Last updated: 1 April 2026

Medical Examination for Australia Visa: What Happens

The medical examination is a compulsory step for almost every Australian visa application. For applicants pursuing permanent residency in Australia, the examination must be completed at an approved panel physician clinic and the results uploaded electronically to the Department of Home Affairs. This guide walks through exactly what happens at the appointment — each test, what it checks for, and how to prepare — so you know what to expect before you walk in.

For the broader overview of health requirements including costs, validity, and the health waiver process, see the health check overview for Australia PR. This page focuses specifically on what occurs during the examination itself.

Before the Appointment: Generating Your HAP ID

Before you can book a medical examination, you need a Health Assessment Protocol (HAP) ID. This is generated through your ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website. Log in, navigate to the health examination section, and complete the health declaration form. The system will generate a HAP ID and a referral letter that specifies which examinations you need based on your visa subclass, age, and intended occupation.

Print the referral letter and bring it to your appointment. The panel physician cannot conduct the examination without a valid HAP ID because the results must be uploaded to the eMedical system using this identifier. If you attempt to attend a clinic without a HAP ID, you will be turned away. The HAP ID is valid for 12 months from the date of generation, which gives you ample time to schedule the appointment.

When generating the HAP ID, answer all health declaration questions honestly. The declaration asks about your medical history, current medications, previous surgeries, and whether you have ever been diagnosed with specific conditions including TB, hepatitis, HIV, or mental health conditions. Providing false information in the health declaration is a serious matter — it can lead to visa refusal under the character requirement if discovered during the examination or later.

The Physical Examination

The physical examination is the first component of the appointment and is conducted by the panel physician directly. This is a comprehensive general health assessment that covers multiple body systems. The physician records your height, weight, and body mass index. Blood pressure is measured, typically while seated after a brief rest period. The physician listens to your heart with a stethoscope, checking for murmurs, irregular rhythms, or other abnormalities. Your lungs are assessed through auscultation — the doctor listens to your breathing through the stethoscope at multiple points on your chest and back.

The abdominal examination involves palpation to check for organ enlargement or masses. Your skin is inspected for signs of infectious conditions, chronic disease, or injection marks. The physician examines your ears, nose, and throat, and checks your lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin for enlargement that might indicate infection or other conditions.

The physician also conducts a neurological screening, which may include checking reflexes, coordination, and gait. This is not an in-depth neurological assessment but is sufficient to identify obvious conditions. If you have a physical disability or mobility limitation, the physician documents it but it does not automatically affect the health requirement outcome — the assessment is about healthcare cost and public health risk, not physical ability.

Vision Test

The vision test uses a standard Snellen chart to assess your visual acuity in each eye separately and then both eyes together. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them — you will be tested both with and without correction. The physician records your corrected and uncorrected visual acuity.

Poor uncorrected vision is not a barrier to meeting the health requirement as long as it is correctable. If you have a condition such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or significant visual impairment that cannot be fully corrected, the physician documents it for the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth to assess. In most cases, visual conditions that are being managed or monitored do not prevent visa grant. The assessment focuses on whether the condition imposes a significant cost on the healthcare system, and routine ophthalmological care typically falls well below the cost threshold.

Chest X-ray

The chest X-ray is one of the most important components of the immigration medical because it screens for tuberculosis, which remains a significant public health concern globally. The X-ray is required for all applicants aged 11 years and older. It is typically conducted at the same clinic as the physical examination, though some clinics refer you to a nearby radiology centre.

The X-ray is a standard posterior-anterior (PA) view taken while you stand against the X-ray plate with your chest pressed forward and your arms positioned out of the way. You will be asked to remove jewellery, clothing with metal components, and any items that could obscure the image. The radiographer instructs you to take a deep breath and hold it while the exposure is taken. The entire process takes less than 5 minutes.

The resulting image shows your lungs, heart silhouette, ribcage, and surrounding structures. The panel physician or a radiologist reviews the image for signs of active or latent tuberculosis, including lung infiltrates, cavitation (holes in lung tissue), pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs), hilar lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes in the chest), and calcified granulomas (indicators of previous TB infection). The X-ray can also incidentally identify other conditions such as an enlarged heart, pneumonia, or lung masses, which are documented and reported.

If the X-ray is abnormal, the clinic will arrange further testing before uploading results. This may include sputum samples (collected over three consecutive mornings) to test for active TB bacteria, or a CT scan for a more detailed view of any abnormality. An abnormal X-ray does not mean you have TB — old, healed TB infections often leave visible scarring that is not clinically active. The further testing is to confirm whether any abnormality is active or historical.

Blood Tests

Blood is drawn during the appointment, typically by a nurse or phlebotomist at the clinic. The standard blood panel for immigration medical purposes tests for specific conditions rather than providing a general health screen. For applicants aged 15 and older, the standard tests include HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) antibody and antigen testing, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing, and syphilis serology (RPR or VDRL test). Additional blood tests may be ordered by the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth if the physical examination or health declaration raises concerns about specific conditions.

The blood draw is a standard venepuncture from a vein in your arm, typically from the antecubital fossa (inner elbow). It takes approximately 5 minutes and requires one to three vials depending on the tests ordered. Results are processed by the clinic’s pathology lab or a contracted laboratory. You do not receive the results directly — they are uploaded to the eMedical system and reviewed by the MOC.

A positive result on any test does not automatically mean visa refusal. The Department assesses the result against the health requirement criteria. For example, a positive hepatitis B surface antigen result indicating carrier status is assessed based on the expected healthcare costs of monitoring and potential treatment. A positive HIV result is assessed based on treatment costs (antiretroviral therapy), monitoring requirements, and public health considerations. In both cases, the applicant is given the opportunity to provide further information and specialist reports before a decision is made.

Mental Health Assessment

The mental health component of the immigration medical is primarily a screening assessment conducted through the medical history review and the physical examination observation. The panel physician asks about any history of mental health conditions, psychiatric treatment, hospitalisation for mental health reasons, and current use of psychiatric medication. The physician also observes your demeanour, communication, and behaviour during the appointment for signs of significant mental health concerns.

This is not a formal psychiatric evaluation. If you are currently taking medication for anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition, disclose it honestly. Well-managed mental health conditions treated with standard medications such as SSRIs, SNRIs, or anxiolytics are generally not barriers to meeting the health requirement. The cost of ongoing psychiatric medication and GP monitoring typically falls well below the significant cost threshold of approximately $51,000 AUD over 10 years.

If the panel physician identifies concerns — for example, if you report a history of psychotic episodes, psychiatric hospitalisation, or conditions requiring specialist ongoing care — a referral for specialist psychiatric assessment may be made. The specialist report is then uploaded to the eMedical system for the MOC to review. Severe mental health conditions requiring ongoing specialist intervention, supported accommodation, or frequent hospitalisation may be assessed as exceeding the cost threshold.

Pregnancy Considerations

If you are pregnant at the time of your medical examination, inform both the panel physician and the radiographer before any procedures. Pregnancy does not disqualify you from the medical examination or negatively affect your visa application. However, the chest X-ray component requires modification.

In the first trimester, the chest X-ray may be deferred until the second or third trimester when abdominal shielding can be used with greater confidence. Some clinics and physicians prefer to defer the X-ray until after delivery to eliminate any radiation exposure to the foetus entirely. In either case, an alternative TB screening method — typically an Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test, such as QuantiFERON-TB Gold — may be conducted instead. The IGRA test is a blood test that detects immune responses to TB bacteria without any radiation exposure.

The panel physician documents the pregnancy and any deferred tests in the eMedical system. The Department of Home Affairs expects deferred tests to be completed within a reasonable timeframe after delivery. Your visa processing may continue in the meantime based on the available results, but the visa cannot be granted until all required examinations are completed and cleared. If you are planning to become pregnant, consider completing the medical examination before conception to avoid complications with timing.

TB Screening in Detail

Tuberculosis screening is the most scrutinised aspect of the immigration medical because of Australia’s status as a low-TB-incidence country. The screening pathway depends on your chest X-ray result and your country of origin. Applicants from high-TB-incidence countries (as defined by the WHO) may receive additional scrutiny even if their X-ray appears normal.

If your chest X-ray is clear and you have no history of TB, the screening is complete and no further action is required. If the X-ray shows abnormalities suggestive of current or previous TB, the following pathway applies: sputum samples are collected on three consecutive mornings, cultured for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and tested using rapid molecular methods (such as GeneXpert). If sputum cultures are negative, the abnormality is likely an old, healed infection and a Health Undertaking may be issued requiring follow-up monitoring after arrival in Australia.

If sputum cultures are positive for active TB, the visa application cannot proceed until the TB is treated and the applicant is no longer infectious. Treatment for active TB typically takes 6 to 9 months with directly observed therapy (DOT). After treatment completion, new sputum cultures and a follow-up X-ray are required before the medical examination can be re-uploaded. Applicants from countries including India, the Philippines, China, Vietnam, and Nepal are statistically more likely to require TB follow-up, though each case is assessed individually.

HIV Testing

The HIV test is a mandatory component for permanent visa applicants aged 15 and older. The test uses fourth-generation technology (combined antigen/antibody test) which detects both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies and the p24 antigen, providing accurate results from approximately two weeks after potential exposure.

A positive HIV result is assessed under the health requirement framework. The Department considers the cost of antiretroviral therapy (ART), regular monitoring (viral load tests, CD4 counts, specialist consultations), and the potential public health risk. Current ART costs in Australia are significant — approximately $15,000-25,000 AUD per year — which means the 10-year cost threshold of approximately $51,000 AUD is generally exceeded. This makes HIV a condition where a health waiver is typically required for visa grant.

However, health waivers for HIV have been granted in cases where the applicant demonstrates compelling circumstances, has access to private health insurance that covers treatment, or can demonstrate other mitigating factors. The assessment is holistic and considers the applicant’s individual circumstances. If you receive a positive result, engaging a registered migration agent with experience in health waiver applications is strongly recommended.

After the Examination: Results and Next Steps

After your appointment, the panel physician uploads all results to the eMedical system within 2 to 5 business days. You can check the status of your health assessment in ImmiAccount under the “Health” tab. The status will show one of several indicators: “health clearance provided” (examination passed), “further health information required” (additional tests or information needed), or “health assessment in progress” (results being reviewed by the MOC).

If further information is requested, respond promptly through ImmiAccount. Delays in providing additional information can extend your visa processing time. The request will specify exactly what is needed — typically a specialist report, additional blood tests, or a follow-up X-ray. Arrange these promptly and have the results uploaded by the relevant provider.

Once health clearance is provided, this component of your visa application is complete. The health clearance remains valid for 12 months from the date of the original examination. If your visa is granted within this period, no further health action is required. If the visa is not granted within 12 months, a new examination may be requested. For the full list of requirements beyond health, see the Australia PR requirements overview and the PR application document checklist.

Your health examination is one part of the overall process of how to get PR in Australia. It runs in parallel with other requirements such as the subclass 189 visa points test, skills assessment, and the subclass 190 visa state nomination. Completing it early and without complications keeps your application timeline on track. The cost of the medical forms part of the broader Australia PR costs you should budget for.