Most applicants living with hepatitis B will not fail the health requirement when applying for a temporary visa to Australia. As mentioned by the Department of Home Affairs, in some circumstances, there may be additional steps or requirements for temporary visa applicants living with hepatitis B who are planning to study or work as a healthcare worker, including as a doctor, nurse, dentist, or paramedic.

(See below section ‘I have hepatitis B and I am planning to study in Australia. Will this impact my visa application?’)

Most applicants living with hepatitis B should not fail the health requirement when applying for permanent residency. This includes people living with hepatitis B that require treatment.

However, visa health requirements consider a wide range of health conditions as relevant to its assessment. This means that applicants living with hepatitis B who also have other health conditions, or whose hepatitis B requires complex management, may not meet the relevant health requirements.

Therefore, it is essential for applicants to obtain tailored advice from a registered migration agent or lawyer about what impact their hepatitis B and any other health conditions may have on their visa application. It is always important to discuss an appropriate plan/strategy for visa applications and pathways to permanent residency before applying for a visa.

A diagnosis of hepatitis B should not lead to the cancellation of your current visa or affect your stay in Australia. However, it is important to emphasize that if you have hepatitis B, receiving regular care is important to protect your health. Early diagnosis and ongoing management can significantly reduce the risk of serious complications, such as cirrhosis or endstage liver disease. Avoiding diagnosis and care can increase these health risks. Therefore, it’s essential to get regular medical care to maintain your health and well-being.

If an applicant with chronic hepatitis B develops end-stage liver disease and is likely to require a liver transplant, their visa application may exceed the ‘significant cost threshold.’ Additionally, it raises concerns about equitable access to limited medical resources, such as liver transplants from deceased donors, which could impact availability for Australian patients.

For more information, please visit Hepatitis B and Immigration

All people included in the visa application as well as some non-migrating family members and dependents may also be required to meet the relevant health requirement. If one member of a family unit does not meet the health requirement, the application will be refused. This is known as the ‘one fails, all fail’ policy.

As noted above, a family member living with hepatitis B is unlikely to fail the health requirement due to their hepatitis B status alone. However, visa health requirements consider a wide range of health conditions as relevant to its assessment. (For more information about hepatitis B and the health requirements, see above).

Generally, applicants living with hepatitis B will not be refused a visa due to their hepatitis B status.

However, applicants intending to study to become a healthcare worker that perform exposure prone procedures (doctors, nurses, dentists, paramedics) may be required to do additional health examinations and/or provide additional information to the Department of Home Affairs. You may be asked to provide a statement from your employer or educational institution stating that you will not be undertaking exposure-prone procedures.

As long as you are complying with the requirements of the Australian National Guidelines, you should not be prevented from pursuing study or employment as a healthcare worker in Australia, even if you are living with hepatitis B. It is strongly advised that applicants in these circumstances obtain advice from a registered migration agent or lawyer that has experience in health-related visa matters.

For more information, please visit CDNA National Guidelines.

Generally, short-term temporary residence visas, such as tourist visas, will not require a health examination. There are some exceptions to this, for example, if you are over the age of 75 or if you intend to stay in Australia for the next 6 to 12 months.

The health examination and the types of tests required depend on the type and length of your visa, country of origin, age, and the details in your visa application. You will be notified if a health examination is needed after you submit your application.

It is important to answer any questions honestly during a visa application process, and not to provide any misleading or false information to the department. Some questions may ask you directly about any health conditions you are living with while others may ask about any healthcare services you intend on accessing while in Australia related to a health condition. Before lodging an application, advice should be sought from a registered migration agent or lawyer. It is recommended that a person living with hepatitis B should discuss/disclose their condition and other significant information to their lawyer or migration agent so that they can provide accurate advice.

For more information, please visit Who do you have to tell?

Medical tests for Australian temporary and permanent residency can be undertaken in Australia or at approved locations in other countries. If an applicant lives in Australia, you must undergo testing through the authorised migration-related health examination provider (currently this is Bupa Medical Visa Services). If an applicant needs to undergo a health examination outside Australia, it is required that the examination be conducted by one of the Department of Home Affairs’ approved panel physicians or clinics at approved locations outside Australia.

For more information, please visit Preparing for Your Immigration Health Examination

If you are in Australia on a visa, you can access care for yourself and your baby during pregnancy, birth, and afterwards. However, the cost will depend on your visa type and the coverage of your private health insurance.

If you have hepatitis B and are pregnant, it is important to see your doctor early to monitor your liver health, viral load, and assess if treatment is needed. Discussing your health condition with your midwife or doctor will help manage hepatitis B and ensure both you and your baby stay healthy.

It is strongly advised that applicants in these circumstances seek advice from a registered migration agent or lawyer to discuss about disclosing their pregnancy status before submitting the application, as the applicant or dependent may be required to sign a pregnancy health undertaking if a health examination is needed.

For more information, please visit Hepatitis B, Pregnancy and Babies, Pregnancy Health Undertaking, Me, my baby and hepatitis B.

Australia has strict regulations regarding the importation of medications, so it is essential to be aware of the rules to avoid
any issues at immigration. Customs will not prevent you from bringing your hepatitis B medication into Australia if it aligns
with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) guidelines and you correctly declare it upon arrival.

It is important to make sure you have a valid prescription for your medication. It should be in English and include details
such as your name, the name of the medication (e.g. Entecavir or Tenofovir) dosage instructions, and your doctor’s contact
information. Additionally, having a letter from your doctor explaining the medical necessity of the medication may be
helpful. It should include details about your condition, the need for the specific medication, and the prescribed dosage.
Alternatively, if the medication is not restricted in Australia a maximum of 3 months’ supply can be imported from overseas.

For more information, please visit Entering Australia

You cannot use a prescription provided by a medical practitioner from your own country to purchase medication in Australia. If you have run out of hepatitis B medication (eg. entecavir or tenofovir) or need medication during your stay in Australia, you may visit an Australian approved general medical practitioner (known as s100 prescribers) or specialist physician to obtain a valid Australian prescription. The prescription can be used to purchase medication from Australian pharmacies.

For more information, please visit Travelling to or from Australia with medicines and medical devices, Personal Importation Scheme

To find an S100 prescriber, click here Prescriber Programs.

After arriving in Australia, to manage your hepatitis B care, you should:

• Find a local health care provider who can help manage your hepatitis B and monitor your health. In Australia, hepatitis B care can be provided by a GP or a specialist.
• Schedule regular appointments for hepatitis B monitoring, including blood tests, liver function tests, and ultrasounds if needed, as advised by your healthcare provider.
• If you are currently on treatment, don’t interrupt or stop taking your hepatitis B medication unless you have been advised to by a health care provider.
• Reach out to local support groups or community organizations for additional resources and support, including LiverWELL, Hepatitis B Voices Australia, and other support organizations.

For more information, please visit LiverWELL, Hepatitis B Voices Australia, HepBCommunity.org

For most jobs, there is no need to disclose to your employer or colleagues that you are living with hepatitis B. However,
there are a small number of professions that may require you to disclose your status or undergo a blood test. These include:

• If you are a healthcare worker performing exposure-prone procedures (EPPs).
• If you work for or are applying to join the Australian Defence Force.

Some jobs may also require you to provide evidence that you have been immunized for hepatitis B. If you are already living
with chronic hepatitis B, you should consult with a doctor regarding this requirement. They can write a supporting letter to
your employer explaining the minimal risks associated with your condition and confirming your suitability for the job.

If you are denied employment or are dismissed by an employer because of your hepatitis B status, you should seek
appropriate legal advice or consider filing a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). The AHRC
offers a free complaint process that doesn’t require legal representation and may include mediation as part of the resolution
process.

For more information, please visit Know your rights.

To file a complaint, click here The complaint process for complaints about sex, race, disability and age discrimination.

Healthcare workers living with hepatitis B may be required to provide additional information to the Department of Home Affairs if intending to work in Australia. It’s important to note that a hepatitis B infection alone does not automatically disqualify someone from working as a healthcare worker, or from working in a role where they perform EPPs. However, the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) guidelines must be followed. Presently, healthcare workers living with hepatitis B are permitted to perform EPPs if their viral load is below 200 IU/mL, and they meet the criteria set out in relevant policies and guidelines.

For more information, please visit CDNA guidelines.