Do visitors from low-TB-risk countries need a health exam for a 6-month stay?
Explains that temporary applicants from low-TB-risk countries generally need no health exam for stays of less than 6 months or 6 months or more, unless special circumstances apply.
Generally, no: according to the Department of Home Affairs’ What health examinations you need, temporary visa applicants from countries classified as low risk for tuberculosis need no health examinations for either a stay of less than 6 months or a stay of 6 months or more, unless special circumstances apply. Time spent in Australia during the previous 28 days is included when Home Affairs works out the length of stay for health-requirement purposes. Checked 1 October 2026.
How does Home Affairs work out the stay length?
For an applicant from a low-TB-risk country, the usual requirement is the same on both sides of the 6-month threshold:
| Planned stay | Country’s TB risk level | Usual health-examination requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 6 months | Low risk | No health examinations unless special circumstances apply |
| 6 months or more | Low risk | No health examinations unless special circumstances apply |
When assessing the stay, Home Affairs includes any time the applicant has already spent in Australia during the previous 28 days. The calculation is therefore not based only on the additional period the applicant expects to remain.
Is my country on the low-TB-risk list?
Home Affairs says its low-risk list is based on World Health Organization (WHO) data and is included in a legislative instrument signed by a delegate of the Minister for Home Affairs. Any country not listed as low risk is considered high risk for TB.
Applicants should check the current list rather than assume that a country has a particular classification. A high-risk classification does not, by itself, identify the necessary tests: the applicable temporary-applicant table and the visa-specific requirements still need to be checked.
What special circumstances may require additional tests?
Temporary-applicant requirements can depend on the visa being applied for, the intended length of stay, the country’s TB risk level, what the applicant plans to do in Australia, special circumstances, and any significant medical conditions identified during the examination or application process.
Home Affairs lists situations in which additional tests may be required:
| Applicant’s situation | Tests listed by Home Affairs |
|---|---|
| Pregnant and planning to have the baby in Australia | Hepatitis B test |
| Aged 15 or older and intending to work as, or study or train as, a doctor, dentist, nurse or paramedic | Medical examination, chest x-ray, serum creatinine/eGFR, HIV test, and hepatitis B and C tests |
| Aged 15 or older, intending to work as or study or train as a health care worker or work within a health care, aged care or disability care facility in Australia, and coming from a higher-TB-risk country | Medical examination, chest x-ray, latent TB infection screening test, and serum creatinine/eGFR |
| Likely to work, or be a trainee, at an Australian childcare centre, including a preschool or creche | Medical examination and chest x-ray, plus serum creatinine/eGFR if aged 15 or older |
| Aged 75 or older and applying for a Visitor visa subclass 600 | Medical examination and serum creatinine/eGFR |
These situations show why the low-TB-risk rule is not an unconditional exemption.
Could a health condition lead to further tests?
Yes. Home Affairs says further tests may be required if it identifies a health condition during the initial health examination or during the visa application process.
What happens if I may apply for permanent residence?
At a panel clinic, applicants are asked whether they plan to apply for a permanent stay in the next 6 to 12 months. If they do, they are asked whether they want to be assessed for a permanent stay.
Choosing that assessment requires additional examinations, which the applicant must pay for.
What should I check before relying on this answer?
- Confirm the exact visa subclass being applied for.
- Check whether the country is currently listed as low risk for TB.
- Include time already spent in Australia during the previous 28 days when considering the stay threshold.
- Check whether intended work, pregnancy, age, childcare activities or another listed circumstance affects the examination requirement.
- Consider whether an existing health condition or proposed permanent-stay assessment could lead to further tests.
- This is general information only. Check the policy documents relevant to your circumstances and the Home Affairs page for your visa before relying on it.
Sources
FAQ
Do applicants from low-TB-risk countries need a health exam for a stay of exactly 6 months?
Generally, no. The rule for a stay of 6 months or more is the same as the rule for a stay of less than 6 months: no health examinations are needed for applicants from low-TB-risk countries unless special circumstances apply.
Does time already spent in Australia count toward the stay length?
Yes. Home Affairs includes time spent in Australia during the previous 28 days when calculating the length of stay for health-requirement purposes.
What if my country is not on the low-TB-risk list?
Home Affairs treats a country not listed as low risk as high risk for TB. The applicant would then need to check the applicable temporary-applicant requirements rather than rely on the low-risk exemption.
Can work, pregnancy or age still lead to additional tests?
Yes. Home Affairs lists additional tests for particular activities and personal circumstances, including certain healthcare roles, childcare work, pregnancy and planning to have the baby in Australia, and applying for a Visitor visa subclass 600 at age 75 or older.