Do I need a medical exam for an Australian tourist visa?

Australian Visa Subclass 601 allows you to visit Australia for up to 3 months. You will need this visa even if you are just going to land in Australia for a few hours to board a cruise.

This type of visa does not require a medical examination, unless:

• You are 75 or over
• You plan to work, train, or volunteer in a health care field or in childcare
• You have resided or travelled in a country that is considered a high risk for tuberculosis, and some special circumstances apply
• You have, or may have, a potentially serious medical condition
• The Australian government has some information about you (possibly from your previous visit to Australia) that indicates that you may pose a health risk

The only way to be completely sure about your need to undergo a medical examination is to go through an actual visa application process.

Although there are different ways to apply for a tourist visa to Australia, the easiest one is by using the Australian ETA mobile app available on Apple Store and Google Play. ETA stands for ‘Electronic Travel Authority’ and the app serves both to apply for a visa and to receive and contain the visa once it is granted.

The ETA application costs AUD20.00 and the application process takes about 15 minutes. The app will:

• Collect your payment
• Ask you to upload your passport data to it, using either the chip or the bar code in the passport
• Take your photo
• Ask you a series of questions about the purpose and length of your planned visit, your health, and any other questions that they think are relevant

You will find out at the end of the process if you will or will not need a medical exam.

If your planned stay in Australia is likely to exceed 3 months or will involve work, the ETA app is not appropriate, and you should consult the Home Affairs Visa Finder to identify the proper way to apply.