Medicare for visa holders
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Who can enrol?
- Permanent residents: hold or have applied for a permanent visa.
- Applicants for a permanent (non-parent) or protection visa, who live in Australia and have a work-rights visa, or a parent, spouse or child who is a citizen, PR or eligible New Zealander.
- Parent visa applicants: after grant, or earlier if from a reciprocal country meeting its conditions.
Who is not covered?
Most other temporary visa holders. See health insurance for your visa.
Reciprocal Health Care Agreement countries
nib (a health insurer, which describes 11 agreements) lists Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Cover is partial: immediate, medically necessary treatment in the public system and some PBS medicines. It does not cover non-urgent or private care, ambulance, dental or evacuation, and it is not a substitute for travel insurance. Rules such as student visa exclusions vary by country, so check Services Australia.
How to enrol
Online: myGov, with passport or ImmiCard and visa details. Or send the Medicare enrolment form with documents. Files must be PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF or BMP, up to 5MB each and 10MB in total. Family members aged 15 or older use their own myGov account.
If I leave Australia
Services Australia says enrolment stays active for 12 months after you first leave. After 12 months away you must re-enrol.
FAQ
Does a bridging visa give Medicare?
It depends on the visa you applied for. See bridging visas.
Is a visitor covered?
Only through a reciprocal agreement, if eligible.
Can I enrol my child?
Yes, under 15.