Can a Visa be Refused After Medical Checks are Completed?
You have just completed your medical checks for your Australian visa application, which is often a detailed and time-consuming process. However, the completion of medical checks does not automatically guarantee that you meet the health requirement, nor does it prevent your visa from being refused.
What is the Role of Medical Checks?
Medical checks (health examinations) are a mandatory part of most Australian visa applications. They are conducted by approval providers and serve to provide the Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) with essential information about your health. This information is then assessed against the health requirement, which primarily aims to:
Prevent the spread of communicable diseases in Australia.
Avoid high costs or undue demands on Australia’s health and community services.
Related: What To Expect In A Health Examination for an Australian Visa Application?
Why Your Visa Can Still Be Refused After Medical Checks?
The completion of medical checks is just the information-gathering stage. The subsequent assessment of that information is where a refusal can still occur:
If the Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) determines that your medical condition is likely to result in “significant costs” to Australia’s health or community services over a 10-year period, your application will likely fail the health requirement (Public Interest Criterion 4005 / 4007). If your condition is deemed a public health risk, such as active tuberculosis, you will fail the health requirement.
For most visa subclasses, if you fail the health requirement, there is no health waiver provision. This is especially true for most permanent skilled visas, including SC189/190 and the Subclass ENS 186, as well as many temporary visas. In such cases, a failure to meet the health requirement results in visa refusal. Related: Which Visa Subclasses Allow a Health Waiver?
Meeting the health requirement is just one of the many criteria for a visa. Your visa application can still be refused for other reasons, even if you pass the health requirement:
Failure to meet the character test.
Not satisfying the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) or Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Failing to meet skills assessment, age or English language requirement.
Providing false or misleading information in your application and subjected to PIC 4020.
What Happens If You Receive a Refusal Based on Health?
Typically, before a visa decision, you may receive a Natural Justice (S57) letter to give you an opportunity to address any concerns to the Department within a specific timeframe.
Carefully read the Natural Justice (S57) letter or the refusal letter to understand the specific medical grounds for the refusal and the MOC’s assessment. Related: How to Read a Visa Refusal Letter?
Seek professional advice from an experienced immigration lawyer to assess your circumstances. The lawyers can assist in putting together a legal submission to address any concerns. If your visa has been refused, you may have the right to appeal the visa decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
Related:
How do I Overcome Health Requirements if I Have a Child with Health Issues?
Is Requesting a S56 Letter a Good Sign for My Visa Application?
I Missed the 28 Day Window to Appeal My Visa – What are My Options?
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help
Completing your medical checks is a necessary step, keep in mind that your visa can still be refused after those checks. If you know that you have an ongoing existing medical condition, 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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