The Department of Immigration has recently announced that some temporary visa types no longer require applicants to undergo a medical examination. So, for many visa applicants in Australia, they may no longer need to meet the health requirement as part of their visa application processing.
However, it is important to note that this arrangement does not apply to applicants who are already in Australia. It only applies to people who are applying for the following visa subclasses:
- Temporary Work (Subclass 401)
- Temporary Work International Relations (Subclass 403)
- Investor Retirement (Subclass 405)
- Training (Subclass 407)
- Temporary Activity (Subclass 408)
- Retirement (Subclass 410)
- Working Holiday (Subclass 417 and 462)
- New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Subclass 461)
- Skilled Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476)
- Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482)
- Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485)
- Student (Subclass 500)
- Student Guardian (Subclass 590)
- Visitor (Subclass 600)
- Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (Subclass 870)
- Diplomatic (Temporary) (Subclass 995)
If you are outside Australia when applying for a temporary visa, you will still need to meet the health criterion by undertaking a medical examination before being granted that visa.
Although this change benefits applicants by speeding up the processing time, visa applicants in Australia may be required to take health examinations if they fall into certain categories.
Please see the following list of circumstances in which a temporary visa applicant will need to undergo a medical examination:
- Have applied for a medical treatment, temporary protection or a provisional visa before.
- Are expected to cover their own medical costs and expenses while in Australia.
- Are intending to work (or study) as a doctor, nurse, dentist, or paramedic, you may be eligible for special concessions on your public transport. These do not apply if you will likely enter a hospital, aged care facility or disability service.
- If you are pregnant or thinking about having a baby in Australia
- Going to be working with children at an Australian childcare centre.
- If you are over the age of 75 and applying for a visitor visa;
- Have been exposed to or had contact with tuberculosis in the past;
- Have been asked to do so by the Department.
Please note that the Department may still request you to undertake these health and medical examinations if they deem fit. However, if you have already made an appointment with Bupa Medical Services, your appointment will be cancelled and refunded if you do not attend. If you have not received confirmation that your appointment has been cancelled, please attend as scheduled. If you have received confirmation, you will not receive a refund for any appointments already attended.
We welcome this change, knowing that it will make it easier for our clients to apply for a temporary visa in Australia or who have been waiting a long time for their visas to be granted.
If you have any questions or queries about this policy, please contact our office on 03 9092 1688 or make an online enquiry.
