Imagine preparing for an exciting new chapter in Australia, a land of vibrant cities, stunning landscapes, and top-notch health standards. But before you pack your bags, there’s an important step you must take: ensuring you meet Australia’s health requirements. Whether you’re moving for work, study, or family, understanding and fulfilling these health prerequisites is crucial for your visa application process. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about meeting Australia’s health standards, ensuring you and your loved ones are ready for your big adventure Down Under.
Dive Right IntoAustralia’s rigorous health requirements are designed to protect its community’s well-being and sustain its excellent healthcare system. By following these guidelines, you help maintain public health safety and ensure equitable access to healthcare and community services for all residents. From understanding why these requirements exist to the specifics of health examinations, this guide will equip you with all the information you’ll need. So, let’s dive into the essentials of Australia’s health requirements and how to navigate them successfully.
Australia is known for its high health standards. To maintain these, most visa applicants must meet certain health criteria. This is known as ‘meeting the health requirement,’ and it often involves a health assessment as part of the visa application process.
Visa applicants must meet these health standards to:
Most visa applicants, along with their family members, even if they are not migrating, may need to meet these requirements based on the type of visa applied for.
To meet the health requirement, you must be free from any disease or condition that:
To prove you meet the health requirements, you might need to undergo health examinations. A Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) will assess your examination results. If you have a significant medical condition, the MOC will determine whether the condition is likely to:
The MOC evaluates what services a hypothetical person with a similar condition would need. Their assessment is based solely on your medical situation.
Important Note:
“When the MOC gives us advice, they can only consider your medical situation, not your other personal circumstances. For instance, the MOC cannot consider whether having private health insurance or sufficient funds for treatment will impact your use of available public services.”
In some cases, the MOC might recommend that you sign a health undertaking. This is a formal agreement to meet specific health-monitoring requirements after your arrival in Australia.
For more detailed information, you can visit the official Australian Department of Home Affairs.
By understanding these requirements and ensuring that you meet them, you can successfully proceed with your visa application to Australia.
If you and your family members are applying for a visa to Australia, you may need to undergo health examinations to meet health requirements. Additional health checks might be necessary if you come from a country with public health concerns such as polio or Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). For further details, you can refer to information about public health threats on Australia’s immigration website.
Permanent and provisional visa applicants must have health examinations. This applies to:
Temporary visa applicants may also need health examinations. The need and type of examinations depend on several factors:
For Online Visa Applications:
For Paper Visa Applications:
Your visa processing officer will inform you if health examinations are necessary. You’ll receive a referral letter with a HAP ID, essential for arranging the examinations.
You might not need to retake all the health examinations if you had any within the last 12 months. The referral letter will specify which tests you need to complete.
By understanding these criteria and processes, you can better navigate the health examination requirements for your Australian visa application. For more detailed guidelines on arranging health examinations, visit the official Australian immigration website.
For those applying for a permanent or provisional visa, specific health examinations are necessary:
Additional Tests: You may need further tests if you fit any of the following situations:
Further tests might be needed if a health condition is identified during the initial examination or visa application process.
Health examination requirements for temporary visa applicants depend on various factors:
Generally Required Examinations:
Additional Tests: Additional tests might be needed under specific conditions:
Note: If you have been in Australia for the last 28 days, this time is considered when calculating the length of stay for health requirements.
Countries considered low-risk for tuberculosis, based on World Health Organization data, include:
Here is the alphabetical list of countries with their flag emojis:
For further details about required health examinations based on your specific visa and circumstances, please refer to the official Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website. This source provides authoritative information that can help streamline your visa process.
The My Health Declarations (MHD) service allows you to complete your health examinations before you submit a visa application. However, do not use MHD if:
Health examination results are typically valid for 12 months. If there’s a delay in processing your application, you might need to redo your health examinations. To avoid unnecessary repetition, refer to the Visa processing times page before deciding to use MHD. Note that you must pay for any health examinations.
To learn how to use the MHD service, refer to the Completing the My Health Declarations form.
If you experience technical issues after following the guidelines in the form, contact us via the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form.
If your circumstances change after submitting your MHD form and before completing your health examinations, inform the panel clinic during your appointment.
Yes, you can include family members on your My Health Declarations form. Do not include family members who are not migrating with you. After your visa application, the processing officer will inform you if any non-migrating family members need health examinations.
If the visa subclass you intend to apply for is not an option in the My Health Declarations form, wait until after applying for the visa to complete your health examinations. You will be notified if health examinations are required.
Even if you had permanent health examinations for the provisional visa, you might need additional health examinations for the permanent visa. The visa processing officer will inform you if this is necessary during the second stage of your application.
For in-depth official information on health examinations and other immigration inquiries, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
When applying for a visa, you may be required to complete health examinations. If this is necessary, you will receive:
You will need your HAP ID to schedule an appointment for these health examinations.
If you’re unable to complete your health examination within the timeframe specified in your Request for Health Examination letter, notify the Department. You can do this by attaching the details through your ImmiAccount.
If you haven’t yet lodged a visa application but want to complete your health examinations upfront, you might use the My Health Declarations service to get a HAP ID. Refer to the relevant section about “When to have health examinations.”
In Australia, arrange your health examinations through Bupa Medical Visa Services. You can book your examinations online via their service.
If you need to cancel or change your appointment:
To make changes to a booking, you’ll need the HAP ID used to schedule the original appointment.
Call 1300 794 919 to arrange health examinations if:
Outside Australia, you must be examined by one of the Department’s approved panel physicians or clinics.
A panel physician is a doctor or radiologist appointed by the department to conduct health examinations at an approved clinic.
When you go to your health examination appointment for your Australian visa, make sure to bring the following:
If you lodged an online visa application, your HAP ID is in the Referral Letter you download from your ImmiAccount when you apply. For those who lodged a paper visa application or cannot generate a Referral Letter through their ImmiAccount, find your HAP ID in your Health Examination List letter or the equivalent document provided.
Without your HAP ID, the clinic will not be able to locate your case in the health processing system.
Health information for Australian immigration is processed through the electronic visa health processing system, eMedical. This system stores data about applicants’ health examinations for Australian visa applications.
eMedical allows panel physicians and clinic staff to save:
This electronic process eliminates the need for paper-based reports and ensures that health information reaches the Department instantly.
Look for the eMedical logo next to the clinic’s name when searching for clinics that use this system.
If eMedical is not available at your clinic, download and print these forms to bring to your appointment:
You’re responsible for all costs related to your health examinations, including:
Costs can vary by country and are comparable to what you’d pay locally for a comprehensive health examination. Contact the clinic beforehand to ask about specific costs.
Learn more about visa health examination costs in Australia from Bupa Medical Visa Services.
If you’re an accepted Refugee or Special Humanitarian Program applicant (subclass 200, 201, 202, 203, or 204), you don’t have to pay for your health examinations. For applications lodged under the Community Proposal Pilot, the Approved Proposing Organisation covers the costs.
If you don’t have a valid passport, consult your visa processing officer for advice. The following documents may be accepted instead of a valid passport:
For examinations in Australia:
For examinations outside Australia:
You may also use the following combinations as alternatives:
We accept National Identity Cards from listed countries, including but not limited to Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and others.
If you cannot provide acceptable alternative documents, contact your visa processing officer for advice before making your appointment.
Permanent visa applicants with non-migrating family members must provide at least two forms of identification, including:
For detailed and updated information on identity documents and more, visit the official Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.
Steps After Your Health Check-Up
Once your health examinations are complete, the panel physician will:
It’s important to note that the panel physician will not inform you if you meet the health requirements. The results and recommendations are submitted directly for further assessment.
Understanding Your Health Requirement Status
If referred to an MOC, you might be asked to:
Using My Health Declarations
If you used My Health Declarations, be aware that you will not be informed of the outcome until you apply for a visa.
Checking Online Applications
For online applications, you can monitor your health assessment status through your ImmiAccount. Simply select ‘View health assessment’ under the ‘View application status’ section.
Inquiries About Your Health Examination Results
We can’t disclose your examination results until the panel clinic submits them to the Department. To confirm submission, you can contact the panel clinic directly.
If you have further questions about your results after submission, reach out to your visa processing officer.
Possible Health Case Outcomes
Your health case may be cleared without a referral to an MOC if:
However, if your case is referred to an MOC, they will determine if you:
Should you not meet the health requirement, your visa will not be granted unless a health waiver is available and approved.
Depending on your health assessment results, further examinations may be necessary. Your visa processing officer will inform you if this is the case.
For comprehensive details about health examinations and visa health requirements, visit the official immigration website.
Stay informed and check your ImmiAccount regularly to ensure a smooth process. If needed, don’t hesitate to reach out to the involved medical and immigration professionals for guidance.
A health undertaking is an agreement with the Australian Government to meet health requirements. This helps in managing significant health conditions with an onshore health provider if needed.
You may need to sign a health undertaking if you have significant health conditions and you:
Additionally, you might be required to sign a health undertaking if you are at risk of developing active tuberculosis. For instance:
Other significant health conditions that may require a health undertaking include:
“If you do not sign a health undertaking when requested, we will not grant you a visa.”
Your visa processing officer will inform you if you need to sign a health undertaking. To do this:
This form is available in multiple languages, such as:
Here is the updated table with the country flag emojis next to the language names:
| Language | Form Name & Link |
|---|---|
| Arabic 🇸🇦 | 815ara |
| Chinese Simplified 🇨🇳 | 815chs |
| Dari 🇦🇫 | 815dar |
| Farsi 🇮🇷 | 815far |
| French 🇫🇷 | 815fre |
| Hindi 🇮🇳 | 815hin |
| Indonesian 🇮🇩 | 815ind |
| Khmer 🇰🇭 | 815khm |
| Korean 🇰🇷 | 815kor |
| Kurdish Kurmanji 🇹🇷 | 815kur |
| Kurdish Sorani 🇮🇶 | 815kurs |
| Myanmar language 🇲🇲 | 815mya |
| Pashto 🇦🇫 | 815pas |
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | 815spa |
| Swahili 🇰🇪 | 815swa |
| Tamil 🇱🇰 | 815tam |
| Thai 🇹🇭 | 815tha |
| Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | 815vie |
Once you sign a health undertaking, you must:
Keep a copy of your signed health undertaking form for reference.
For protection visa applicants, contact BUPA within 28 days of receiving a Request for Information letter. If requested, attend an appointment with a health clinic in Australia.
If you are applying for a protection visa and choose not to complete a chest x-ray while pregnant, you must sign a pregnancy health undertaking. This agreement requires you to undergo a chest x-ray after giving birth. Arrange to have your chest x-ray within 28 days of receiving the Request for Information letter by contacting BUPA.
For more detailed information, refer to the official Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.
What is a Health Waiver for Australian Visas?
A health waiver is available for some visa subclasses in Australia. If a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) determines that you do not meet the health requirements, there might be an option to consider a health waiver.
To be eligible for a health waiver, you need to meet all other visa criteria first. Additionally, we must be convinced that granting you the visa will not:
You can find more details about significant costs and services in short supply on the official government page.
When is a Health Waiver Not Granted?
There are specific health conditions that disqualify you from receiving a health waiver, including:
How Can You Obtain a Health Waiver?
You do not need to apply for a health waiver on your own. If you fail to meet the health requirements and a health waiver is available for your visa subclass, a visa processing officer will get in touch with you. They will guide you through the next steps.
Here’s what you will need to do if contacted:
Factors Considered for Health Waivers
Each health waiver request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The following factors are taken into account:
What Happens After a Health Waiver Decision?
If a health waiver is exercised, we will proceed with processing your visa application. However, if we do not grant a health waiver, your visa application will be refused. The visa processing officer will inform you of the decision.
A Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) evaluates if your health condition imposes a significant cost on the Australian community’s health care and community services. The assessment varies based on your visa type:
For those with permanent or ongoing conditions, the MOC estimates the costs over your remaining life expectancy, up to a maximum of 10 years.
Key Points:
“We will not grant you a visa if you do not meet the health requirement because your condition is likely to be a significant cost unless a health waiver is available and exercised.”
The MOC also checks if your condition will prevent Australian citizens or permanent residents from accessing scarce health care or community services. This is referred to as “prejudicing access.”
Based on guidance from the Australian Department of Health, services considered in short supply include:
In certain cases, a health waiver might be available. The Department can consider this waiver if they believe granting the visa will not:
To ensure you don’t pose a risk to public health or endanger the Australian community, meeting the health requirements is essential for visa applicants. Here’s an overview of specific health conditions and their related requirements:
The Australian Government does not require evidence of measles vaccination for visa applications. However, it’s strongly recommended.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared tuberculosis an epidemic and a global emergency.
Tuberculosis Testing Details:
Job-related TB Testing:
Procedure if Evidence of TB is Found:
International students from certain regions carry a higher risk for TB compared to Australian-born individuals.
Recommendations:
Who Needs an HIV Test?
Who Needs a Hepatitis Test?
Note: “HIV and hepatitis are usually not considered public health threats.” However, if applying for certain temporary visas in healthcare fields, your condition might be evaluated for public health impact.
Applicants are encouraged to obtain an international vaccination certificate for yellow fever if:
Polio is a highly infectious virus affecting the nervous system.
Countries of Risk Include:
The WHO announced in December 2015 that countries previously affected by EVD are Ebola-free. Consequently, Australia has relaxed border screening.
These health requirements ensure the safety of both the Australian community and incoming travelers. For specific details, always refer to the official guidelines provided by Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs.
Why Should You Have Health Insurance in Australia?
In Australia, if you incur health care debts, you are responsible for paying them. These debts can affect your future visa applications if left unpaid.
Most visitors to Australia are not eligible for Medicare, meaning they must cover all hospital, medical, and para-medical costs, whether these services are in public or private hospitals.
Who Is Eligible for Medicare?
Medicare eligibility is determined by the Health Insurance Act 1973. It generally covers:
Do Visitors Need Private Health Insurance in Australia?
Visitors without Medicare eligibility are strongly advised to arrange private health insurance to cover unexpected medical and hospital care. If healthcare is needed and a person isn’t insured, they will have to pay all costs upfront as a private patient, whether in a public or private hospital.
What should you consider with Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC)?
OVHC products often provide suitable health insurance coverage. However, it’s important to check what each product covers, as some may not provide comprehensive coverage for all healthcare needs.
What Are the Costs Associated with Treatment?
Even with guidelines suggesting the minimum health coverage needed, your costs may not be completely covered. You might still have to pay part of the healthcare expenses. It’s advised to seek “Informed Financial Consent” before starting treatment to understand all potential costs and ensure they are covered under your policy.
What Are Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs)?
If you’re from a country with an RHCA with Australia, you might be eligible for Medicare during your stay. More details about RHCAs are available on the Services Australia website.
What Evidence of Health Insurance Is Required?
Certain visas require proof of adequate health insurance arrangements. You may need to show a current private health insurance policy from an Australian registered insurer for yourself and any co-applicants.
Where Can You Learn More About Private Health Insurance?
For detailed information on private health insurance, including a list of insurers operating in Australia, visit the Australian Government website.
What Benefit Levels Should Your Private Health Insurance Cover?
It’s recommended to purchase insurance that offers at least the following benefits:
What Are the Waiting Periods and Exclusions?
Australian registered private health insurers may impose waiting periods:
Insurers are not required to cover assisted reproductive treatments, elective cosmetic treatments, stem cells, bone marrow, organ transplants, treatments outside Australia, pre-arranged treatments before arrival, or treatments covered by compensation or damages.
What Happens if You Have an Excess, Co-Payment, or Contribution?
Insurers may apply an excess, co-payment, or patient contribution. Note these costs, which can be charged annually or per-treatment basis.
What Is the Importance of Portability?
Portability ensures that when transferring between Australian insurers, your membership length affects waiting periods. For existing members of over 12 months, no further waiting periods apply. For under 12 months, any remaining waiting times must be completed with the new insurer. Insurers must recognize the continuity of cover within 30 days of leaving the previous insurer and provide a clearance certificate within 14 days of policy termination.
What Is an Arrear and How Is It Handled?
Insurers allow a 60-day period from the last financial membership date to pay premiums without terminating the membership. Treatments during periods of arrears won’t be covered unless the arrears are settled.
For more information about health insurance requirements for visa holders, visit the Australian Government’s official website.
Sure, here is a structured list of authoritative and relevant external resources that can help visa applicants understand and meet Australia’s health requirements:
Australian Department of Home Affairs
ImmiAccount
Bupa Medical Visa Services
World Health Organization (WHO) Country Health Profiles
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
These resources are authoritative and directly related to understanding and meeting the health requirements for Australian visas.
