Medical Treatment Visa: This visa permits people (any age) to travel to or remain longer in Australia for medical treatment or to support someone needing medical treatment who holds or has applied for this visa. It is also applicable for people who are donating an organ to someone else. This visa has helped individuals who do not have access to treatment in their own country. It will allow the visa holder to say in Australia for the period of their treatment plan or until medical consultations are finished. Individual’s medical condition must not be a threat to public health.
With this visa you can:
- Stay in Australian until the treatment plan or consultations are finished
- Depending on your situation, be granted single entry or multiple entries to Australia
– Single Entry: if you were outside Ausralia when this visa was granted and you leave Australia, you cannot return. If you were inside Australia when this vsia was granted you can leave and return once.
– Multiple Entries: You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid. - Study for up to 3 months (or longer if you meet the *exemption criteria)
– To be exempted, you must be under 18 years old, have experienced a change of circumstances in Australia and obtained a written permission of a delegate to engage in studies or training due to compelling and compassionate circumstances
Length of Stay
Temporarily, you can stay in Australia until the treatment plan or consultations are completed. Generally, the visa is granted up to 12 months, but if you apply the visa while you are offshore, the visa is usually granted for up to 3 months. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will decide based on your situation and will try to give you enough time for the treatment.
You cannot stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
Location
You can be outside or inside Australia when the application is lodged. If you apply outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted. If the application is made in Australia, you must be in Australia when the visa is granted.
Cost
- $315 for applicants who apply from within Australia
- Free if you apply from outside Australia or represent a foreign government
Eligibility: Who Could Get This Visa
You must be in one of these situations:
- Intend to have medical treatment or consultations in Australia
- Intend to donate an organ to someone in Australia
- Intend to support a patient or organ donor who holds or is applying for this visa
- Intend to receive an organ from someone who travels to Australia with you
- Intend to come to Australia under the arrangements between the Western Province of Papua New Guinea and the Queensland Department of Health
- Be in Australia, aged 50 years or older, been refused an Australian permanent visa on health grounds only and are unfit to depart Australia
Genuine Visitor
While holding this visa, you must only intend to stay in Australia temporarily and do the things you are permitted to do on this visa. If you meet the following criteria, an intention to stay in Australia temporarily will not be considered to apply:
- In Australia
- Aged 50 years or older
- Have been refused a permanent visa due to not meeting the health requirement
- Unfit to depart Australia
Cannot Have Held
the Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular stream)
If you are in Australia, you must not hold, or the last substantive visa you held must not have been, a Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) that was granted in the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular stream).
More than One Visitor Visa
Unless you are unit, suffering from financial hardship or other compelling reasons, your Medical Treatment visa will not be approved if this visa will result staying in Australia for over 12 consecutive months in conjunction with you holding or having held one or more Visitor visas.
Condition 8503 – No Further Stay
If you are planning to apply for this visa while you are in Australia, you cannot have condition 8503 – No Further Stay attached to your current visa unless you have the condition waived.
Be Able to Support Yourself
You must have adequate means or access to means to support yourself while you are in Australia. This includes paying for:
- Your travel to Australia
- Your medical treatment
- Other expenses related to your stay in Australia
- The expenses of anyone who comes with you to Australia (including an organ donor’s expenses)
In most circumstances, you must pre-arrange payment of your medical costs and demonstrate that it will not cost an Australian government money. You can show this with written proof from a public or private hospital, confirming that it has approved your treatment and arrangements to pay all the costs.
Including Family Members
For each member of your family, a separate application must be made unless they are included in your passport. You can request to have your applications processed together if other family members are applying for this visa.
Adequate Health Insurance
It is recommended by the DHA that you take out health insurance to cover any unforeseen medical treatment you might need in Australia. You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia and insurance can help limit your financial liability.
Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Health
You must meet certain health requirements. The results are usually valid for 12 months.
Character
All applicants older than 16 years of age must meet certain character requirements. They must be prepared to provide a police certificate from each country they have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after they turned 16 years of age.
Debts to the Australian Government
The must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government.
Related:
- How to extend your stay in Australia on a Visitor visa?
- Reasons for Australian Visitor Visa Refusal
- Australia Visa Waivers and Refunds
- Australia and New Zealand Safe Travel Zone
- Permissible Activities on Visitor Visas
- Bringing Family Members to Australia
- Visitor Visa options for Parents after COVID-19
- Australian borders likely to open in beginning of 2022
- Australia’s four-phase plan to open its border
