IOM Nairobi Medical Exam for Australia Visa: What to Expect
IOM Nairobi Medical Exam for Australia Visa: What to Expect
Once you receive an invitation to apply for an Australian skilled visa, one of the first practical steps is the health examination. Unlike most countries where visa medicals are completed through a range of private clinics, Australia operates a specific approved panel physician network. In Kenya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Migration Health Assessment Centre in Gigiri is the primary approved facility. Understanding how to book, what tests are involved, and how to navigate the TB screening process will save you weeks of confusion and potential delays.
Where to Go in Nairobi
IOM Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC) 78 United Nations Crescent, Gigiri, Nairobi This is the main facility for Australian immigration health assessments in Kenya. It handles the full battery of tests required for Australian visa applications, including chest X-rays, pathology, and TB screening. Appointments are strictly required — walk-ins are not accepted.
Aga Khan University Hospital (Family Medicine), Parklands This facility is also approved as a panel physician location for Australian visa medicals. It is located in Parklands and is often preferred by applicants working or living on the Westlands side of Nairobi. The booking process is through AKU's dedicated visa medical portal.
For most Kenyan skilled visa applicants, IOM Gigiri is the go-to facility because it specialises in migration health and processes the highest volume of Australian applications.
When to Book: Don't Do It Too Early
This matters: do not book your IOM medical before you have received your invitation to apply for the visa and generated your HAP ID (Health Assessment for Passport) number from the ImmiAccount portal. The HAP ID links your health assessment to your visa file. Without it, IOM cannot process your examination results into the Australian system.
The sequence is:
- Receive your SkillSelect invitation
- Lodge your visa application through ImmiAccount
- Generate your HAP ID from ImmiAccount
- Book your IOM medical appointment
Once you have your HAP ID, book your IOM appointment promptly. Medical results are valid for 12 months, but the overall visa processing timeline means delays in booking can push your application timeline unnecessarily.
What the Medical Examination Includes
The IOM health assessment for Australia covers several components, and what is required depends on your age.
| Age Group | Components | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | Medical examination | $110 |
| 2–10 years | Medical examination + TB blood test (IGRA) | $140 |
| 11–14 years | Medical examination + chest X-ray | $155 |
| 15 years and over | Medical examination + chest X-ray + HIV/blood tests | $185 |
| Healthcare workers | Enhanced pathology (syphilis, hepatitis B and C) | $225 |
Medical examination: A general physical assessment of your health history, vision, hearing, and overall medical fitness.
Chest X-ray (age 11+): Kenya is classified as a country with moderate tuberculosis prevalence. The chest X-ray is the primary TB screening tool for applicants aged 11 and over. If the X-ray shows any abnormality, IOM will require sputum samples.
HIV and blood tests (age 15+): These are standard for all adult applicants. Results are transmitted electronically to the Department of Home Affairs.
Healthcare worker assessment: Nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, and others who will work in healthcare settings in Australia require additional testing for syphilis and hepatitis B and C. If you are a nurse or doctor, inform IOM at booking and plan for the higher fee.
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The TB Sputum Culture: The Potential Six-Week Delay
This is the component most likely to extend your application timeline. If your chest X-ray shows any pulmonary abnormality — even minor calcified nodules that are completely non-infectious and common in sub-Saharan Africa — IOM will require you to provide three sputum samples on three consecutive mornings for TB culture testing.
TB culture results take 8 to 10 weeks to come back. The Department of Home Affairs will not finalise your visa grant until it receives a clear TB result. This is not a denial of your application — it is a procedural pause. The outcome is almost always clearance, but the timeline impact is significant.
How to prepare: You cannot prevent being flagged for sputum testing if your X-ray shows abnormalities. What you can do is attend your IOM appointment as early in your application process as possible, so that if sputum testing is required, the 10-week wait runs in parallel with other processing steps rather than adding to an already-complete application.
What to Bring to the IOM Appointment
- Your valid Kenyan passport (original, not a copy)
- Your HAP ID number (you will have received this when you initiated your visa application in ImmiAccount)
- Any relevant medical history: prescription medications you are currently taking, records of previous surgeries, known chronic conditions
- Your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them (vision is tested)
- Payment in the correct currency — confirm with IOM Gigiri at time of booking whether they accept KES cash, M-Pesa, or USD
Allow a full day for the appointment. The examination process at IOM Gigiri typically takes several hours when accounting for check-in, the physical examination, X-ray, blood draw, and waiting time.
Paying for the Medical
At the AUD 1 to USD exchange rate as of 2026, USD 185 is approximately KES 24,000. IOM Nairobi accepts cash payments in USD or KES (at a rate they set on the day). Confirm the accepted payment methods when booking.
After the Medical: eMedical Results
IOM transmits your health examination results electronically to the Department of Home Affairs through the eMedical system. You do not need to collect or submit any physical medical certificates. The results appear in your ImmiAccount within a few days of your appointment (or after sputum results if TB testing was required).
If your medical results trigger a "health waiver" requirement — because a condition was identified that does not automatically pass but may be waivable — you will receive a request for additional documentation. Common triggers include diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, or past TB treatment. Health waivers are assessed on a case-by-case basis but are frequently granted for skilled visa applicants whose conditions are stable and managed.
VFS Biometrics at Westlands
The health examination at IOM is separate from biometrics collection. Biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) for Australian visas are collected at:
VFS Global Australian Biometric Collection Centre 5th Floor, Parkfield Place, Muthangari Drive, Westlands, Nairobi
Appointment only, strictly by prior booking. Fee: approximately KES 4,222. Bring your valid Kenyan passport.
The Kenya → Australia Skilled Migration Guide at /from-kenya/au-skilled/ covers the complete Nairobi logistics — IOM, VFS, DCI, and eCitizen — in sequence, with timing guidance on how to run these steps in parallel to avoid adding months to your overall timeline.
Get Your Free Kenya → Australia Skilled Migration Guide — Quick-Start Checklist
Download the Kenya → Australia Skilled Migration Guide — Quick-Start Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.