Visa
Australian student visa medical exam in Nepal: how to get your HAP ID, approved panel clinics in Kathmandu and Damak, required tests and tips to avoid delays.
For most Nepali students, the immigration medical is the one step of the Australian student visa that feels the most unfamiliar. You hear terms like HAP ID, eMedical, 501 and 502, and you are not sure whether to book before or after you lodge. This guide explains the Australian visa medical exam in Nepal step by step: who needs it, which tests are usual, where you can do it, what to bring and the mistakes that most often cause delays.
The process below is based on Department of Home Affairs guidance and information published by clinics in Nepal, checked in October 2026. Health rules and clinic details can change, so always follow the instructions in your own health examination letter.
Every visa applicant must meet Australia's health requirement. In simple terms, Home Affairs wants to be sure you do not have a condition that is a risk to public health (tuberculosis is the main concern) or that would lead to significant health-care costs in Australia.
For temporary visas such as the Student visa (subclass 500), whether you need exams depends mainly on your country, your age, how long you plan to stay and what you will study or do. Home Affairs guidance for temporary visa applicants from countries with a higher risk of tuberculosis who intend to stay 6 months or more lists a chest x-ray from age 11 and a kidney function blood test (eGFR) from age 15. Nepal is not on Australia's lower-TB-risk list, so most Nepali students going for a degree or diploma should expect a medical examination and a chest x-ray. The exact tests for you are the ones listed against your HAP ID, not what a friend had to do.
HAP ID. Your Health Assessment Portal ID. It is the unique number that links your medical results to your visa application. Clinics cannot book you without it.
eMedical. The Home Affairs online system that panel clinics use to send your results directly to the Department. You do not carry reports back yourself.
Panel physician. A doctor or radiologist approved by Home Affairs to perform visa medicals outside Australia. Only results from an approved panel clinic are accepted.
Exam codes. You will see codes such as 501 (medical examination by the doctor, usually with a urine test), 502 (chest x-ray) and 705 (eGFR blood test). Your referral letter lists the codes you need.
Option 1: After lodging (the most common route). Once your visa application is lodged in ImmiAccount, open the application, click View health assessment and then Organise your health examinations. You record your medical history (if a 501 exam is required) and print your eMedical referral letter, which shows your HAP ID. Sometimes the Department instead sends a request letter with a deadline.
Option 2: Upfront, using My Health Declarations. Home Affairs' My Health Declarations (MHD) service lets you complete your medical before you lodge, as long as your visa is listed in the service and you have not already applied. This can help a complete visa file reach a decision faster. Keep in mind that results are generally valid for 12 months, so if your application or intake is delayed you may need to repeat the exams.
Which is better? If your CoE, finances and Genuine Student evidence are nearly ready, an upfront medical can save time. If your intake or provider is still uncertain, wait until you lodge so your results do not expire. Our counsellors usually decide this together with your lodgement plan. You can read more about preparing a strong file in our Genuine Student (GS) tips for Nepali applicants.
You must use a clinic on the Home Affairs panel physician list, preferably one that is eMedical-enabled. Clinics that state they conduct Australian immigration medicals include:
IOM Nepal Migration Health Assessment Centre, Kathmandu: Lazimpat Sadak, Panipokhari. IOM also runs a centre in Damak, Jhapa, which offers Australian health assessments. Bookings can be made online, by email or through the call centre, and IOM says booking is free of charge.
Norvic International Centre for Health Evaluation (NICHE): Norvic International Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu.
Alfa Care Nepal: Buddhanagar, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu.
Always confirm the current list on the Home Affairs panel physician page before booking, because clinics can be added or removed. If you live in Pokhara, Beni, Dhangadhi or Janakpur, plan for travel to Kathmandu (or Damak for eastern Nepal) and keep a spare day in case extra tests are needed.
Watch the festival calendar. Clinics close for public holidays. For example, IOM's published 2026 holiday list includes Dashain (20 and 21 October) and Tihar (10 and 11 November). If you are applying for a February intake, book early so the festival season does not push your medical back.
Home Affairs and the clinics ask applicants to bring:
Your eMedical referral letter (or health examination letter) showing your HAP ID
Your original passport (or the alternative ID the clinic accepts)
Glasses or contact lenses if you wear them
Medical reports for any existing or past condition, surgery or long-term medication
Any previous chest x-rays
Clinics also give practical advice: drink water before you arrive for the urine sample, wear clothes that are easy to change, arrive about 15 minutes early, and reschedule if you have a fever, cough or sore throat. IOM advises women to avoid booking during menstruation because it can affect the urine test.
Medical history and examination (501). The panel physician reviews the history you entered in eMedical, checks your height, weight, blood pressure, vision and general health, and usually takes a urine sample.
Chest x-ray (502). A quick x-ray to screen for tuberculosis. It is reviewed by a panel radiologist.
Blood test (if listed). Some applicants need an eGFR blood test or other tests based on age, course or health history.
Results sent electronically. When the clinic completes your file, results go to Home Affairs through eMedical. You can check progress on the eMedical client page using your family name, HAP ID and date of birth.
Nursing, medicine and health courses. If you will study or train in a health-care setting, Home Affairs may require extra tests (for example HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening). If you are planning nursing in Australia, expect a longer medical and keep vaccination records ready.
If the x-ray shows something unusual. You may be asked for sputum tests or a specialist review. Active TB must be treated before the visa can proceed, and IOM Nepal provides TB diagnostics and directly observed treatment for applicants who need it. A past or treated condition does not automatically mean refusal, but it can add weeks, so do the medical early.
Pregnancy and existing conditions. Do not hide a condition or pregnancy. Most conditions are manageable within the health requirement, but undisclosed information can cause far bigger problems later.
Family members. If your spouse or children are migrating with you, they usually need their own HAP IDs and exams. Family members can be included in a My Health Declarations form.
Booking without a HAP ID. The clinic cannot link results to your application without it.
Using an unapproved clinic. Only Home Affairs panel clinics count. A general hospital check-up is not accepted.
Letting results expire. Upfront medicals are generally valid for 12 months, so a long gap before lodging can mean repeating them.
Missing the deadline. If the Department sets a date, attend or tell them through ImmiAccount. Unexplained delays can affect your application.
Forgetting the rest of the file. A clean medical will not fix weak financial or Genuine Student evidence. It is one part of the whole application, together with your NOC from Nepal, finances, English and OSHC.
Confusing the medical with OSHC. The immigration medical checks you meet the health requirement. Overseas Student Health Cover is the insurance you need for your visa period. Learn more in our OSHC and health essentials guide.
Most do, because the stay is usually 6 months or more and Nepal is not a lower-TB-risk country. Your HAP ID referral confirms exactly which tests you need.
Yes, if your visa is available in the My Health Declarations service and you have not yet lodged. Results are generally valid for 12 months.
Clinics upload results through eMedical, often within a few days of a straightforward exam. Extra tests or specialist reviews can take longer. You can track status on the eMedical client page.
IOM also offers Australian health assessments in Damak, Jhapa. Check the Home Affairs panel list for any other approved clinics before you book.
You do. Fees are set by each clinic, so ask when you book and keep your receipt.
Everest Global Education guides Nepali students through the whole Australian student visa process, including timing your medical so it fits your CoE, finances and intake. We explain your HAP ID letter, help you choose between an upfront and post-lodgement medical, and check the rest of your file before submission. Where migration advice is required, it is provided by MARA-registered migration agents, and you can verify any agent on the OMARA register. With offices across Nepal and in Perth and Sydney, we support you before departure and after you arrive.
Kathmandu: Putalisadak, Opposite of MIT College
Pokhara: Pushpa Ratna Bhawan Siddharthachowk-4, Pokhara 33700
Beni: New Road Beni bazar Myagdi
Dhangadhi: Boradadi Road, Dhangadhi 10900
Janakpur: Girija Path Muralichowk Janakpur
Perth (Australia): 102 James St, Northbridge WA 6003
Sydney (Australia): Level 1 / 483 Princes Highway, Rockdale, NSW 2216
Tell us your course, intake and where you are in the visa process. We will help you plan your medical, NOC and lodgement in the right order so nothing expires or holds up your file.
Submit an enquiry at https://everestglobaledu.com/enquiry and our team will contact you by phone or email.
Everest Global Education
Phone: +61 8 6157 0080
Email: info@everestglobal.com
Website: https://everestglobaledu.com/
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