A necessary part of applying for an Australian Partner Visa is that the visa applicant passes the “health requirement”. That means all spouse or fiancée visa applicants need to have a Medical examination and a chest xray.
Why do we need a Medical and XRAY exam?
Three reasons:
- Infectious conditions, especially Tuberculosis (TB), which they need to keep out of the country as much as possible.
- Conditions that will cost Australia considerable money in treatment costs in the short, medium and long term
- Conditions that will/could deprive Aussies of medical resources
They need the applicant to be examined to see if they are caught by any of the above factors. I’ve explained this in more detail in a BLOG post before. Click HERE.
Who needs the health examinations?
- For tourist visas, in most cases not required. For longer stays (6 months or more per-stay) or for anyone with a risk factor, they will require a chest xray or possibly a full medical.
- For partner visas and child visas
- The applicant needs a full medical and a chest xray.
- Secondary applicants ie. children: 11 years or older, full medical and chest XRAY. Under 11, full medical only
- Dependent children who are NOT migrating? They require medicals as if they were included. Why? I don’t know……but I don’t make the rules. Must be done.
What do you need to do?
- Firstly, follow the instructions in the document “pdf” that we send out to you. It’s all there.
- Open the attachment with your name on it (eg. marilou hernandez.pdf). This has your HAP ID on it.
- Importantly, please complete the ONLINE HEALTH HISTORY as per the instructions.
Then just follow the other instructions, and go to the clinic nearest to you from the list of approved doctors and clinics, known as “panel doctors”. Why “panel doctors”? No idea! But that’s what they’re called. You cannot attend your own doctor or a clinic closer to you. They do this to maintain the integrity of the program, so that no one slips through the system because a doctor took a bribe!
Attending the clinic
Get there nice and early, and in most cases you will be in and out in a day. Make sure you’ve done the online history, and make sure you bring everything you need.
Do NOT go if you are (a) sick, or (b) having ladies time-of-the-month.
And if you’ve had any serious medical conditions, bring along previous medical reports and/or xrays.
Please note that the medical results will NOT go to you. They will not “let you know” if it’s all OK. They will not be “available in a week”. And they will not “email them to the Embassy”. The clinic staff often prefer to tell you stories to keep you happy than to tell you the truth.
The results go to Canberra, to what they call “Global Health”, which is the section of the Department of Immigration that assesses whether the health criteria has been met or not. Their priority is NOT to fit in with your travel plans, or to be informative. Their priority is to see that the health criteria is met, ie. the “three reasons” above.
What if they find a problem?
This is Philippines. Tuberculosis (TB) is rife. They might find it, and if they find evidence of it they will ask for further xrays and possibly sputum tests. Please read more HERE
Be aware, again, that their priority is not your travel plans or your convenience. There is not a specific safe-time to wait to see if you have the all-clear. They may get back to you requesting further tests in a week (rarely), or it may be over a month. And even if you have a tourist visa granted already, once they suspect TB you will be stopped from boarding the plane.
In most cases? No news. Definitely no updates. For most of our applicants it’s a fairly painless process.
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My wife attended the panel doctor in Cebu. Even though she has no symptoms it was found she had TB in a early stage. Now panel doctor are selected by the embassy –hers was excellent ( American’s john Hopkins graduate , a specialist, the best) many Philippine doctors are quacks—with degree’s paid for by their wealthy parents. He subscribed her medication , he also supplied it to her therefore bypassing the danger of fake drugs endemic in Philippines. I paid for her treatment upfront–x rays, medicine, consultations–as I recall 15,000 peso’s –that’s 3 x rays, monthly consultation with him, and the 3 antibiotics required. When course was complete he wrote the recommendation to global health (a chinesse company employed by a lot of embassy’s). She received her visa with a proviso that in Australia she has follow up check x ray—which she did –then again after 6 months then again after a further 6 months at that point she was declared Tb free by the hospital as all 3 x rays clear. Of major concern is she must be motivated along with family as the directions must be followed to take the medication EVERY day. Our case ended well we are happily together in Australia however the shock first felt must be overcome and it truly tests the bonds of the relationship.
Hi, I just wanna know if you are apply for defacto..what medical required?tnx
The same Medical Examination and XRAY for a standard partner visa
hi jeff, like what medical they need to check? Tnx
Many things, Rose. Is there something you’re concerned about?
Hi, my husband just done his health examination how long we have to wait for his grant visa ? Is he need to go for an interview in Australian embassy ?
There is no “standard” I can tell you, sorry. Just be patient. And I can’t tell you if he needs to be interviewed or not. It depends on the case.
I would be transiting in sydney for 3 hours but would be declaring medications for my allergy at customs. Having that said, do I need a transit visa?
Please discuss this with your airline
We received an invitation for visa 189 . Before submitting our application, me and my partner would like to do a health examination. The problem is we are still unmarried but planning on marrying soon befor submitting the application so that we can apply as married couple . Is it possible to have our health checks as individuals now and later use it for the combined application ?
Thanks
I don’t advise on 189 visas and I only advise on visas from Philippines, sorry