Which panel physicians in Bangalore do visa medicals?
Panel physicians in Bangalore are doctors at two clinics that appear on both the Canadian and New Zealand government lists: Elim Visa Medical Centre and Fortis Hospital on Bannerghatta Road. A panel physician is a doctor approved by a country's immigration department to do its visa medicals. Your own family doctor cannot do this exam.
| Country | Approved clinic(s) in Bangalore | Where the official list is |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Elim Visa Medical Centre, 60/1 Cunningham Road, 560052 (080 2286 8700); Fortis Hospitals, 154/9 Bannerghatta Road, opp. IIM, 560076 (080 6621 4444) | IRCC panel physician finder |
| New Zealand | Elim Visa Medical Centre; Fortis Hospital Bangalore (both listed for medical and radiology) | INZ panel physician list |
| Australia | Check the Home Affairs list for India before booking | Home Affairs: services outside Australia |
| UK | TB X-ray only: Elim, Fortis and SCK Diagnostics | GOV.UK India TB clinics |
| USA (F-1) | No visa medical listed | travel.state.gov: Student visa |
Clinic lists change, so open the official list on the day you book and check that the clinic and doctor are still on it. IRCC names the individual doctors at each Bangalore clinic, and the Fortis listing notes that Kannada is spoken there.
Do you need a medical test for a Canada study permit from Bangalore?
A medical test for a Canada study permit is needed from Bangalore if you will stay in Canada for more than 6 months, because India is on IRCC's list of countries that require an immigration medical exam. IRCC's rules for temporary residents say you need one if you lived in a listed country for 6 months or more in a row in the year before you come.
- Upfront or later: IRCC says you can get the exam before you apply. Contact a panel physician directly and include their confirmation document with your application. Otherwise, the visa office will tell you what to do after you apply.
- Validity: results are valid for 12 months. Your letter of introduction shows the expiry date, and you may need a new exam if you do not travel in time.
- Fees: you pay the panel physician or radiologist at the appointment. Fees are not refunded if your application is refused.
Our Canada study permit from Bangalore guide explains where the medical fits with biometrics and your Provincial Attestation Letter.
Do you need a medical or X-ray for a New Zealand student visa?
A New Zealand student visa needs a chest X-ray if you will stay for more than 6 months and you are a citizen of a country without a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB). India is not on INZ's low-incidence list, so most students from Bangalore on a full degree need the X-ray. The Fee Paying Student Visa page sets out these rules.
- Full medical: INZ says full fee-paying students do not usually need a medical certificate. A stay of under 12 months does not normally need one either.
- INZ can still ask: INZ may ask for a chest X-ray, a medical examination or both, so answer the health questions on your form honestly.
- Age of results: your X-ray and medical results must be less than 3 months old when INZ receives them.
How does the Australia visa medical work from Bangalore?
The Australia visa medical starts with a HAP ID, an identifier the Department of Home Affairs gives you along with a list of the examinations you must have. You need the HAP ID to book. Home Affairs says that outside Australia, you must be examined by one of its approved panel physicians or clinics.
- Before you lodge: if you want to do your health exams upfront, Home Affairs says you might be able to get a HAP ID through its My Health Declarations service.
- After you lodge: Home Affairs sends a request in ImmiAccount if it needs health exams. If you cannot attend in time, tell the department through ImmiAccount.
- Finding a clinic: use the health examination dropdown on the Home Affairs "Services outside Australia" page, choose India, and pick the approved clinic nearest to you.
What should you bring to a visa medical in Bangalore?
Visa medical clinics in Bangalore need you to prove who you are and to share your health history. IRCC and INZ publish very similar lists, so this one set of documents works for most appointments.
| Bring | Why |
|---|---|
| Your passport | IRCC strongly recommends your passport as ID; INZ asks for an identity document |
| Glasses or contact lenses | The doctor checks your eyesight |
| A list of medicines and doses | Asked for by both IRCC and INZ |
| Earlier medical reports and X-rays | Helps the doctor if you have a past condition |
| Your HAP ID (Australia) or IRCC form | Links the exam to your visa case |
| A parent or guardian, if you are 17 or under | INZ requires one at the appointment |
Clinics that use eMedical, the online system the panel doctors use to send results straight to the immigration department, usually take your photo themselves. IRCC says to bring four photos only if the clinic does not use eMedical, so ask when you book.
Booking your visa medical in Bangalore and Karnataka
Booking a visa medical in Bangalore is simple once you know which list to check. Call the clinic, say which country and visa the exam is for, and ask about the fee and how long the visit takes. Both Elim on Cunningham Road and Fortis on Bannerghatta Road serve Canada and New Zealand. If you are going to the UK, see our UK TB test guide instead.
- From outside Bangalore: IRCC lists Bangalore as the Karnataka city with Canadian panel physicians, so students from Mysuru, Mangaluru or Hubballi should plan a day trip.
- Blood tests and extra checks: the doctor may send you for more tests, which can mean a second visit. Leave a couple of weeks before your visa deadline.
- Free help in Hebbal: our office at Kirloskar Business Park, Hebbal, can help you work out which exams your visa needs and when to book them. See our Bangalore office page.
Comparing Canada, New Zealand and Australia? Book a free counselling session and we will show you how each country's medical, money and visa steps line up with your intake.
What to do next
Work out first whether your visa needs a medical at all, using the country's own page. Then book an approved Bangalore clinic at a time that keeps your results in date: 12 months for Canada and 3 months for New Zealand. If you are still deciding where to study, compare Canada and New Zealand.
Plan Your Visa Medical With Confidence
The right clinic and the right date make the medical one of the easiest steps in your visa. Falcon Nova Consultants has helped hundreds of Indian students prepare their study visas. Book your free counselling session and we will check your visa checklist, tell you which health exams apply to you, and help you time each step before your intake.
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