What a Panel Physician Is: DHA-Approved Doctors and How to Find One
One of the most important things to know about a visa health examination is that you cannot choose just any doctor. A health examination is only valid when it is carried out by a panel physician approved by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
What a panel physician is
A panel physician is a doctor or medical clinic approved by DHA to carry out health examinations for Australian migration purposes.
Results from a doctor who is not a panel physician will not be accepted — no matter how good those results are.
Why you must use a panel physician
- DHA requires results to be standardised and transmitted directly into its system
- Panel physicians carry legal responsibility for the accuracy of their results
- Results that do not go through a panel physician cannot be verified
How to find a panel physician
Option 1: Through the eMedical portal After you receive your Health Examination Instructions (HEI), ImmiAccount will contain a link to eMedical — the system for booking an examination and finding the nearest panel physician.
Option 2: Search directly on the DHA website Go to the “Panel Physicians” page on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and search by country or city.
Option 3: Major clinics in your country Some large clinics are recognised panel physicians approved by DHA. Search for “Panel Physician” together with your city name on the DHA website.
The booking process
- Receive your HEI from DHA through ImmiAccount
- Use eMedical to find the nearest panel physician
- Book an appointment directly with the clinic
- Bring: your passport, the HEI printout, photos, and the examination fee
Cost
The cost of a panel physician examination is paid by the visa applicant — it is not refunded if the visa is refused. The cost varies depending on the clinic and the tests required.
After the examination
The panel physician sends your results directly to DHA through the eMedical system — you do not need to do anything further. DHA receives and processes them as part of your application.