Australia to 75-year-olds: Prove you are healthy, otherwise stay home

Alan Hess, 80, and his significant other, Harriet Brooks, 78, are looking forward to a dream cruise that will end in Sydney, Australia.

But because of some rare new restrictions required to travel to the country down under, whether they can go may depend on their health.

The Australian government wants tourists older than 75 to get a visa that requires a chest X-ray and a medical exam from one of their certified doctors before entering the country. Good luck finding an Australian-certified medical provider. There are only two in the entire state of Florida, one at Miami International Airport and the other in Brooksville, about 45 miles north of Tampa. Some states do not have any certified doctors; most only have one.

“This has been a real nightmare,” Hess said.

Hess and Brooks, who live in a retirement community west of Boynton Beach, learned of the requirement just weeks before they paid $16,000 for the cruise that will end in Sydney on Oct. 19. They plan on spending five days in Australia — that is, if they are allowed to leave the ship.

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, in a statement emailed to The Palm Beach Post, says the rule is designed “to protect the country from public health and safety risks and safeguard the access of Australian citizens to health care and community services in short supply. It reflects the fact that the health of those over 75 years of age is more likely to deteriorate quickly, with significant cost to the Australian community if they are unable to depart.”

The tests are required regardless of the length of your stay. The new rule took effect in July.

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An expensive, time-consuming process to get the paperwork

Because the cruise was on Royal Caribbean, Hess said he contacted their corporate office to seek help.

"They told us it is our problem. I explained that as long as they are bringing passengers to Sydney, it is their problem," Hess said.

Hess and Brooks each had to spend about $400 for the tests and medical exams. Hess said they wasted an entire day by the time they completed their exams and returned home.

“This is money we never expected to spend. And as of Sept. 18, we still don’t know if we passed the exams.”

Michelle Thomas, their travel agent, said she was shocked at how complicated and difficult Australia has made it for 75-year-olds trying to visit the country.

“It is ridiculous," she said. "The process used to take a few minutes. I even contacted a visa company that I work with to obtain visas for them. The company said there was nothing it could do.”

Hess says he was told by government officials that the tests have been submitted “to the department's migration medical services provider for further assessment.” Brooks has been told that the processing of her visa application is moving forward but “a case officer” must investigate the case before the visa can be issued.

“Do not contact the department about health examinations in the meantime,” a government official told Brooks in a letter that was provided to The Post.

Their trip to Australia is coming fast, and they are still in limbo

Meanwhile, Hess and Brooks are running out of time. Their cruise aboard the Celebrity Solstice leaves from Hawaii on Oct. 1 and arrives in Sydney on Oct. 19. Whether they spend their five planned days in Australia all depends on whether they get their visas.

Asked what happens if they don't, Hess said: "We have no idea but we are so looking forward to the five days in Australia."

Hess said he has asked both the U.S. Embassy in Australia and the Australian Embassy in Washington for help. He has yet to receive a response from either of them. Hess says he expects to have plenty of company, noting that there are a lot of people on cruises who are 75 years or older. “They are throwing us to the wolves."

He said Royal Caribbean has said that if he and Brooks do not have their visas when the ship leaves from Hawaii, they won't be able to board on Oct. 1 even though they have visas from the other countries on the itinerary. None of those places — New Zealand, French Polynesia and Tahiti — required the special medical tests insisted on by Australia.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him atmdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Australia now requires medical exams for travelers over 75