Does a general practice perform visa medical screening?

A general practice may perform visa medical screening when it is authorised for the required immigration examination. The service can involve a medical history, physical assessment, laboratory testing and imaging, depending on the destination and visa category.

Visa screening is an administrative health assessment rather than a routine consultation for a new symptom. The clinic may check your identity documents, ask about previous illnesses and examine your general health. Some applications require blood tests, a chest image or other specified checks. The clinician completes the forms required by the relevant authority if the facility is approved to do so.

Not every family medicine clinic is an authorised visa medical centre, and a clinic that offers ordinary check-ups may not issue an accepted certificate. Requirements can also differ by destination, age, occupation and visa type.

Contact the clinic before attending and ask whether it is approved for your exact visa process. Confirm which documents, photographs, appointment forms and previous medical records are needed, and ask whether testing is done on site or through a designated facility. Bring your passport or other requested identification, any official referral or application paperwork, and a list of regular medicines.

Follow the clinic's instructions about food, fluids and sample collection. Allow time for any results or follow-up documents that the immigration authority requires.

If the screening finds a health concern, arrange a separate clinical appointment so it can be assessed properly. Seek urgent care for severe breathing difficulty, chest pressure, fainting, sudden weakness or heavy bleeding; these symptoms need prompt treatment rather than a screening appointment.

Ask: Are you an approved centre for my visa application? Which tests and documents are required? Will you send the result directly to the authority? When should I expect the medical certificate, and what happens if a result needs repeating?