How Immigration Assess Health Costs for Australian Visa Applications?

When you apply for an Australian visa, one common hurdle to clear is the health requirement. This isn’t just about ensuring you don’t pose a public health risk; it is also a rigorous assessment of whether any health condition you or your accompanying family members might have could place a high cost or an undue burden on Australia’s health and community services.

The Core Purpose of Health Requirement

The Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) enforces the health requirement to achieve two main goals:

To protect the Australian community from public health risks, particularly infectious diseases.
To ensure that visa applicants do not incur costs that exceed a “significant cost” threshold (SCT) or place excessive demands on Australia’s publicly funded health and community services.

The “Significant Cost” Threshold (SCT): A 10-Year Outlook

DoHA assess potential health costs over an estimated 10-year period, regardless of the duration of the visa you are applying for. This calculation includes:

What are the direct health services costs:
- Expenses for doctor visits, specialist consultations, medications, hospital stays, and surgical procedures.
- Costs for services like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and mental health support.
- Expenditure related to rehabilitation programs and essential medical equipment.
- Any community services costs:
- Costs for nursing homes or other long-term care facilities.
- Expenses for in-home support or personal care services.
- Costs linked to special needs education for children.
- Any ongoing government welfare payments or disability support services that might be required.

The “significant cost” threshold (SCT) is a specific monetary figure and is currently valued at AUD 86,000 (this figure can be updated). If the estimated total costs associated with your health condition exceed this threshold, you may fail the health requirement.

What Medical Conditions Are Under Scrutiny?

Any medical condition requiring ongoing treatment, medication, or support services can trigger a detailed assessment. Common examples include:

Certain infectious diseases (e.g. tuberculosis).
Cancer (especially if requiring ongoing treatment or follow-up).
Chronic conditions like severe diabetes, kidney disease (requiring dialysis), or complex heart conditions.
Severe mental health conditions.
Intellectual disabilities.
Conditions requiring expensive, long-term medications or frequent specialist intervention.

The Independent Expert: Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC)

When a visa applicant declares a medical condition, or if one is identified during the mandatory health examinations, the case is referred to a Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC). The MOC is an independent medical expert who:

Reviews all provided medical history, examination results, and specialist reports.
Provides an independent medical opinion on the condition’s impact.
Estimates the likely future costs of the condition over the next 10 years.
Assesses any potential public health risks.
Advises the visa decision-maker but does not make the final visa decision.

What Happens if You Fail the Health Requirement?

If the MOC advises that your condition is likely to incur “significant costs” or poses a public health risk, your visa application may be refused.

However, for some visa subclasses, a health waiver may be available. To successfully apply for a health waiver, you need to demonstrate strong, compelling and compassionate circumstances why the visa should be granted despite the health issue. Examples include the best interests of Australian children, strong family ties, and unique skills that benefit Australia.

Alternatively, you can appeal the visa refusal decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).

Some Key Tips for Applicants

Always declare all existing medical conditions honestly on your visa application. Failure to do so may result in a visa refusal under PIC 4020.
Provide up-to-date medical reports from medical specialists. These should detail your condition’s diagnosis, stability, prognosis, and current/future plans.
If you or any accompanying family member has a medical condition, consult an experienced immigration lawyer, especially an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, before lodging your application.
An Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law specialises in handling complex matters, and they can assist in assessing the potential impact of your condition on the visa application’s health requirement. Then, they can provide tailored advice specific to your situation and help you prepare for a health waiver (if applicable).

How Can Agape Henry Crux Help

Meeting Australia’s health requirements can be a complex part of the visa application process. Be fully transparent and seek expert advice on potential health waivers. Consider speaking with one of our Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law, Jason Ling or Angela De Silva, as they are experts in handling highly complex matters. You can schedule an appointment with us to seek professional advice by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing us at info@ahclawyers.com.

We speak fluent English and Mandarin. We can also help you arrange an interpreter if this isn't your language.

Our founder and principal lawyer, Jason Ling, has been recognised in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia™. Agape Henry Crux is named as Best Immigration Law Firm 2025 - Sydney by APAC Insider Awards.

This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.

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