1.I have cancer/heart disease/diabetes/tuberculosis/HIV/AIDS/am obese ... will I meet health criteria?

No health condition, with the exception of tuberculosis, automatically precludes the issue of a visa.

Apart from tuberculosis, every condition identified in the course of the examinations, or through the questions you are asked in your application, will be individually considered for possible impact on the Australian community, including the costs of treatment or support that would be attracted by that condition.

Visa officers are not authorised to advise on medical conditions: the opinion on whether a condition means an applicant does or does not meet the criteria comes from the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth.

2. If my doctor says there are no signs of active tuberculosis in my x-ray, or that they are old scars, why do the Australian authorities keep asking me for further x-rays and proof of treatment?

Tuberculosis is in global epidemic and emergency status, as declared by the World Health Organisation, with the disease now being the biggest killer of adults in the developing world.

Australia has managed to maintain a position of third lowest on the world for some years, so that the disease is no longer common here.

Many other countries have not been so fortunate, nevertheless, and where there is a high prevalence, indeed some signs of tuberculosis will be seen in such a high proportion of the population that local doctors may regard them as 'within normal limits'.

As 'old' tuberculosis that has formed calcifications or scars may reactivate in ten percent of cases, and as relocation, and the stress of travel is often a triggering factor in reactivation, a much stricter view of small, old signs of tuberculosis is maintained by Medical Officers of the Commonwealth.

3. Why is a health clearance needed if I am going to care for myself/my dependent at home, as there will be no costs to Australian taxpayers?
Australia has a national health insurance and benefits schemes, including income support, nursing home entitlements, and other allowances which, once there is an entitlement based on need, cannot be denied to an Australian resident or citizen.

The potential eligibility based on the medical condition of you and/or your family member concerned will be calculated according to the standard accepted medical practice available across Australia, regardless of the level of wealth or private care intended.

4.Do I need to arrange another health examination if I have recently had one?

If you have completed a health examination in the last twelve months you may not need to undertake a fresh examination if the visa processing office can confirm the details, substance and date of the earlier reports.