Australian visa applicants may require health examinations as part of the application process depending on a number of factors including:
- the type of visa
- the duration of stay
- the proposed activities in Australia
- the country of application
- special circumstances and
- whether there are any significant medical questions.
Further information about medical examinations is listed in an earlier blog here.
Streamlined requirements for temporary visa applicants in Australia
As of 18 October 2022, the Department of Home Affairs (Department) have announced temporary, streamlined health requirements for certain temporary visa applications in Australia.
Specifically, temporary visa applicants in Australia will not be required to undertake medical examinations and chest x-rays, based on their nationality, previous residence and proposed length of stay, in order to meet the health requirement.
However, temporary visa applicants in Australia will still be required to undertake relevant medical examinations and/or chest x-rays if they:
- have applied for a medical treatment, temporary protection or a provisional visa
- expect to incur medical costs or require medical treatment
- are intending to work as (or study to be) a doctor, dentist, nurse or paramedic
- will enter a hospital, aged or disability care facility (if higher tuberculosis risk)
- are pregnant and intending to have the baby in Australia
- will work or train at an Australian childcare centre
- are aged over 75 years (if applying for a visitor visa)
- have had previous household contact with tuberculosis or
- are requested to do so by the Department.
Which are the streamlined temporary visas?
Specifically, the Department has indicated that this arrangement applies to applicants for the following visa subclasses (if an applicant is already in Australia):
- 401 – Temporary Work (Long Stay Activity)
- 403 – Temporary Work International Relations
- 405 – Investor Retirement
- 407 – Training
- 408 – Temporary Activity
- 410 – Retirement
- 417 and 462 – Working Holiday
- 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship
- 476 – Skilled Recognised Graduate
- 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage
- 485 – Temporary Graduate
- 500 – Student
- 590 – Student Guardian
- 600 – Visitor
- 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary)
- 995 – Diplomatic (Temporary)
How long will these measures apply?
This is temporary measure and applies to all eligible temporary visa applications currently with the Department and new applications made in Australia. The Government will review these arrangements in early 2023.
What if you’ve already made an appointment?
If you have already made a health examination appointment with Bupa Medical Visa Services and have not yet attended it, your appointment will be cancelled and refunded. Bupa will contact you via SMS to advise you of this. Do not contact Bupa to cancel your appointment yourself. If you are not advised that your appointment has been cancelled, you should attend if possible.
For further information from Bupa, please refer to here.
Do you have any further questions?
If you have further questions in relation to the health requirements for your visa application, or have any other immigration related queries, feel free to get in touch with our experienced team. Contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at +61 3 9016 0484.
