Australia Visa Medical in Nairobi: IOM and Aga Khan Panel Physician Guide
Australia Visa Medical in Nairobi: IOM and Aga Khan Panel Physician Guide
The health examination is a step many Kenyan applicants leave until the last moment — and then discover it is more complex than expected. Australia's medical requirements for Kenyan applicants are stricter than those for many other nationalities, primarily because Kenya is classified as having moderate tuberculosis (TB) prevalence. Every applicant must use an approved panel physician in Nairobi; you cannot do this examination anywhere else in Kenya, and you cannot do it at your regular doctor or a hospital of your choice.
This guide explains both approved panel physician options, how to book, what the examination involves, and what happens if something unusual is found.
When to Book the Medical
Do not book your health examination before receiving your invitation to apply for a visa. The medical result — uploaded through the Australian government's eMedical system — has a validity window, and if you complete the examination too early, it may expire before your visa is decided. Immediately after receiving your visa invitation, initiate both your DCI Certificate of Good Conduct and your health examination booking simultaneously.
Two Approved Panel Physicians in Nairobi
The Department of Home Affairs only accepts health assessments from designated panel physicians. In Nairobi, there are two:
1. IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC) — Gigiri
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) centre in Gigiri is the most commonly used facility and is considered the gold standard for Australian migration health assessments.
Location: 78 United Nations Crescent, Gigiri, Nairobi — within the UN compound area, roughly 12 km north of the CBD.
How to book: Booking is done online through the IOM Kenya website (kenya.iom.int/health-services). You will need your HAP ID number before booking — see the section below on how to obtain this.
What they assess: The IOM MHAC conducts the full Australian government-required health assessment, including physical examination, chest X-ray, blood tests, and any additional tests required based on your age, occupation, or health history.
Processing time: Allow 5 to 10 business days from your appointment to receive the uploaded medical results, assuming no abnormalities. If TB or other follow-up tests are required, processing extends significantly.
2. Aga Khan University Hospital (Family Medicine) — Parklands
The Aga Khan University Hospital's Family Medicine department in Parklands is the second approved panel physician for Australian visa medicals in Nairobi.
Location: Third Parklands Avenue, Parklands, Nairobi — approximately 4 km from Westlands, more central than the IOM Gigiri site.
How to book: Book through the Aga Khan visa medical portal. The centre serves applicants who prefer a hospital setting or who live and work closer to Westlands and Parklands.
What they assess: The same standard Australian migration health assessment as IOM, including X-ray and pathology. The Aga Khan centre is sometimes perceived as having shorter waiting times for appointments, though this varies by season.
Getting Your HAP ID
Before you can book either centre, you need a Health Applicant Portal (HAP) ID. This is generated within your ImmiAccount — the same portal where you lodge your visa application.
Steps to get your HAP ID:
- Log in to your ImmiAccount (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
- Navigate to your visa application and find the health requirement section
- Complete the health declaration form
- The system generates a HAP ID for each applicant (yourself, and each family member included in the application)
Provide this HAP ID number to the panel physician when booking. Without it, the examination results cannot be linked to your visa application in the government's system.
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Fees
IOM Nairobi charges in USD. As of the current 2025–2026 schedule:
| Age Group | Fee (USD) | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | $110 | Medical examination |
| 2–10 years | $140 | Medical examination + TB blood test (IGRA) |
| 11–14 years | $155 | Medical examination + chest X-ray |
| 15 years and over | $185 | Medical examination + chest X-ray + blood tests |
| Healthcare workers | $225 | Enhanced pathology (Hepatitis B/C, Syphilis) |
For a single adult applicant, the standard fee is USD 185 — approximately KES 24,000 at current exchange rates. This can be paid via M-Pesa or card at the time of your appointment. Healthcare workers (nurses, doctors, medical laboratory technicians) are required to pay the higher rate and undergo the enhanced pathology panel.
What the Examination Includes
For adults (15 years and over), the Australian migration health assessment at an approved Nairobi panel physician covers:
Medical history review: The physician will review your medical history, current medications, and any chronic conditions. Be accurate and complete — inconsistencies or omissions can complicate your application.
Physical examination: Height, weight, blood pressure, respiratory assessment, and general physical health check.
Chest X-ray: This is the core TB screening component. Kenya's TB prevalence classification means all applicants over 11 years old undergo chest X-rays regardless of symptoms.
Blood tests: HIV testing is required for applicants 15 and over. Hepatitis B and C, and syphilis screening may also be required depending on the visa subclass.
Additional tests for healthcare workers: Nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals are subject to enhanced pathology requirements including Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis C antibody, and syphilis (RPR) tests.
The TB Follow-Up Process
This is the part that can significantly delay your application.
If your chest X-ray shows any abnormality — even a minor shadow or calcification that may be historical rather than active — the panel physician will flag this for follow-up. The next step is sputum collection: you will be asked to provide three sputum samples on three consecutive days, which are sent for TB culture testing.
Culture testing takes 8 to 10 weeks to yield a final result. This is unavoidable — it is the only definitive way to confirm whether TB bacteria are present or absent. If you are planning your migration timeline, build a possible TB culture delay into your worst-case schedule.
The majority of flagged X-rays are historical (scarring from a past infection that has long since resolved) and result in a clean culture result. This does not affect the visa application outcome — a cleared culture result is reported to the Department of Home Affairs as "health requirements met."
If active TB is found, a period of treatment and confirmation of cure is required before the health requirement can be met. This is rare but does occur.
What Happens After the Examination
The panel physician uploads your health assessment results directly to the Department of Home Affairs via the eMedical system. You receive a summary report for your own records. You do not submit medical documents yourself — the upload happens automatically.
Within your ImmiAccount, the health requirement status will update from "outstanding" to "met" once the Department has reviewed the results. This typically happens within a few weeks of the upload, assuming no abnormalities requiring follow-up.
For the complete Kenya-to-Australia visa process — including skills assessment by profession, DCI police clearance, VFS biometrics at Westlands, and points test strategy — the Kenya to Australia Skilled Migration Guide covers each step and its timing.
The IOM Gigiri centre and Aga Khan Parklands are both professional, experienced facilities that handle Australian migration medicals routinely. If you are in the Westlands area, Aga Khan is more convenient. If you want the largest facility with the most experience handling Australian cases, IOM Gigiri is the default choice. Either way, book as soon as you receive your invitation — appointment slots at both centres can fill up two to three weeks out during peak application periods.
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