Visa Health & Disability Issues
Navigating Australia’s strict visa health requirements can be complex and overwhelming – especially when a medical condition puts your application at risk. At Estrin Saul Lawyers, we specialise in helping clients overcome health-related barriers through expert guidance, waiver applications, and appeals.
Specialist advice on visa health issues
How we can help
All Australian visa applicants must meet certain health criteria. These are designed to ensure applicants do not:
Certain conditions may trigger a health criterion failure, such as:
- Pose a public health risk
- Impose “significant” costs on Australia’s healthcare system
- Limit access to healthcare or community services for Australian citizens and permanent residents
Currently, any condition likely to result in healthcare costs over $81,000 per year is considered “significant.” Depending on the visa subclass, applicants who exceed this threshold may face refusal – either with the opportunity to request a health waiver (under PIC 4007) or without (under PIC 4005).
We assist with health-related issues across a range of visa types, including where conditions such as:
- Ulcerative colitis
- Chronic kidney disease
- Down syndrome
- Global developmental delay
- HIV
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Cerebral palsy
Our team advises on waiver eligibility, prepares detailed submissions, and provides representation in appeals and Ministerial Intervention requests
INDUSTRY-LEADING EXPERTISE
Our dedicated health and disability migration team is led by Dr Jan Gothard and Practice Leader Munashe Rusamo, combining deep legal expertise with industry-leading insight into migration health policy.
Dr Jan Gothard is one of Australia’s leading experts in migration, health, and disability. She has advised the Down Syndrome Association of Australia, the WA AIDS Council, and other national bodies on disability-related migration issues. As a founder of Welcoming Disability, she remains a powerful advocate for reform in Australia’s migration health framework.
Together, our health and disability migration team brings unmatched knowledge and experience to every matter – supporting individuals and families through some of the most complex challenges in immigration law.
Specialists in immigration law
OUR SERVICES
For Businesses
We work with businesses of all sizes, from startups to major corporations, to simplify the visa process and reduce disruption to operations. With the government’s current approach of facilitation paired with strict compliance, we don’t just help you secure the right visas. We ensure your business stays fully compliant with sponsorship obligations, now and into the future.
For Individuals
We provide clear, expert guidance to individuals navigating Australia’s immigration system, including appeals, family reunification, citizenship, refugee protection, visa health and character matters. Our team is committed to making complex processes easier to understand and delivering outcomes that support your future in Australia.
Seeking expert migration guidance?
Whether you need a face-to-face or online consultation, a fee quote, or a corporate migration strategy session, connecting with our Perth and Adelaide migration specialists is easy.
Get Started
