Some brief notes on health assessments. All people who come to Australia are assessed as to their healthiness. For people applying for permanent visas this is a critical part of their overall assessment. If they fail their health checks they will most likely not obtain a visa to Australia.

People who have medical problems that may harm the health of the Australian public would find it difficult to meet the health criteria as would those who cause Prejudice of Access (transplantation, dialysis, blood products, radiotherapy, high level nursing home care, etc). However most health problems relate not to contagious diseases but the cost of caring for those problems.

If the cost of the health care is ‘significant’ then a refusal of a visa application normally follows.

As a general guide an assessment is made of the likely health costs over 3-5 years. If these costs are greater than $20,000 they are considered ‘significant’. In calculating these costs factors taken into account include use of Health and Community services, Costs of Support Services (carer payments, disability support pensions, residential care, respite care and home help, disability equipment, supported education, palliative care).

Some medical conditions of importance include …

• HIV – costs of specialist care, antiviral medication and hospital/hospice care, loss of work capacity
• Chronic Active Hepatitis (B or C) – costs of specialist care, interferon and antiviral medication, liver failure. Loss of function, work capacity.
• Heart Disorders – eg ischaemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, valvular disease, heart failure, arrhythmias. Costs of specialist care, bypass surgery, valve replacement, implantable defibrillator, heart transplantation. Loss of function, work capacity, independence.
• Blood Disorder – eg haemophilia, thalassemia major, leukaemia. Costs of specialists care, blood products, bone marrow transplantation, palliative care (if required).
• Endocrine Disorders – diabetes. Costs of specialist care, potential for kidney failure and need for dialysis, other complications, loss of function & work capacity.
• Growth hormone deficiency. High costs of growth hormone therapy.
• Deafness – costs of cochlear implant (depending on age), speech therapy, deaf service teacher & interpreters, loss of work capcity.
• Blindness – costs of income support, Braille equipment, guide dog, loss of work capacity.
• Nerve and Brain disorders – cerebrovascular disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, dementia, paralyses. Costs of treatment, rehabilitation, residential care, loss of independence.
• Orthopaedic and connective tissue disorders (eg arthritis). Cost of joint replacements, loss of work capacity, loss of independence, residential care.
• Psychiatric Disorders – eg schizophrenia, major depression, drug and alcohol dependence. Costs of specialist care, hospital inpatient costs, residential care, rehabilitation, and detoxification programs.
• Chest Disorders (excluding TB) – eg chronic obstructive disease, cystic fibrosis, respiratory failure. Costs of specialist care, recurrent hospital admissions, specialized medications, lung transplantation, home oxygen.
• Cancers – cost of treatment (initial and for any recurrence) and surveillance. If in remission, can be cleared ?


There is a health waiver available for a number of visa classes where the costs can be more than significant, mostly this occurs in close family cases like Partners, fiancés etc. In such situations the costs can be up to around $200,000 and still meet the health criteria, although all are treated on a case by case basis.