Did you know that you and your family members who apply for a visa might need to have health examination to prove that you meet the health requirement in Australia? You might also need to have more health examinations if you come from a country where there are known public health concerns such as polio or Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
Coming to Australia can be someone’s dream – whether it is to study, work or even to start a new life with their family. However, the visa application process is not easy and the criteria to meet can be strict. For one, if a visa applicant fails the health requirement, your visa application will be instantly denied. So what is the criteria for the health requirement?
When you apply for your visa, your health will be assessed by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC). Typically, the categories that require a health check are permanent, temporary and provisional visas. The health requirement was implemented to protect and mitigate any risks to safety and public health by applicants coming into the Australian community. Typically, the type of health assessment you will undergo will be determined based on:
- Your duration of stay in Australia
- The visa you are applying for
- Your intentions during your stay
- What country you apply from
- Whether you have any existing medical conditions
But in the event that you do fail the health requirement, you may be eligible for what is known as a health waiver.
What is a health waiver?
Consider it like this, a health waiver is a second chance at having your visa granted even if you fail the health requirement. But be warned, it is something that you cannot directly apply for. It must be recommended to you by a MOC on your behalf. So what makes them reconsider? So even if you failed the health requirement, your visa may granted on the basis that:
- You do not pose as a significant financial risk to the community
- You do not prevent Australian citizens from being able to access health care or community services in short supply
- Possess compelling and compassionate grounds to have your visa granted
For some this new health waiver provision implemented by the Government in 2019 is an excellent second chance at life.
Types of Health Waivers
It doesn’t end there, there are two types of health waivers that are relevant to the public interest criteria (PIC). PIC is the Department’s policy for the health requirement, and depending on what visa you apply for, a different PIC can apply.
- PIC 4005 – From 1 July 2019, the cost of a condition suffered by a visa applicant was increased to $49,000 as opposed to $40,000 before 1 July 2019. If you suffer a condition that exceeded this threshold, your visa was denied.
- PIC 4007 – This enables a health waiver to be obtained if the Department is satisfied that the grant of a visa would be unlikely to result in undue cost to the Australian community or prejudice to accessing medical care
At Migration Centre of Australia, we care about your future. If you need advice on understanding the requirements of the health criteria, or you are in the early stages of applying for a visa, or you need assistance with a health waiver offer, contact us today on 02 4626 1002 and speak directly to one of our Registered Migration Agents. Having been in the migration industry for years, our migration agents have the expertise and knowledge to take on any case. Don’t give up on your dreams because of a visa cancellation or visa refusal, let us help you.
