Most visa applicants (and in some cases family unit members) must satisfy health criteria and Medical Health Examination Test for an Australian Visa. It is important that advice re: health criteria is obtained from an Australian Immigration lawyer or a registered migration agent before a visa application is lodged to avoid visa refusals and to get visas processed faster. It will also assist us to lodge a decision ready certification to fast track the application.
Even if you do not undertake the actual medical test, you may be required to lodge the medical health declaration via the immi account to obtain a “HAP” Referral letter.
Arranging a health examination
- Health examinations in Australia
Online booking via Bupa Medical Visa Services –
http://www.bupamvs.com.au/ or
https://bmvs.onlineappointmentscheduling.net.au/oasis/
- Health examinations outside Australia
Visit(Immigration panel physicians):
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/busi/Pane/Pane-1
Health examinations in Australia
If you are required to undertake the immigration we will do a medical declaration for you via the immi account and email you the generated HAP Referral letter that must be taken to the medical examination.
The current migration medical services provider is Bupa Medical Visa Services.
To book an appointment with Bupa Medical Visa Services, please:
- use their online booking tool available through their website at Bupa Medical Visa Services where possible, or
- phone 1300 794 919 if you do not have access to the internet or need to arrange a Carer visa assessment or a fitness to depart/travel assessment.
You can find information on the Bupa Medical Visa Services website about:
- the fees and charges associated with visa medical appointments
- Bupa locations in Australia
- access to, and use of, interpreters during visa medical appointments.
Health examinations outside Australia
If you are applying for a visa while outside Australia, you must arrange your health examinations with a panel physician. A panel physician is a doctor and/or a radiologist who has been appointed to perform Australian immigration health examinations outside Australia.
To locate your closest panel physician, check the list of panel physicians on DHA website, https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/busi/Pane/Pane-1
Panel physicians are now able to process your health examinations online using our eMedical system in more than 100 countries – this means that your health results can be processed online, often in minutes.
In some countries, you must use electronic health processing.
If you are booking an appointment with an eMedical enabled clinic, you must provide a health identifier (HAP ID). We also encourage you to use eMedical Client before your appointment.
Note: Panel clinics will expect clients who have lodged an online visa application to have completed the eMedical Client process online before attending their appointment.
Legislation
Statutory Instrument IMMI 11/085 specifies the medical assessments that applicants must undergo to comply with the requirements in Schedule 4005, 4006A and 4007.
These vary depending on the visa applied for and factors relating to the circumstances of the person concerned.
Section 60 enables the Minister to require a visa applicant to visit, and be examined by, a ‘person qualified to determine the applicant’s health’.
Section 65 enables the Minister to grant or refuse a visa depending on whether he or she is satisfied that the applicant meets the health criteria
Section 496 enables the Minister to delegate the power to consider and decide whether an applicant meets the health criterion Regulation 2.25A provides as follows;
Regulation 2.25A requires DIAC to seek the opinion of the MOC on whether a person meets certain health criteria and DIAC to accept the MOC’s opinion as correct.
Schedule 4005 of the Migration Regulations
This is the ‘standard’ health provision for many temporary and permanent visas with no health waiver.
Schedule 4006A of the Migration Regulations
This applies to Subclass 457 visas and it is possible to obtain a waiver if an employer gives an appropriate undertaking.
Schedule 4007 of the Migration Regulations
This is the health provision that applies to a number of provisional and permanent visas and which includes a health waiver.
The Medical Officers of the Commonwealth
Regulation 2.25A(1) requires the Minister to seek the opinion of the medical officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) in determining whether an applicant satisfies the health criteria.
Regulation 2.25A(3) requires the Minister to take the opinion of the MOC to be correct in determining whether a person satisfies the health criteria.
When providing such an opinion the MOC must consider the services likely to be required by a hypothetical person with a condition of the same form and severity.
The MOC cannot take into account any non-medical circumstances such as claims that a person will not utilize available public services because they have private health insurance or significant personal funds.
Reciprocal Health Care agreements
The following countries have reciprocal health care agreements with Australia.
(1) New Zealand
(2) Ireland
(3) United Kingdom
(4) Sweden
(5) Norway
(6) Netherlands
(7) Malta
(8) Italy
Source: Migration Act and https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au