Temporary Medical Practitioner

The Temporary Medical Practitioner visa allows employers to recruit overseas doctors, especially for work in regional and rural areas. Australian organizations, including businesses, communities or government agencies, may sponsor medical practitioners from overseas, on a temporary basis, to work in Australia for up to four years. The sponsor is usually expected to be the direct employer of the doctor.

The Temporary Medical Practitioner visa program covers all medical practitioners (doctors, radiologists, or specialists in any medical field). For nurses and other paramedical professions, there is a different procedure. If you are already in Australia, working for another employer, you must obtain a new visa before you begin work with the new employer.

There are special provisions to help communities in rural and regional areas of Australia. Where it is in the community's interests to have an overseas medical practitioner, the practitioner may be self-employed on a fee-for-service basis.

A doctor who wishes to establish a sole person practice in a regional area without sponsorship by an Australian employer may be sponsored by a local government body, community health provider or State government department.

Bringing your family

Your application form should include any members of your family who wish to accompany you to Australia. You may include a spouse (including a de facto spouse), dependent children and other single dependent relatives who normally live with you. Your sponsor must also include their names in the sponsorship form. If your family members apply seperately, you should provide a letter from the sponsor confirming they will be covered by the sponsorship.

Required health exam

You will be required to undertake a health check which will include a medical and radiological examination and tests for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B & C. You will be advised what checks are required for the members of your family included in your visa application.

Refer to the checklist below for details of procedures.

Character Checks

If your total stay in Australia, including any time you have already spent here during your current stay, will be more than 12 months, you will need to obtain police clearances for each applicant who is 16 years of age or older.

You will have obtain a police clearance from any country where you have lived for over 12 months in the past 10 years. If you are in Australia, and it is over 12 months since you obtained your last visa, or if you have not had a police check before, you will also have to obtain a clearance from the Australian Federal Police in Canberra.