Changes to the Information Required to Complete Australian Immigration Medical Examinations
On this page:
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has made changes to information clients are required to provide to complete their Australian immigration medical examinations.
What is changing?
Medicals should no longer be conducted unless the client is able to provide the visa subclass that they intend to apply for. This includes clients who have not yet lodged a visa application (that is, are 'front end loading').
Why is the department making this change?
This will help ensure that lawful Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) opinions are provided and that medical records can be forwarded to the right area within the department for processing.
What is the department asking panel doctors and radiologists to do?
The department is asking you to ensure that, prior to conducting an immigration visa medical examination, the client records on their medical forms (that is, Form 26 or Form 160), which visa subclass they have applied, or intend to apply for.
What should happen in practice?
Ideally, when clients call to request an appointment, it should be confirmed that they have this information. This will ensure that they are able to progress with their medical when they arrive at the clinic.
However, where a client does arrive for their appointment and is unable to provide their visa subclass number, they should be told that this information is required before their medical examination can occur. They can do one of the following:
- talk to the department and their migration agent before undertaking their medicals
- check the visa subclass list to determine their visa subclass.
See:What Visa Am I Applying For? (110KB PDF file)
What if the client raises concerns?
If a client questions these new arrangements, you may provide them with the Immigration Medicals Outside Australia flyer.
See:Immigration Medicals Outside Australia (80KB PDF file)
Further changes
A number of panel doctors have raised concerns about clients who want to complete their medicals prior to lodging their visa application (that is, clients who want to 'front end load').
The department is currently reviewing its practices in terms of health and front end loading.
Once this review is finalised, you will be provided with further information about how to handle these cases. The Immigration Medicals Outside Australia flyer will be updated for clients with additional advice about when they should complete their medicals.
If you would like to provide any comments or suggestions about 'front end loading', please email Health Strategies and Coordination Section.
Email: health.strategies.unit@immi.gov.au