Do temporary visitors from low-TB-risk countries need a health exam for 6 months or more?

No. According to the Department of Home Affairs, temporary applicants from countries on its low-TB-risk list do not need health examinations for either a stay of less than 6 months or a stay of 6 months or more, unless special circumstances apply. Home Affairs includes time already spent in Australia during the last 28 days when calculating the length of stay, and it treats any country not on the low-risk list as high risk for TB. This guidance was checked 1 October 2026.

Does the answer change at exactly six months?

No. The low-TB-risk exemption is the same for both stay-length categories:

Country’s TB-risk level	Stay of less than 6 months	Stay of 6 months or more
Low risk	No health examinations needed unless special circumstances apply	No health examinations needed unless special circumstances apply

A stay of exactly 6 months falls within the “6 months or more” category. The exemption still applies if your country is on the low-risk list and no special circumstances apply.

How does Home Affairs decide whether a country is low risk?

The Department of Home Affairs maintains the low-TB-risk country list in a legislative instrument signed by a delegate of the Minister for Home Affairs. The Department says the list is based on World Health Organization data.

Check your country against the list in the Home Affairs guidance. If it is absent, Home Affairs considers it a high-risk country for TB, so the low-risk exemption does not apply.

What special circumstances can require health examinations?

The exemption is not unconditional. The Department lists situations in which temporary applicants may need specific tests, including:

Applicant situation	Listed health examination or test
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 to be, a doctor, dentist, nurse or paramedic	Medical examination; chest x-ray; serum creatinine/eGFR; HIV test; hepatitis B and C tests
Likely to work, or be a trainee, at an Australian childcare centre, including a preschool or crèche	Medical examination; chest x-ray; and serum creatinine/eGFR if aged 15 or older
Aged 75 or older and applying for a Visitor visa, subclass 600	Medical examination; serum creatinine/eGFR

Home Affairs may also require further tests if it identifies a health condition during the initial health examination or the visa application process.

What else does Home Affairs consider for temporary applicants?

The examination requirements can depend on:

• The visa being applied for.
• The planned length of stay in Australia.
• The TB-risk level assigned to the applicant’s country.
• Whether the applicant’s intended work or activities make their health of special significance.
• Any special circumstances.
• Whether a significant medical condition was identified during an examination or the visa application process.

Your country and length of stay therefore matter, but they are not the only factors.

Is a visa health examination the same as OVHC?

No. A visa health examination is an immigration requirement, while overseas visitor health cover is insurance. A finding that you do not need a health examination does not determine whether you need OVHC or what a particular policy covers.

This is general information only. Check the policy documents for your visitor health cover and the relevant Home Affairs information for the visa you are applying for.

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs — What health examinations you need

FAQ

What happens if my country is not on the low-TB-risk list?

Home Affairs treats an unlisted country as high risk for TB. The no-health-examination exemption for low-risk countries does not apply, so you must check the requirements for your particular temporary visa.

How does Home Affairs count time already spent in Australia?

It includes time you have already spent in Australia during the last 28 days when working out your length of stay for health-requirement purposes.

Can my age, work or health circumstances trigger tests?

Yes. Listed situations include certain health professions, work or training at an Australian childcare centre, pregnancy with a planned birth in Australia, and applying for a Visitor visa subclass 600 at age 75 or older. These situations have specific examination or test requirements.

Do permanent or provisional visa applicants get the same result?

No. The Department of Home Affairs says permanent and provisional visa applicants generally need the health examinations listed for those visa categories. The temporary-applicant low-risk rule is separate.

Does not needing a health examination mean I do not need OVHC?

No. Visa health-examination requirements and visitor health insurance are separate matters. Check your policy documents for cover details and Home Affairs for the requirements associated with your visa.