All Australian visa applicants must meet health requirements. If the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth finds that you or a family member has a health condition likely to result in significant costs to the Australian community, you may fail the health requirement.
Failing the health requirement does not always mean your visa will be refused. Some visa types allow a health waiver.
Have you received a section 57 notice about health?
If the Department has sent you a letter saying you or a family member may not meet the health requirement, you have a deadline to respond. This is your opportunity to request a health waiver. The deadline is usually 28 days. Do not wait. The quality of your response determines whether the waiver is granted. Call us on 0425 825 500.
What is a health waiver?
A health waiver is a request to the decision maker to disregard the health failure and grant the visa anyway. The criteria are in Public Interest Criteria (PIC) 4005, 4006 and 4007. Key factors include whether there are compelling circumstances affecting an Australian citizen or permanent resident (typically a family member), whether refusing the visa would cause significant hardship, and the estimated costs of the condition.
Common health conditions that trigger the requirement
Hepatitis B, tuberculosis, HIV, intellectual or physical disabilities, mental health conditions and chronic diseases requiring ongoing treatment. Having one of these does not automatically mean failure. It depends on the estimated cost and whether services are available.
How Robbie Toor (MARN 1170356) helps
Robbie assists with health waiver submissions including gathering medical evidence, estimating costs, preparing personal statements and responding to section 57 notices. These requests are time-sensitive and the quality of the submission matters.