Australia’s immigration policies have long included a health requirement for visa applicants (PIC4005 and 4007), designed to manage costs for the healthcare system. These public interest criterion can often lead to visa refusals for families with members who have disabilities or illnesses that the department of Immigration decides are too costly for the Australian government.
However, an exciting recent change to this requirement is set to make life easier for children born in Australia to non-citizen parents. Under a new law, children born in Australia who are “ordinarily resident” (living) in the country no longer need to pass the health test for immigration purposes.
This reform brings significant relief for many families and ensures that children growing up in Australia can continue to enjoy stability and access to essential services without facing unnecessary hurdles, regardless of their health conditions or disabilities.
Unlike some other countries, a child born in Australia does not automatically gain Australian citizenship, rather they are usually added to their parents visas, and then have to continue the migration process and finding appropriate visas to be able to stay in Australia.
This new change is a significant step in removing some of the discrimination that migrants with disabilities and medical conditions face in Australia. Although at this stage the change is only for children born in Australia it is still a positive step forward.
If you’re a parent of a child born in Australia and want to know more about how this law affects you, feel free to reach out for a FREE consultation.
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