Introduction
Public Interest Criteria 4005 and 4007 are parts of migration health requirements in Australia. These criteria are designed to ensure that individuals who arrive in Australia do not spread any health risks and impose significant costs on the community.
What are Criteria 4005 and 4007?
According to Criteria 4005, visa applicants need to:
- take medical examinations upon requests
- free from tuberculosis
- free from diseases or conditions which can create a public health threat, or lead to healthcare community service costs, or can limit the access of Australian citizens or permanent residents to community/healthcare services
While majority of visa applicants need to follow the criteria 4005, there will be some exemptions. Criteria 4007 is issued to identify which cases can be eligible for a health waiver. This means that in some circumstances, the Minister for Immigration can grant a visa for applicants even though they don’t meet all the health requirements.
What are key changes in health rules 4005 and 4007?
- Health exemption for a group of applicants: From 16th Oct 2024, Australian Government introduces a significant change for a group of applicants who are born and ordinarily reside in Australia. With the new rule, this specific group is no longer required to show that they are free from any diseases or medical conditions which may impose a significant cost to Australian healthcare or community services.
- Support for children and families with special needs: This new update aims to bring a fairer migration scheme for children who are born and raised in Australia with disabilities or health conditions. Before 16th Oct 2024, this group of children encountered a risk of visa refusal even though they had spent and embedded in the Australian community.
Adjustment of cost thresholds:
- If a visa applicant is having certain health conditions, he/she may impose significant costs on the public healthcare system. The cost threshold is specific health cost limit that helps identify if a visa applicant’s health condition results in substantial costs to Australian healthcare services.
- Previously, the “significant cost” threshold was approximately AUD 51,000 over a ten-year period. The 2024 amendments have raised this threshold up to AUD 86,000. This means applicants with certain medical conditions now can meet the health criteria more easily than before.
Implications of the Health Criteria Amendments
- The changes in the health criteria 4005 and 4007 helps increase the visa grant rate for families with children who are born and raised in Australia but are having medical conditions.
- The amendments also increase opportunities for applicants with current health conditions as the cost threshold has been increased. This means the chance that they are considered bringing healthcare risks to the Australian community will be slightly smaller than before.
Conclusion
The 2024 amendments to Criteria 4005 and 4007 mark a significant step toward a more balanced migration health requirement. Applicants with medical conditions should well prepare evidence to demonstrate that they can bring economic contribution (e.g., business ownership, job offer, high salary…) to the community to offset the potential medical cost. If you need any advice from experienced migration agents, contact us today at 07 3003 1899 or hello@solmigration.com.