From 20th November 2015 no health check is required for all countries listed below if the visa applied for is temporary (e.g. all student visa subclasses, 457, etc.).
This is a very positive change of the Department of Immigration department that will not only save you time during visa processing but also make it cheaper. For example, currently a medical examination for a student visa while done in Australia at BUPA centre cost $290. Overseas, on the other hand, there is a limited availability of medical centres that are authorised by the Department of Immigration which does not make health examination easier.
This change does not include the following groups who will be still required to undergo medical examination:
- Applicants for permanent visas
- Applicants likely to work or be a trainee at an Australian Childcare centre (including preschool and crèche)
- Applicants intending to work as (or study to be) a doctor, dentist, nurse or paramedic
- Pregnant and intending to have the baby in Australia
- Everybody aged 75 years and older and applying for a Subclass 600 or Subclass 676 visa
The countries with simplified health examination are:
American Samoa;
Albania;
Andorra;
Antigua and Barbuda;
Argentina;
Aruba;
Australia;
Austria;
Bahamas;
Bahrain;
Barbados;
Belgium;
Belize;
Bermuda;
Bonaire,
Saint Eustatius & Saba;
Bouvet Island;
Bulgaria;
Canada;
Cayman Islands;
Chile;
Christmas Island;
Cocos (Keeling) Islands;
Cook Islands;
Costa Rica;
Croatia;
Cuba;
Curacao;
Cyprus;
Czech Republic, Denmark;
Dominica;
Egypt;
Estonia;
Falkland Islands;
Faroe Islands;
Finland;
France;
French Polynesia;
Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia);
Germany;
Gibraltar;
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands;
Greece;
Grenada;
Guadeloupe;
Heard and McDonald Islands;
Hungary;
Iceland;
Iran;
Ireland;
Israel;
Italy;
Jamaica;
Japan;
Jordan;
Kosovo;
Kuwait;
Lebanon;
Liechtenstein;
Luxembourg;
Malta;
Mauritius;
Mexico;
Monaco;
Montenegro;
Montserrat;
Netherlands;
Netherlands Antilles;
New Caledonia;
New Zealand;
Niue;
Norfolk Island;
Norway;
Oman;
Palestinian Authority;
Pitcairn Island;
Poland;
Portugal;
Puerto Rico;
Reunion Island;
Saint Lucia;
Samoa;
San Marino;
Saudi Arabia; Serbia;
Seychelles;
Sint Maarten (Dutch);
Slovakia;
Slovenia;
Spain;
Saint Helena (Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) Saint Kitts and Nevis;
Svalbard & Jan Mayen;
Sweden;
Switzerland;
Tokelau;
Tonga;
Trinidad and Tobago;
Tunisia;
Turkey;
Turks and Caicos Islands;
United Arab Emirates;
United Kingdom (British citizen);
United States of America;
Uruguay;
Vatican City;
Virgin Islands (US);
Virgin Islands (British);
Wallis and Fortuna Islands.
