Pregnant During a Partner Visa Medical: Chest X-Ray, Health Exams and What Happens Next

Pregnancy does not automatically prevent an Australian Partner Visa from being granted, but it can affect the timing and content of the immigration health examination. Partner Visa applicants must have a valid health assessment before grant, and the required tests can include a chest x-ray depending on age, visa requirements and individual circumstances.

If you are pregnant, tell the panel physician and follow the health instructions issued through ImmiAccount. Do not independently skip a required test without discussing the process with the approved clinic and Home Affairs.

Do Partner Visa applicants need health examinations?

Yes. Home Affairs states that Subclass 820 and 309 applicants need health examinations and that a visa cannot be granted without a valid health assessment. The exact examinations are shown in the applicant’s health referral and depend on the person’s circumstances.

What if you are pregnant when a chest x-ray is required?

Home Affairs has a pregnancy health undertaking process for pregnant visa applicants who have not completed a required chest x-ray. Form 1392 explains that the undertaking can require the applicant to undergo the chest x-ray after the birth of the child. Whether this process applies in your individual Partner Visa case should follow the Department’s and panel clinic’s instructions.

Does pregnancy create extra health testing?

Home Affairs’ current health-examination guidance states that a pregnant applicant who plans to have the baby in Australia may require a hepatitis B test as an additional examination. The referral letter and panel physician will identify the required tests for the individual applicant.

Can you wait until after birth to complete the medical?

That depends on the examinations outstanding and the Department’s instructions. If a valid health assessment cannot be completed or an accepted undertaking is not in place, the visa may not be ready for grant. The applicant should not assume that pregnancy automatically pauses the application.

Tell Home Affairs when the baby is born

Home Affairs instructs family visa applicants to tell the Department as soon as possible if they have had a baby since lodging the visa application. The child’s birth certificate and passport details can then be provided through the applicable process.

Could the baby be added to the Partner Visa application?

Depending on where the child is born, the parents’ status and the stage of the Partner Visa application, the child may become an Australian citizen by birth or may need to be included in the visa process. That should be checked promptly rather than assuming every newborn requires a separate visa application.

Illustrative case example: pregnancy during 820 processing

Composite example: An 820 applicant became pregnant before completing the required health examinations. She informed the panel clinic rather than cancelling the medical appointment. The clinic identified which examinations could proceed and what needed to be deferred or managed through the Department’s pregnancy process. After the baby was born, Home Affairs was notified immediately and the child’s documents were added to the file.

Practical checklist

• Open the health referral in ImmiAccount.
• Tell the approved panel clinic that you are pregnant.
• Follow medical advice about the examination itself.
• Follow Home Affairs instructions for any deferred chest x-ray or undertaking.
• Tell Home Affairs promptly after the child’s birth.
• Check whether the newborn is an Australian citizen or needs to be added to the visa process.

See Home Affairs’ health examination guidance and Form 1392 Pregnancy Health Undertaking. For Partner Visa assistance, visit our Partner Visa hub.

General information only. Immigration health requirements are separate from personal medical advice; clinical decisions should be discussed with the treating doctor and approved panel physician.