Individuals applying to study in Australia must satisfy the health requirements specified in the Migration Regulations. Any family unit members who are included in the visa application are also required to satisfy health requirements.
Australia 's health requirements are designed to:
- minimise public health and safety risks to the Australian community;
- contain public expenditure on health and community services; and
- maintain access of Australian residents to health and other community services.
The health of overseas students studying in Australia is of special concern due to the close contact in the classroom environment. Classroom situations include all levels of schooling and study.
Overseas countries are divided into four risk levels in terms of public health - low, medium, high and very high - according to the incidence rates of tuberculosis, as reported by the World Health Organisation, or as otherwise advised by Australian health authorities.
For more information, including a list of countries in each risk group, please refer to the DIMA information form 1163i Health requirement for temporary entry to Australia (PDF 50KB).
Please note that if you are required to undergo health examinations, whether you are applying in or outside Australia , processing of your student visa application cannot be completed until medical examinations and x-rays results are provided to the visa processing office.
If you are applying outside Australia
Health processing for students applying for student visas will vary according to your country of citizenship and travel/residence history.
You may be required to undergo medical examinations and a chest x-ray as part of your student visa application.
Students from countries where there is a very high incidence of tuberculosis are required to undertake a medical examination and, if aged 16 years or over, a chest x-ray, if they intend to study for more than four weeks.
Students from countries where there is a high risk of tuberculosis will be required to undertake a chest x-ray if aged 16 years or over and a medical examination, if they intend to study for more than 3 months.
Students from countries where there is a medium risk of tuberculosis will be required to undertake a chest x-ray if aged 16 years or over and a medical examination, if they intend to study for more than 12 months.
Students from low health risk countries Iceland , Monaco , Norway , San Marino and Sweden are generally not required to undertake health examinations unless a health condition of special significance is declared.
For more information please refer to the DIMIA information form 1163i Health requirement for temporary entry to Australia (PDF 50KB).
You will be required to undergo a medical examination and chest x-ray for any length of stay if your circumstances are of special significance. Circumstances of special significance include:
- you are likely to enter a hospital or health care area (including nursing homes) for any reason;
- you are likely to be engaged in an Australian childcare centre (including preschools or creches) either as an employee or trainee; or
- there are any indications that you might not meet the health requirement.
The relevant forms for health checks are:
- Form 26 Medical examination for an Australian visa;
- Form 160 Radiological report on chest x-ray of an applicant for an Australian visa.
If you are an applicant in Assessment Level 1 or 2, these forms will be included in your application package.
If you are an applicant in Assessment Level 3, 4 or 5, the visa processing office will provide these forms to you after you lodge your application and its preliminary assessment of your ability to meet student visa requirements is favourable.
Examinations are undertaken by panel doctors and radiologists chosen by the Australian Government to undertake these examinations. Fees for medical examinations are set by the individual panel doctors and you pay the fees directly to them.
It may be necessary for your medical documents to be sent to Australia for further examination. If so, it may take several weeks for Australian medical authorities to provide a result to the Australian mission processing your application.
Should more detailed medical information be required a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth or examining doctor may ask you to undergo additional specialist examinations.
Such standards ensure that the most comprehensive information is used when assessing your application against the health criterion.
When you present yourself for your health check, you should bring the following:
- Form 26 Medical examination for an Australian visa with a passport photograph attached;
- Form 160 Radiological report on chest x-ray of an applicant for an Australian visa with a passport photograph attached;
- your passport for identification;
- any prescription spectacles or contact lenses that you may wear; and
- where you have a known medical condition, any existing specialist reports.
If you think or know that you are pregnant you must tell the person taking the x-ray. It is most likely that you will be asked to complete the x-ray examination after the birth.
Female applicants should not undergo the medical examination during their menstrual period.
Please see the panel doctor listing for medical examinations conducted outside of Australia .
If you are applying in Australia
Health processing for students applying for student visas will vary according to your country of citizenship and travel history.
You may be required to undergo medical examinations and a chest x-ray as part of your student visa application.
Students from countries where there is a very high incidence of tuberculosis are required to undertake a medical examination and, if aged 16 years or over, a chest x-ray, if they intend to study for more than four weeks.
Students from countries where there is a high risk of tuberculosis will be required to undertake a chest x-ray if aged 16 or over and a medical examination, if they intend to study for more than 3 months.
Students from countries where there is a medium risk of tuberculosis will be required to undertake a chest x-ray if aged 16 years or over and a medical examination, if they intend to study for more than 12 months.
Students from low health risk countries Iceland , Monaco , Norway , San Marino and Sweden are generally not required to undertake health examinations unless a health condition of special significance is declared.
For more information, including a list of countries in each risk group, please refer to the DIMIA information form 1163i Health requirement for temporary entry to Australia (PDF 50KB).
Any applicant will be required to undergo a medical examination and chest x-ray for any length of stay if their circumstances are of special significance. Your application is of special significance if:
- you are likely to enter a hospital or health care area (including nursing homes) for any reason;
- you are likely to be engaged in an Australian childcare centre (including preschools or creches) either as an employee or trainee; or
- there are any indications that you might not meet the health requirement.
There are three situations where a new medical examination and chest x-ray are not required:
1. You are applying for a further student visa, and the new visa does not exceed the validity of the initial visa. For example:
- you seek a new visa with work rights, which has the same validity as the original application, and you are already medically cleared; or
- you have changed your education provider and the new course is of equal or shorter duration than the initial course for which you are already medically cleared.
In these circumstances you may be regarded as continuing to meet the health requirements without the need for a new health check.
2. You have undertaken health examinations within the last 12 months. The medical examination and x-ray results may remain valid for 12 months from the date they are performed, providing no health concerns were or have since been identified.
This means that you may be able to reuse your medical examination and x-ray for subsequent visa applications within this 12-month period in some circumstances.
You should advise the DIMA officer if you have completed health examinations in the past 12 months, so medical clearance can be arranged.
3. You are a resident of Iceland , Monaco , San Marino , Sweden or Norway , in which case health examinations are generally not required unless a health condition of special significance is declared.
If you are required to undergo a new health examination, you should obtain the following forms from your nearest DIMIA office:
- Form 26 Medical examination for an Australian visa;
- Form 160 Radiological report on chest x-ray of an applicant for an Australian visa.
Examinations are undertaken by doctors employed or authorised by Health Services Australia (HSA) on behalf of DIMIA. Details of the nearest HSA office are available on HSA's website. Fees for medical examinations are set by HSA and you pay the fees directly to them.
Should more detailed medical information be required, a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth or examining doctor may ask you to undergo additional specialist examinations.
Such standards ensure that the most comprehensive information is used when assessing your application against the health criterion.
You should bring the following to your examination:
- Form 26 Medical examination for an Australian visa with a passport photograph attached;
- Form 160 Radiological report on chest x-ray of an applicant for an Australian visa with a passport photograph attached;
- your passport for identification;
- any spectacles or contact lenses that you may wear; and
- where you have a known medical condition, any existing specialist reports.
It is preferable that you undergo your medical examination and x-ray before you lodge your application. You can request Form 26 and Form 160 from a DIMIA counter officer at no charge.
You may undertake your health examinations at any time in the months before your visa application. The results may be used to form the decision on your case up to twelve months later.
It is advisable for you to attend your health examinations well before the commencement of your course.
If your visa will expire before your health assessment is completed, you should lodge your application first and complete your medical examination and x-ray within 28 days after lodgement.
If you think or know that you are pregnant you must tell the person taking the x-ray. It is most likely that you will be asked to complete the x-ray examination after the birth.
Female applicants should not undergo the medical examination during their menstrual period.
Overseas Student Health Insurance Cover
It is a condition of the grant of your Overseas Student Visa that you and your dependents have acceptable health insurance cover during the whole time you are in Australia .
To be covered for health insurance, you will have to pay the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for yourself and any family members travelling with you.
The OSHC provides medical and hospital insurance for overseas students and their dependants who have travelled to Australia with them. All applicants must show evidence that they have health insurance cover before a visa can be issued to them.
To arrange for the OSHC, students can pay the OSHC premium to the education provider which will then arrange to pay the health insurance cover on their behalf.
- Student Health Cover for AusAID Students
If you are a student sponsored by AusAID, you will not need to pay the OSHC yourself. You will, however, need to provide proof that AusAID supports your application.
- Student Health Cover for Students from Norway and Sweden
Students applying from Norway and most Swedes do not need to obtain OSHC because the Department of Health and Aged Care has advised that these countries have a national health scheme or other arrangements that provide acceptable health insurance for them while they are overseas.
For the OSHC requirement to be waived, Norwegian students should have documentation proving that they are covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
Swedish students should have proof that they have insurance provided by CSN International (the Swedish National Board of Student Aid). OSHC is available to Norwegian and Swedish nationals if they require it.
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