Health and character requirements for Australian skilled visas (2026)

Every applicant for an Australian skilled visa must satisfy two non-negotiable conditions before a visa can be granted: a health requirement and a character requirement. Visa medicals and police clearances are not optional extras — they apply to the primary applicant and, in most cases, every family member included in the application, regardless of whether those family members intend to travel to Australia.

What are visa medicals and character requirements?

The health requirement means the Australian Government must be satisfied that you do not have a health condition that would be a significant cost or burden to the Australian community, or that would endanger public health or safety. Meeting this requirement involves completing a medical examination conducted by a panel physician — a doctor approved by the Department of Home Affairs (the Department).

The character requirement means you must be of good character. For most applicants, this is demonstrated by providing police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more (cumulatively) in the last 10 years, as well as from your country of citizenship. The Department assesses whether you have a substantial criminal record or other conduct that would make granting a visa contrary to the national interest.

Both requirements must be met by the visa applicant and any secondary applicants (spouse, de facto partner, dependent children) included in the visa application — even secondary applicants who are not seeking to come to Australia.

How visa medicals work

Once you receive a request from the Department, you book your medical examination through the eHealth platform — the Department's online portal for managing health assessments. You will be directed to an approved panel physician in your country of residence.

A standard medical examination typically includes:

• A general physical examination
• Chest X-ray (for applicants above a certain age threshold — see the Department's current requirements)
• Blood tests, including an HIV test for applicants above a certain age
• Additional tests if your medical history or the physician's findings indicate they are necessary

Results are submitted electronically by the panel physician directly to the Department. You generally do not receive your own results — the Department assesses them and determines whether the health requirement is met. This process normally takes a few weeks, though it can take longer if additional information is requested.

Medical examinations have an expiry period. If your visa is not granted before your medical results expire, you may need to undergo a repeat examination. Check the current validity period on the Department of Home Affairs website, as it can vary by visa subclass.

Health requirement for family members not migrating

A secondary applicant who is not travelling to Australia — for example, a child who will remain overseas — still needs to complete a health examination before the primary applicant's visa can be granted. This is a common point of confusion and a frequent cause of delays. If you have a dependent child who will not migrate with you initially, factor their medical examination into your planning timeline.

How police clearances work

Police clearances — formally called penal clearance certificates or national police certificates — must be obtained from the relevant authority in each country where you have spent 12 months or more in the last 10 years, and from your country of citizenship regardless of time spent there.

The process varies by country:

• Australia: Australian applicants or former residents obtain an Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Check.
• Overseas countries: Each country has its own issuing authority and process. Some issue certificates within days; others take weeks or months. For countries where official certificates are unavailable, the Department has specific procedures — consult the Department of Home Affairs or a migration agent.

Police clearances submitted to the Department must generally be less than 12 months old at the time of decision. Given that visa processing times can extend well beyond 12 months for some subclasses, you may need to obtain fresh clearances during the course of your application. Plan accordingly.

What counts as a character concern?

A substantial criminal record — generally defined as a sentence of 12 months or more imprisonment — can result in a visa refusal. However, character concerns are not limited to criminal convictions. The Department can also consider conduct that is not the subject of a conviction. If you have any criminal history, consider speaking to a MARA-registered migration agent about how it may affect your application before you lodge.

Who does this apply to, and when?

Health and character requirements apply across virtually all Australian visa subclasses. For skilled migration specifically, this includes:

• Skilled Independent (Subclass 189)
• Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190)
• Skilled Regional (Subclass 491)
• Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (Subclass 482)
• Skilled Regional (Subclass 887)

The timing of when you are asked to complete these checks varies. For points-tested visas (189, 190, 491), the Department typically requests health and character documents after an invitation to apply has been accepted and the application lodged. For employer-sponsored visas such as the 482, the request may come after sponsorship and nomination have been approved.

For the Work and Holiday (Subclass 462) and similar temporary visas, health requirements may be simpler, but character requirements still apply.

If you are comparing pathways across the 189, 190, and 491, our guide on 189 vs 190 vs 491: which skilled visa should you apply for in 2026? covers the broader eligibility differences between these streams.

Health and character are assessed again if you transition between visa subclasses — for example, when a 491 holder applies for the Subclass 191 permanent residence visa. Meeting the requirements once does not exempt you from future assessments.

While health and character are universal requirements, other eligibility factors — such as skills assessments and English language scores — work alongside them. Our guide on skills assessment for Australian visas explains how the skills assessment process fits into a skilled migration application.

If your occupation and points score are a primary concern, you can check current occupation rankings and invitation data on the Migrant Hub dashboard to understand how competitive your profile is before you invest in a full application.

Common questions

Do all family members need a visa medical, even if they're not coming to Australia?

Yes. Any person listed as a secondary applicant on your visa application must meet the health requirement, even if they do not intend to travel to or live in Australia. Failing to complete medical examinations for all secondary applicants is a common cause of application delays.

How long are Australian visa medical results valid for?

Medical examination results have an expiry period set by the Department of Home Affairs, which can vary depending on the visa subclass and the applicant's age and health findings. If your visa is not granted before your results expire, you will generally need to repeat the examination. Check the current validity period on the Department's website.

How many years of police clearances do I need for a skilled visa?

You need police clearances from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more (cumulative) in the last 10 years, plus from your country of citizenship regardless of how long you lived there. Each certificate generally needs to be less than 12 months old at the time of the visa decision.

Can a criminal record result in visa refusal?

Yes. A substantial criminal record — typically a sentence of 12 months or more imprisonment — is a ground for visa refusal under the character requirement. The Department can also take into account conduct that did not result in a conviction. The rules vary by circumstance, so if you have any criminal history, speak to a MARA-registered migration agent before lodging.

Do I need to redo health and character checks when applying for a second visa?

Yes. Health and character requirements are assessed for each visa application independently. If you transition from a temporary visa (such as the 491) to a permanent visa (such as the 191), you will need to satisfy the requirements again at the time of that new application.

Where to go next

Once you have a clear picture of health and character requirements, the next step is understanding where your occupation and points score sit — explore current occupation rankings on the Migrant Hub dashboard.