Where do you get the medical done — onshore or offshore? You’ll find all the answers right here!

To uphold high global health standards, countries around the world require strict health checks for people entering their borders, and Australia is no exception. Most people applying for an Australian visa must meet the minimum health requirements. So whether you are applying for an Australian permanent residence visa or a temporary visa, applicants must undergo a health examination to confirm whether they meet the health requirements. To help applicants planning to come to Australia, we’ve put together this overview of the medical examination requirements for Australian migration visa applications.

Requirements by age group

First of all, the Australian medical examination involves different tests depending on the applicant’s age group, as set out below:

– Under 2 years Basic medical examination

– Over 2 and up to 11 years Medical examination, plus a tuberculosis screening test — the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) — if you are from a country with a high risk of tuberculosis or are applying for a refugee or humanitarian visa

– 11 years or older but under 15 years Medical examination and chest X-ray

– 15 years or older Medical examination, chest X-ray and HIV test

Basic medical examination items

Next, here are some of the specific basic medical examination items for the Australian migration medical, for your reference:

1. Height and weight;

2. Blood pressure (required for those aged 15 and over);

3. Vision test (including a fundus examination);

4. Routine urine test. Required for those aged 5 and over, and for children under 5 where clinically indicated;

5. Cardiovascular system;

6. Respiratory system: applicants who currently have, or have previously had, tuberculosis must provide the dates and duration of treatment, the name, strength and dosage of the medication used, and any previous chest X-rays and reports (if available);

7. Nervous system: applicants who have a neurological disorder such as the after-effects of a stroke or cerebral palsy will require the relevant examinations;

8. Gastrointestinal system;

9. Musculoskeletal system (including mobility for all applicants aged over 60);

10. Endocrine system;

11. Psychological and cognitive state;

12. Intellectual ability;

13. Examination of the eyes, ears, nose and throat;

14. Hearing;

15. Developmental milestones (children under five);

16. Skin and lymph nodes;

17. Notes on the breast examination;

18. Whether any physical or mental condition affects normal study, work or independent living;

19. Whether there is any history of drug use (e.g. venepuncture marks).

Applicants for an Australian permanent residence visa are most commonly refused on the grounds of intellectual disability, HIV infection, functional impairment, kidney disease or failure, and cancer(refused). In addition, because Australia’s organ transplant and dialysis services are currently in short supply, an applicant who does not meet the health requirements may also have their migration application refused.

Additional examination items

In addition, in some circumstances applicants may also need to undergo further medical tests, specifically:

1.All applicants aged 15 and over who plan to work in Australia as a doctor, dentist, nurse or carer must undergo hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing;

2. All applicants aged 15 and over applying onshore in Australia for a protection visa must undergo hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis testing;

3. All applicants aged 15 and over applying for a refugee visa must undergo syphilis testing and additional tests to rule out health risks;

4.All pregnant women and those planning to become pregnant in Australia must undergo hepatitis B testing;

5. All adopted children, and children in the care of an Australian state or territory government welfare agency, must undergo HIV and hepatitis B testing;

6.If a particular health condition is identified during the initial health examination, additional tests may be required

The medical examination process in Australia

Now that we’ve covered the examination items, let’s walk through the step-by-step process for the Australian medical examination.

1. Obtaining the referral letter containing your HAP ID

After lodging your visa and completing the medical history declaration required by the Department’s system, a referral letter is usually generated for you automatically.The letter will show your HAP ID examination number, and once you have both you can go ahead and book your appointment.

Whether for a permanent or a temporary visa, the medical results are valid for one year. If you have valid medical results when you lodge your visa, but the medical has already expired by the time the case officer assesses your application, you will receive a new medical request letter. If your visa has not been finalised a year after you completed the medical, you will again be asked to provide further medicals and will need to repeat the examination. In most cases, you cannot apply to redo an expired visa medical on your own initiative — you have to wait for a request letter before redoing it

2. Booking the medical examination

To book a medical, if you are onshore in Australia you need to arrange your health examination through the immigration medical services provider Bupa Medical Visa Services .

You can book your examination online through Bupa Medical Visa Services at https://www.bupa.com.au/bupamvs, or call 1300 794 919 to arrange your health examination. If you are unable to attend, please cancel or change your booking as soon as possible through Bupa’s online booking system. You can cancel or change your appointment by selecting amend/cancel booking, or by calling Bupa’s contact centre on 1300 794 919 (you will need the HAP ID used for the booking in order to change your medical appointment)

If you are applying from within China, you will need to have your examination at a panel hospital designated by the Australian embassy (if you are required to undergo a physical examination, you must attend one of these hospitals, and arrive at least 1 hour before the hospital closes for the day). The list of designated panel hospitals and their contact numbers is as follows:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/contact-us/offices-and-locations/list

3. Preparing the documents required for the medical

The documents you need for the medical are:

– Your original passport

– The referral letter containing your HAP ID

– If you are short-sighted, bring your glasses or contact lenses

– If you have any medical condition, bring your specialist’s report

4. Attending the designated hospital for the medical

A friendly reminder: be sure to arrive on time, because if you are more than 15 minutes late your appointment will lapse and the fee is non-refundable! Allow around 2 hours for the medical (including waiting and preparation time). Tip: check your route to the hospital the day before.

Handy tips before your medical

Beyond the information above, here are a few more handy tips before your Australian visa medical:

1. Do not attend the medical while you have a cold, fever, inflammation, cough, are unwell or are taking medication;

2. If you have a history of serious illness or lung disease, bring your diagnosis certificate, discharge summary and pathology reports stamped with the medical institution’s official seal;

3. Apart from those with a history of hepatitis, everyone may eat and drink as normal;

4. Women may wish to avoid having the medical during their period;

5. Get plenty of rest before the medical, as too little rest can cause high blood pressure during the examination;

6. If you have vision problems, bring your glasses; if you have hearing problems, bring your hearing aid. Applicants on long-term medication — such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes, or those taking hormones — should take their medication as usual on the day of the examination and bring their current medications. Also, avoid using your first morning urine for the urine test, as this may affect the results;

7. Applicants under 16 years of age must be accompanied to the medical by a parent or guardian.

That covers the key requirements and tips for the Australian visa medical examination. If you have a medical coming up soon, be sure to bookmark this! Migration trends both onshore and offshore are looking very positive right now, so don’t wait — get your visa application in!

If you have any questions about your Australian visa application, feel free to get in touch with our assistant.

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