Finding a DHA-Approved Panel Physician in Australia and Abroad

What Are a Panel Physician and a Panel Clinic?

A panel physician (PP) is an individual doctor approved and authorised by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to carry out visa health examinations. A panel clinic (PC) is a clinic or medical facility approved by the DHA in the same way, which may have several participating doctors.

The key difference:

• Panel physician (PP): an individual authorised doctor. You book directly with that doctor.
• Panel clinic (PC): a clinic with several authorised doctors. You book with the clinic, and any doctor on the clinic’s list may examine you.

Both PP and PC have access to the eMedical system to submit examination results directly to the DHA. There is no difference in legal validity between results from a PP and results from a PC.

Why You Must Use a DHA-Approved PP/PC

This is a mandatory requirement. The DHA only accepts health examination results from approved doctors and clinics. If you are examined at an ordinary medical facility — no matter how skilled the doctor — the results will not be accepted by the DHA and you will have to be examined again.

Using an approved PP/PC also ensures:

• Results are submitted in the correct format and through the correct channel (the eMedical system).
• The doctor is trained in the DHA’s specific health requirements.
• The results have legal validity in your visa application.

How to Find a Panel Physician or Panel Clinic

The DHA maintains an up-to-date list of PPs and PCs on its official website. To find one:

1. Go to the DHA website: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
2. Look for “Find a panel physician” or “Health examinations”
3. Select the country where you wish to be examined
4. Filter by city or area
5. View the contact details and book directly

In Australia, major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide all have multiple PPs and PCs. Approved PPs and PCs are also available in many other countries.

Things to Note When Booking

Before booking, prepare:

• HAP ID: required before booking. Without a HAP ID, the clinic cannot link the results to your visa application.
• A valid passport: bring your original passport (not a copy).
• A list of medications you are taking: if you are on treatment, prepare a list of medication names, dosages and the name of the prescribing doctor.
• Relevant medical records (if any): for example, recent test results or specialist reports.

On timing: you do not need to fast before the examination unless the clinic specifically requires it. However, it is best to ask before you attend.

When a Panel Physician Is No Longer on the DHA List

Sometimes a PP you have booked with no longer appears on the DHA list (because their approval has expired or been withdrawn). In this case:

• Do not continue with the booking or undertake the examination with that doctor.
• Re-check the DHA list to find another PP/PC in your area.
• If you have already been examined but later find the PP is no longer approved, contact the DHA immediately for guidance — in some cases you may need to be re-examined.

Panel Physicians Outside Australia

You do not have to be examined in Australia. If you live overseas, you can be examined at an approved PP/PC in that country. The DHA has a network of PPs/PCs in more than 150 countries around the world.

Note: health examination results are usually valid for 12 months from the date of examination. If your visa application has not been decided within that period, you may need to be examined again.