You’ve submitted your Australian visa application and now you’ve received a request for an Australia visa medical examination. This requirement catches many applicants off guard. You need to know which tests you need, where to go, and how to book with an approved panel physician. Getting this wrong can delay your visa or lead to complications you want to avoid.
The good news is the process follows a clear structure. You’ll arrange your exam through the eMedical system, choose from approved panel clinics in the Philippines, and complete specific health checks based on your age and visa type. Most applicants finish the entire process in one day.
This guide walks you through the four main steps of the Australian visa medical examination. You’ll learn who needs the exam, how to get your HAP ID, what to bring to your appointment, and what happens after your exam. We’ll also cover common issues like pregnancy deferrals and additional tests so you can handle them if they come up.
What is the Australia visa medical exam
The Australia visa medical examination is a health assessment that you complete with a panel physician approved by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. This exam helps immigration officials determine if you meet the health requirement for your visa application. The examination includes specific tests based on your age and visa category, and all results go directly to the department through the eMedical system.
Why the department requires this exam
Australia uses this exam to protect public health and manage healthcare costs. The department needs to confirm you don’t have conditions that could put the Australian community at risk or create significant healthcare expenses. Your exam results help case officers make informed decisions about your visa application.
The department assesses whether you have a disease or condition that would result in significant cost to the Australian community or healthcare system.
Panel physicians upload your results electronically through eMedical, which means you don’t handle paperwork or carry documents between offices. This system keeps your health information secure and allows the department to review your results quickly. Once submitted, your results remain valid for 12 months from the date of your chest x-ray.
Step 1. Confirm you need a health exam
Not every visa applicant needs to complete an australia visa medical examination. The requirement depends on your visa category, intended length of stay, and country of origin. You need to determine if the department will request this exam from you before you start the booking process.
Who must complete the exam
Permanent visa applicants always need health examinations regardless of which country they apply from. This includes skilled migration visas, partner visas, and parent visas. The department assesses your health to confirm you meet the health requirement for permanent residence in Australia.
Temporary visa applicants face different requirements. You need an exam if you plan to stay for six months or longer, if you’ve spent three consecutive months in a country with high tuberculosis rates in the past five years, or if you work in healthcare, childcare, or education. Visitor visa applicants under 75 years old typically don’t need exams unless they request stays exceeding six months.
The department determines your exam requirements based on your visa type, age, and intended activities in Australia.
Check your ImmiAccount for confirmation
Your ImmiAccount shows whether the department requires health examinations from you. Log into your account and check for notifications or requests under your application. The department sends a health assessment request through ImmiAccount when you need to arrange your exam, and this notification includes your unique HAP identification number that you’ll use to book your appointment.
Step 2. Get your HAP ID and choose a panel clinic
Your HAP identification number (Health Assessment Program ID) is the key to starting your australia visa medical examination. The department generates this unique number when they request health examinations from you. You need this number to book with an approved panel physician, and you cannot complete your exam without it.
Access your HAP ID from the department
The department sends your HAP ID through your ImmiAccount when they determine you need health examinations. Log into your ImmiAccount and look for the health assessment notification under your visa application. The notification includes your HAP ID, which typically appears as an 8 or 9 digit number starting with letters and numbers combined.
Your HAP ID links your medical results directly to your visa application in the department’s eMedical system.
You can also generate your HAP ID yourself through ImmiAccount if you want to complete your exams before the department requests them. This option works for upfront medical examinations when you know your visa category requires health checks. Navigate to the "Organise health examinations" section in your ImmiAccount and follow the prompts to generate your HAP ID.
Find your approved panel clinic
The department maintains a list of panel physicians authorized to conduct visa medical examinations. You must book with one of these approved clinics because the department only accepts results from panel physicians who have access to the eMedical system.
In the Philippines, approved clinics include St. Luke’s Extension Clinic (SLEC) in Manila and Taguig. These clinics conduct examinations for Australian visa applicants and upload results directly to the department. Call the clinic at +632 8521-0020 or visit their online registration system to confirm they can process your visa category and schedule your appointment with your HAP ID ready.
Step 3. Book, prepare and attend your appointment
You need to schedule your australia visa medical examination as soon as you receive your HAP ID. The booking process varies by clinic, but most panel physicians in the Philippines require you to register online or call their office directly. Your preparation and punctuality determine how smoothly your exam day goes.
How to schedule your appointment
Contact your chosen panel clinic with your HAP ID ready. St. Luke’s Extension Clinic accepts bookings through their online registration system at slec.ph or by phone at +632 8521-0020. You select your preferred date and time slot based on availability, and the clinic sends you a confirmation email with your appointment details and payment instructions.
Pay your examination fee before your appointment date. The clinic accepts cash, credit card, or online payment through their system. Fees vary based on your age and required tests, typically ranging from PHP 2,500 to PHP 6,000 for routine examinations. Keep your payment receipt because you need to present it at the clinic reception.
Documents and requirements to bring
Arrive at your appointment with all required documents to avoid delays or rescheduling. Your panel physician cannot proceed without these items, and missing documents mean you return another day.
Required documents checklist:
- Valid passport (original and photocopy of the biographical data page)
- HAP ID or confirmation letter from the department
- Appointment confirmation email
- Payment receipt
- Two passport-size photos with white background (write your name on the back)
- COVID-19 Health Declaration Form (download from clinic website)
- Previous medical records if you have chronic conditions
- Immunization records if available
- Previous chest x-rays older than three months (if available)
Bring a companion only if you are a minor under 18, elderly over 60, or have a disability that requires assistance.
Minors need additional documents including a letter of authorization from parents, photocopies of parent’s government-issued ID, and the companion’s valid ID. The clinic allows one companion per applicant in these specific cases.
What happens during your exam day
Your examination takes three to four hours depending on your age group and required tests. Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time and proceed to the reception area. The staff verifies your documents, collects your payment receipt, and assigns you to an examination room.
The process follows a sequence starting with medical history review where you answer questions about past illnesses, surgeries, and medications. Next, you complete a physical examination including height, weight, blood pressure, and general health assessment. The physician examines your eyes, ears, throat, heart, lungs, and abdomen to check for any conditions that affect your visa eligibility.
Laboratory tests follow the physical exam. You provide a urine sample for urinalysis if you’re 15 years or older, and the clinic draws blood for HIV testing in the same age group. Chest x-rays complete the routine examination for applicants 11 years and above. Younger children receive tuberculin skin tests or IGRA blood tests instead of x-rays.
Step 4. After your exam and common issues
Your panel physician uploads your examination results directly to the Department of Home Affairs through the eMedical system within two to three working days after your appointment. You don’t receive physical copies of your medical records or x-ray films because the department reviews everything electronically. Your results remain valid for 12 months from the date of your chest x-ray, and the department references these results when assessing your visa application.
What happens to your results
The clinic sends you home after your exam without giving you test results. Your panel physician reviews all findings, completes the medical assessment, and submits the report through eMedical. The department receives your results electronically and links them to your visa application using your HAP ID. You can track the status by logging into your ImmiAccount where you’ll see when the department receives your medical clearance.
The department reviews your health examination as part of your overall visa assessment, and you cannot access detailed medical findings through ImmiAccount.
Common scenarios that require extra steps
Pregnancy deferrals allow you to postpone your chest x-ray if you’re pregnant. The panel physician completes all other examination components and gives you a pregnancy deferral letter. Your medical case remains on hold until you return after delivery to complete the x-ray. The department cannot finalize your visa until you submit complete health examination results.
Sputum testing becomes necessary when your chest x-ray shows abnormalities suggesting tuberculosis. The clinic schedules you for three consecutive morning appointments to collect sputum samples. Results take eight weeks because the laboratory grows cultures to detect active TB bacteria. Pakistan and other high-burden countries require this testing frequently, and the department will not waive this requirement regardless of your circumstances.
Furtherances occur when the department needs additional information to complete your health assessment. You receive an email requesting specialist consultations, extra blood tests, or detailed medical reports about existing conditions. Contact your panel clinic immediately to schedule these additional procedures because delays in responding to furtherances slow down your visa processing timeline significantly.
Next steps
You’ve completed the australia visa medical examination and your panel physician has submitted your results to the Department of Home Affairs. Your medical clearance now sits in the department’s system, ready for review by your case officer. The visa processing timeline varies based on your application type and individual circumstances, but your health examination remains valid for 12 months from your chest x-ray date.
Check your ImmiAccount regularly for updates on your visa application status. The department may request additional information or documents as they assess your case. If you encounter complications with your medical results or need guidance on visa requirements, contact our experienced migration team at Simon Mander Consulting for personalized assistance with your Australian visa journey.