1. The “12-Month” Clock
Medical results are valid for exactly 12 months from the date of the examination, not the date the results were uploaded.
- The Risk: If you used the “My Health Declarations” service to do your medicals months before applying for your visa, you are at high risk.
- The Result: If a case officer looks at your file 366 days after your exam, your status will change from “Health clearance provided” back to “Required.”
2. How You Will Be Notified
You won’t get a phone call. Instead, keep an eye on these two things:
- ImmiAccount Status: Your application status may shift from “Further Assessment” back to “Information Requested.”
- The s56 Request: You will receive an official “Request for More Information” (s56) letter. You typically have 28 days to provide evidence that you have at least booked a new appointment.
3. 2026 Cost & Time Impact
| Impact Factor | What Happens |
| Financial Cost | You must pay the full Bupa fee again (approx. $400–$550 AUD). |
| Processing Delay | A re-examination typically adds 4–8 weeks to your total processing time. |
| Bridging Visa | Your Bridging Visa A remains valid. You will not become “unlawful” just because your medicals expired. |
4. Can You Avoid a Re-Examination?
In 2026, there is no “extension” for expired medicals. However, there are two ways to minimize the damage:
- The “Wait and See” Strategy: If your 485 visa processing time is currently listed as 6–10 months, do not do your medicals upfront. Wait until the Department requests them so that your 12-month validity covers the entire finalization period.
- Health Undertakings: In very rare cases, if you have a stable condition, you might be asked to sign a Health Undertaking (Form 815), which can sometimes allow a visa to be granted even if a specific part of the exam is slightly aged—but this is almost never applied to standard expired results.
