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.

FAQs

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, you 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.