit must also be covered by appropriate health insurance.

Some countries have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia, meaning that you are entitled to Medicare benefits in Australia. This may be acceptable to satisfy minimum health insurance requirements in specified circumstances.

Get More Information

Subscribe  to our newsletter for regular updates and additional information.

Contact us  to book a no-obligation consultation to find out more about the health requirements for Australian visa, including when you must undetake a medical examination for Australian visa and what is included in medical examination for Australian visa.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Australia’s migration laws are complex, and each case is different. We recommend that you seek professional advice if you are interested in applying for a visa, including the health requirements for Australian visa and what is included in medical examination for Australian visa ,  as being fully informed will give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome on your case. A migration professional can help you to do this. Also be aware that several terms are defined in the migration provisions. It is vital to have a good understanding of these terms and how they apply in practice. Detailed advice about these is beyond the scope of this article and we would therefore recommend that you seek further information in this regard.

For up to date advice on applying for a visa to Australia , including any medical tests for Australian visa in your circumstances, co ntact  PAX Migration Australia , a leading immigration service providing advice on a range of visas, including parent visas .  Contact us for a no obligation discussion on how we may be able to assist you in achieving your migration goals in Australia.

Sources/Links

Bupa Medical Visa Services

Bupa Medical Visa Services – Appointments

Bupa Medical Visa Services – Fees

Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs – Immigration and citizenship – Help and support – Offices and locations – Contact us

Australian Government – Federal Register of Legislation – Legislative Instruments – In force – As Made – Details: F2015L01826 – Migration Regulations 1994 – Specification of Required Medical Assessment – IMMI 15/144

Constantine Paxinos

Managing director posted on: 23-08-2022, book your consultation with us today, get regular updates and information....

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Applying For An Australian Visa – You Need To Take These Medical Tests For Australian Visa

Any visa application has certain mandatory requirements which the visa applicant need to abide. Developed countries have stringent guidelines which have to be followed by all the visitors planning to visit the country. Just like most of the developed nations, even Australia follows a stringent visa guideline.

Among all the stringent guidelines, health parameters become important criteria for visa applications to be accepted by Australian Embassy Officials . Australia, in itself, is highly developed in terms of maintaining excellent health conditions of its nationals. Thus, Australian authorities would not allow people with unhealthy parameters within the national borders.

One of the primary guidelines to clear the visa procedure for visiting Australia is to fulfill the medical requirements prescribed by the Australian High Commission . The visa applicants need to undergo mandatory prescribed medical tests and examination from recognized centers to fulfill the application requirements for getting a valid Australian Visa. Such medical examinations have been made mandatory by Australian Officials in order to protect the country and its citizens from high risk health hazards. This would in turn help the Australian authorities in saving expensive health resources of the country which can be optimally used whenever required. Further, this would also save hugely on costs or medical expenditures.

Medical Tests For Australian Visa

Australian authorities overseeing the visa approvals have prepared stringent guidelines regarding undergoing proper medical tests and examinations in order to be eligible for any type of visa required for visiting Australia.

The mandatory medical examinations required for qualifying for a valid Australian visa include a detailed enclosure of the entire medical history of the individual. In case a family is seeking a visa for visiting Australia, each individual member needs to confirm all the prescribed medical examination.

Apart from the full disclosure of medical history, each individual is supposed to undergo a thorough physical examination by a recognized doctor as prescribed by Australian authorities. The physical examination of the individuals seeking permission to visit the island country of Australia would at the least include a thorough check up of the eyes , nose, ears , throat, lungs, heart , skin, lymph nodes, abdomen, and external genitalia.

The thorough physical examination is further backed up with a complete x-ray of the chest. Apart from x-ray, each individual also needs to go through certain blood tests. One of the most important blood tests includes the test for syphilis. Medical tests are also required for the following diseases:

• Tuberculosis

This list might include other diseases as prescribed by the members of the Commonwealth nations.

Medical Examination For Australian Visa

The health parameters mandated by the Australian authorities for individual seeking permissions to visit Australia is to ensure the well being of the individuals. And the overall health parameter of Australia, the nation for which being healthy is an important parameter.

Each individual applying for an Australian visa needs to undergo certain mandatory health tests and examinations . The medical examination made compulsory by the Australian authorities include a thorough physical examination of each individual which would include eyes, nose, ears, throat, skin, heart, liver , abdomen, lungs, lymph nodes, and external genitalia, among all other vital functions. Such stringent examination is conducted with the primary purpose of maintaining the high quality health parameters of the island nation of Australia.

Medical Requirements For Australian Visa

The people applying for Australian visa for visiting Australia have to follow extensive medical examination and check ups to ensure perfect health prior to entering Australian borders. Certain medical requirements have been mandated by the Australian authorities. These need to be strictly followed by every individual applying for permanent or temporary visas as prescribed by Australian authorities.

In case, an entire family is applying for an Australian visa. Then one member of the family fails to meet the medical requirements prescribed by the Australian authorities. There is a chance that visa is refused to all the members of the family . The medical requirements are specified clearly on the official website of the Australian Authorities. In that website, clearly mentions the test and examinations an individual requires to undergo depending on the type of visa applied for and the age of the individual .

In order to avoid delays in the issuance of Australian visa, it is advisable to undergo the procedure of mandated medical tests and examinations to fulfill the medical requirements of the Australian authorities before starting visa applications. The validity of the results of such medical test compulsorily undergone for Australian visa application is twelve months .

Medical Fees For Australian Visa

An approximation of the medical fees an individual needs to pay in order to complete the mandated health check-up and examination done prior to applying for Australian Visa works out to around USD 275 . This would include a skin test for tuberculosis, the blood test for syphilis , and immunization titer test. However, most of the times, the cost of undergoing a chest x-ray , is not inclusive of the cost mentioned above. The individual would incur an additional cost for this test. The individual also needs to shell out extra cost in case a confirmation of syphilis test is required .

Samarpita is a dedicated freelance writer with avid experience in the space of health, she specializes in topics related to diet, nutrition, immune-related diseases, detection and prevention of diseases and taking a natural route to cure such diseases.

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Medical test for visa

The medical test is a major part of the visa process and without it you won’t be granted a visa. Everyone seeking to migrate to Australia is required to demonstrate and prove their medical status.

Applicants will be told by their agent when it is time to undergo a medical test. This part of the visa application normally occurs towards the end of the visa process. But people are advised not to leave their medical until the last minute, in case there are unforeseen issues to be resolved.

Sometimes a medical condition can be found that the applicant was not aware of and this will need to be investigated and can lead to delays. So apply for your medical test in good time.  People can be nervous about the medical test but they have no need to be.

The test and consultation takes around 30 minutes per person, so if it’s a family migration it can take two hours or more for everyone to be seen by the doctor.

Everyone included in a visa application must undergo the test – including newborn babies. All visa applicants seeking permanent residency in Australia will need to provide a blood test. Everyone over the age of 11 years will need a chest x-ray.

Applicants working in the medical or nursing professions are also required to have a Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C blood test. Medical professionals have these tests regularly as part of their job but they will still need to see an approved panel radiologist as part of their medical test.

People often think that if they have a condition such as diabetes they will be refused a visa. But this is not always the case. You may be suffering from a major medical condition but this does not automatically mean your visa will be refused.

When it comes to a major medical condition, visa applications are determined by a range of factors including the nature of the condition, the treatment you may be receiving, the consultant or specialist you may be seeing, etc.

For everyone taking the medical, it is important to provide as much medical information as possible. If you have an existing condition or are taking medicine regularly, bring along all any reports, letters or documents that you posses from your GP or consultant and show these to the doctor. This will save delays further in the process.

The medical form and X-Ray form can be downloaded from the internet and will tell you the kind of things the doctor will be looking for.

It is important to know that the doctor you see for the medical test does not make the final decision regarding your visa application. The doctor conducts the tests, makes his report and makes recommendations where required. The final decision is taken by medical officials in Australia.

Medical tests take place at a number of locations in the country where the applicant lives. There is a list of approved panel doctors in each country and applicants will have to make their own way to the nearest location in order to undergo the test.

Our experts can help you with any questions you may have relating to the medical test and will support and guide you through the process to make it as stress-free as possible.

Darrell Todd, founder of thinkingaustralia, says: “For more information about the Medical Test, please don’t hesitate to contact us.”

Click here for help and support with the medical test: Contact Us Today

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About Migration

Immigration Medical Examination (IME) for Australian Visa Applicants

Immigration Medical Examinations (IME) for the Australian Visa applicants consists of medical history, physical exam, TB screening test, and a laboratory and radiological test.  The laboratory and radiological test includes:

Note:  The above tests may also be indicated for the lower age limit depending on their medical condition. Please note that it takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete a health assessment.

• Original and valid passport with one photocopy ( Primary and preferred form of identity document )  or  only for exceptional cases clearly readable photocopy of valid passport along with original and valid Computerized National Identity Card issued by NADRA.
• Original Valid Passport
• Photo Stamped HAP Letter ( stamped by AHC / visa officer )
• UNHCR Card, in conjunction with HAP Letter
• This instruction is active for all Afghan Nationality clients (Funded / Not funded).
• Health Request Letter*, containing HAP ID*.
• Medical test reports regarding past or current medical status
• Antenatal card for pregnant ladies.
• Eyeglasses or Contact Lens (  if used by the applicant )
• Valid Polio vaccination card being issued by approved governmental health authority.
• Applicants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a  parent or a legal guardian  who cannot provide consent and make decisions on their behalf.
• Proof of relationship (of parent or legal guardian) is necessary when consenting to conduct IMEs for children.
• FRC (Family Registration Certificate) for Pakistani nationals.
• Marriage certificate of the mother, wherein, Father name of the accompanying children is entered.
• We can request for legal papers (court or government orders) allowing the legal guardian to take custody of the child.

The below service fee is collected at IOM Migration Health Assessment centers. It covers the cost for initial IME which includes Physical examination, Urine analysis, Chest X ray, TST (Mantoux), and TB investigation (Sputum smear, culture, DST and Post sputum repeat Chest X ray)

Serology test for HIV, VDRL , Hepatitis B and C will be charged separately as per case requirement.

Last fee is effective from 1st June. 2023

Health assessment fees are subject to change

Screening at Lahore center applies 16% GST on Laboratory and Radiology test on top of the above service fee.

Additional Medical test and referral request, including specialist consultation are not included in the above service fee and will be charged separately.

Children aged 2-11 years, who are applying for a permanent or provisional visa need TST (Mantoux test) according to the revised DIBP protocol from 20th Nov, 2015. In order to complete TST (Mantoux test), your children require and additional visit to determine the result of the test within 48 to 72 hours from the date of TST conducted (appointment date for 2nd visit will be provided at the time of the test being performed).

Please note that IGRA, a blood test can be performed (on laboratory specific days) instead of TST and there is no need for a 2nd visit to take a reading. Incase TST or IGRA  is positive, children have to come again for Chest X-ray. No charge is required for additional X-ray or TST but additional charge is required for IGRA test.

*Health Request letter: Contains HAP ID used for medical processing on eMedical portal. For the further information you can visit the DIBP website . 

Submission of your medical result

For eMedical applicants, the medical documents will be submitted electronically at eMedical after receiving of complete results. You may contact us through an email at:  [email protected]   if you wish to inquire about your health case submission status.

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