Overview of the Health Requirement

The purpose of the health requirement is to:

• protect the Australian community from public health and safety risks, in particular active tuberculosis
• contain public expenditure on health and community services, including social security benefits, allowances and pensions
• safeguard the access of Australian citizens and permanent residents to health care and community services in short supply.

Most visa applicants, and in some circumstances their dependents (whether they are migrating to Australia or not), are required to meet the health requirement.

To meet the health requirement you must be free from a disease or condition that is:

• considered to be a threat to public health or a danger to the Australian community
• likely to result in significant health care and community service costs to the Australian community
• likely to require health care and community services that would prejudice the access of Australian citizens and permanent residents to those services in short supply.

‘Prejudice to access’ refers to circumstances where the visa applicant’s condition is likely to limit access of Australian citizens or permanent residents to health care and community services that are in short supply.

In some circumstances to meet the health requirement you may be asked to sign a Health Undertaking by a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC). For example, if you are assessed as having a condition or disease that requires a follow up medical examination after arriving in Australia you will need to sign a Health Undertaking before being considered to have met the health requirement.

Threats to Public health

To protect the Australian community from public health and safety risks, you must be free from a disease or condition considered to be a threat to public health or a danger to the Australian community in order to meet the health requirement.
See: Threats to Public Health

Significant Costs and Services in Short Supply

The health requirement is designed to protect the demand on the Australian health care system and ensure that additional pressure is not put on health care and community services that are in short supply.
See: Significant Costs and Services in Short Supply