26 - Medical examination for an Australian visa

1 26 (Design date 08/21) - Page 1 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, 2021 Medical examinationfor an Australian visaForm26 Department of Home AffairsThis form is for applicants who are required to undergo a Medical examination as part of an application for an Australian visa . For information on heath examinations see Department of Home Affairs (the Department) is authorised to collect the personal information on this form under section 60 of the Migration Act 1958. When you complete this form and give it to the panel physician or clinic, the Commonwealth of Australia becomes the owner of the personal information on the form .

2 The panel physician is required to send the form to the responsibilitiesYou must truthfully disclose your Medical history and details of any known Medical outside Australia you must attend the same panel physician during the course of your health subclass and visa nameTo assist the Department to link your health examinations with your visa application you must write the visa subclass number and the name of the visa you are applying for on page 4 of this example: subclass 405 Investor Retirement subclass 600 Sponsored Family Visitor stream subclass 890 business OwnerThis information is required for the visa decision-maker to process your visa application.

3 You can find the visa subclass number and the name of the visa on the Department s website health examinations before you lodge your visa applicationIn some circumstances, the Department allows visa applicants to complete health examinations before they lodge their visa application. The Department s website provides information on where this is possible. For details see must undertake the required health examinations, as requested by the panel be aware that if you do complete your health examinations before lodging your visa application you may need to undertake additional health examinations if: you later lodge a visa application for a different visa subclass ; you decide to stay in Australia for a longer period; you do not complete all the required health examinations.

4 Or your health examinations expire prior to a decision being made on your visa you have not lodged a visa application and a significant health condition is identified which may impact on your ability to meet the health requirement you will not be provided with an opinion of the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth until after you lodge your visa costs of health examinations are paid by you directly to the panel physicians or clinics undertaking the examinations. There may be additional costs if further tests or couriers are AustraliaIf you are an applicant for a visa under Australia s Offshore Refugee and humanitarian program the Australian Government will cover the costs of your health to make an appointment for your Medical examinationOutside AustraliaTo undertake a Medical examination outside Australia, please contact your closest panel physician.

5 For details see AustraliaTo make an online booking to undertake a Medical examination in Australia you must contact the Migration Medical Services Provider. For information on how to contact the Migration Medical Services Provider see womenWomen should not attend this Medical examination during menstruation as blood will taint the to bring to the examination Any prescription spectacles or contact lenses that you may wear. Where you have a known Medical condition, any existing specialist valid original passport is the form of identity documentation preferred by the Australian Government.

6 You must bring a valid original passport with you where are limited circumstances in which the Department will accept alternative identity documentation. For details see physicians are required to confirm the identity of individuals who present at their clinic for Australian immigration health (Design date 08/21) - Page 2 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, 2021If you do not bring acceptable identification documentation to the Medical examination the processing of your visa application may be delayed or may not proceed if the panel physician is not satisfied with the identification.

7 If you are a refugee, humanitarian or protection visa applicant special arrangements regarding identification may tests may be requiredPermanent visasAll applicants for permanent visas to Australia 15 or more years of age are required to undergo Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing. Applicants for permanent visas under 15 years of age must also undergo HIV testing if they are being adopted, have a history of blood transfusions, or have other clinical : These requirements also apply to applicants applying for a provisional visa that has a permanent visa visasApplicants for temporary visas to Australia are not normally required to undergo HIV testing except for certain groups or if the panel physician decides it is clinically , dentists, nurses and paramedicsApplicants intending to work as (or studying to be)

8 A doctor, dentist, nurse or paramedic are required to undergo a chest x-ray and Medical examination as well as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C information Medical information such as a chest x-ray is used to assess an applicant s standard of health. After a decision has been made on the visa application it is usual for the Department to retain the Medical information. The Medical information is retained by the Department for use when assessing the applicant s health in the future and for panel physician audits to ensure the quality of work undertaken by the panel physician network.

9 ImmunisationVisa applicants are encouraged to be immunised against infectious diseases before travelling to Australia. visa applicants who are unable to arrange their immunisation before departure from their home country are encouraged to seek advice on arrival in Australia. The Australian state and territory health authorities assist people to obtain general Medical help and advice, including are strongly encouraged to have their children immunised against hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis, haemophilus influenzae type-b (Hib), pneumococcal and meningococcal infections, mumps, measles, rubella and varicella (chickenpox).

10 Babies between the ages of 2 and 8 months of age (only) are also encouraged to be immunised against rotavirus. Parents should bring any immunisation records for their children with them to Australia. Rubella vaccinations are strongly encouraged for women of child-bearing information about privacyThe Privacy Act 1988 contains 13 Australian Privacy Principles which regulate the way that the Department collects and handles personal information. Information about how the Department collects, uses and discloses personal information for its key functions can be found in form 1442i Privacy notice.