How to get a HAP ID for Medical before Australian Visa

Aman Saxena

If you are planning on travelling to Australia, it is best to be well-informed on everything you will need for a visa. But every person’s travel or immigration is different, so talk to an immigration specialist about your particular situation. This article is to provide information but is not to be regarded as advice for your immigration to Australia.

📝 Table of contents
🚀 Over 10 million people send money to local bank accounts overseas the fast, simple and low cost way with Wise.

Open your free Wise account now

What is a HAP ID?

A HAP ID is an unique identifier number that is given to you if the Department of Home Affairs in Australia has flagged you for a health examination during your visa process. ¹

Australian authorities are cautious about public health threats that may enter the country. To combat this, they may identify certain visa applications that will also require a health examination by the applicant.

You can check if you need any health examinations by checking your visa on ImmiAccount and clicking on the “View Health Assessment” button of your application. If the Department of Home Affairs deems that you do not need any health examinations, you will not be given a HAP ID.

🏥Health examinations for Permanent Visas

If you are applying for a permanent visa to Australia, you will be asked to have a health examination done, alongside any family members that are applying with you.

The type of health examination required will depend on your age. In most cases it breaks down as the following²:

AgeRequired Exams
Under 2 years oldMedical examination
2 yrs old - 10 yrs old 11 monthsMedical examination and Tuberculosis screening test
11 yrs old - 14 yrs old 11 monthsMedical examination and chest x-ray
15 yrs old and aboveMedical examination, chest x-ray and HIV test

You may need additional tests if you are above 15 years old and any of the following apply to you:

CategoryAdditional Required Tests
You want to work or study to be a doctor, dentist, nurse or a paramedicHepatitis B & C tests
Applying for onshore protectionHepatitis B & C tests and test for syphilis
Applying for a refugee visaTest for syphilis and any specific risks
Pregnant and intend to have your child in AustraliaHepatitis B

You may be asked to take additional tests if a health threat or condition is identified unique to you and your application.

✈Health examinations for Temporary Visas

If you are applying for a temporary visa to Australia, you may be asked to have a health examination depending on³:

  • The exact type of visa you are applying for
  • Your length of stay in Australia
  • Your intended activities in Australia
  • Which country you are applying from
  • The risk of Tuberculosis from your origin country
  • Any unique circumstances
  • If you have existing significant medical conditions

Here is a breakdown of what to expect for health examinations in most cases:

Length of StayLow risk countriesHigh risk countries
Less than 6 monthsA health exam will generally not be needed unless a special circumstance is identifiedA health exam will generally not be needed unless a special circumstance is identified
More than 6 monthsA health exam will generally not be needed unless a special circumstance is identifiedA medical examination and a chest x-ray may be required

The Department of Home Affairs identifies the low risk countries on their website supplied by data from the World Health Organization. Any country not on the list is considered a high risk country.

There are some additional tests that may be asked of you during your temporary visa process if you fall into the following categories:

CategoryAdditional Required Tests
You want to work or study to be a doctor, dentist, nurse or a paramedicA medical examination, chest x-ray, HIV and Hepatitis B & C tests
You’re from a country with a high risk of TB and are likely to go to a healthcare or hospital environmentA medical examination and chest x-ray
You will be working or training in an Australian childcare environmentA medical examination and chest x-ray
You are above 75 years old and applying for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600)A medical examination
Pregnant and intend to have your child in AustraliaHepatitis B

If you arrive on a temporary visa to Australia but then intend to stay on or apply for a permanent visa in 6-12 months, you will be asked to complete the health examinations required for permanent visa applications.

🔍 How can I find my HAP ID?

Your HAP ID is given to you by the Department of Home Affairs once you have submitted your visa application and you have been recognized to need health examinations.

If you applied for your Australian visa online, you can find your HAP ID in the referral letter that you were asked to download when you applied.

If you applied using a paper application for your Australian visa, your HAP ID can be found in the Health Examination List. ⁴

✅ Your HAP ID Appointment

If you have been identified as needing a health examination, the Department of Home Affairs will give you an exact list of the tests you need alongside your HAP ID. You will need to have your HAP ID ready for when you make your appointment.

If you’re in Australia when you are asked for your health examinations, you can set up an appointment online with the migration medical services, Bupa Medical Visa Services. If you would rather set up the appointment over the phone, you can call 1300 794 919.

If you are outside of Australia and are required to get health examinations, you must be examined by a Department of Home Affairs’ approved physician or clinic. You can find an approved physician by checking with your overseas Australian immigraiton offices.

The HAP ID is very important to have on you when you go to your appointment as your case won’t be able to be located without it in the eMedical system in the clinic.

Be sure to bring your valid passport with you to your appointment. ⁵

🚨Note: You will need to pay all costs out of pocket for the health examinations as requested by the Australian authorities.

Wise Account- Your free international wallet

Send money to local bank accounts overseas the fast, easy and low-cost way with Wise. Wise lets you send money online or through the award-winning app at the real exchange rate and one small fee on every transaction. No hidden fees or mark ups here.

Wise(https://wise.com/au/account/)

Open your free Wise account now

And with access to 60+ currencies, you can send money like a local to pay for bookings overseas, student tuition or your next holiday. Join the over 10 million people around the world that save time and money when they use Wise for their global transfers.

❓Frequently Asked Questions

Making sure you have checked all the boxes and understood everything needed for your application can be tricky. Here are answers to common questions on eMedical and the Australian health examinations

What is an eMedical referral letter?

eMedical is the digital immigration health processing system. An eMedical referral letter is generated when you have completed your eMedical Client medical history questions online. This is to be done before booking or going to your medical appointment and kept for your own records.

The approved physician and clinic will be using eMedical on their side for inputting the data from your examination. By using eMedical, your data is automatically submitted to Australian authorities towards your visa application. ⁶

How can I get an eMedical referral letter?

You will first need to go to the eMedical Client Login and complete the details with your family name, date of birth and HAP ID, given to you when you have submitted your visa application.

If you are required to take health examinations, you will be asked on the next page to complete the questions on your medical history by answering yes or no. Once completed, you will be asked to consent to your information being submitted to the Department of Home Affairs and understanding of the eMedical Client Declaration.

You can then print your eMedical information sheet letter using the Print Information Sheet button.⁷

How do I book my medical exam for Australian visa?

You can either use the Bupa Medical Visa Services website if you are in Australia. If you are outside of Australian you will have to have your examinations done by a Department of Home Affairs’ approved clinic or physician. You can find this by contacting your nearest overseas Australian immigraiton offices.

How can I check my eMedical status?

You will be able to see if the physician submitted the results of your health examination for review through the eMedical Client portal.

If the results have been submitted by the clinic, your Information Letter will look like this:

If the results have not been submitted yet, your Information Letter will look like this:

eMedical will not be able to tell you the status of your visa or if it has been approved based on the health exams. Instead, you will have to refer to your ImmiAccount for updates on your visa. ⁸


Sources
  1. HAP ID
  2. Required health exams
  3. Needing a Health Examination
  4. Finding your HAP ID
  5. HAP ID Appointment
  6. eMedical
  7. eMedical Referral Client
  8. eMedical Outcomes

All sources checked as of 27 March, 2021


*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

Money without borders

Find out more

Tips, news and updates for your location