In Australia, a Medicare card lets people get a range of medical services and prescriptions at a lower cost, and free care as a public patient in a public hospital.
You can get a Medicare card if you live in Australia or on Norfolk Island and are:
- an Australian citizen
- a New Zealand citizen
- an Australian permanent resident
- applying for permanent residency – conditions apply, or
- covered by a Ministerial Order
You may also get a Medicare card if you’re visiting from a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement country.
If you’re an Australian citizen
You can get a Medicare card if you’re an Australian citizen and you live here.
If you’re an Australian citizen and you live overseas
If you’ve moved overseas, you continue to be eligible for Medicare for 5 years. The 5 years starts from the date you first left Australia.
You can’t access Medicare services from outside of Australia. If we have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with the country you’re in, you may get access to medically necessary care. You’ll need a Medicare card to do this.
If you live overseas for more than 5 years you’ll no longer be eligible for Medicare. You will need to re-enrol in Medicare when you move back to Australia to live.
If you live on an Australian dependency island
You can get a Medicare card if you’re a citizen or permanent resident of:
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Christmas Island
- Lord Howe Island
- Norfolk Island
If you’re a New Zealand citizen
You can get a Medicare card if you’re a New Zealand citizen and you:
- have lived in Australia for 6 months or more, in the last 12 months – this can be all at once or in separate visits
- intend to stay in Australia for 6 months or more, in the next 12 months – this can be all at once or in separate visits, or
- are living in Australia and have applied for permanent residency
If you have a permanent visa or have applied for one
If you have a permanent resident visa
You can get a Medicare card if you live in Australia and have a permanent resident visa.
If you have a permanent resident visa and live overseas
If you’ve moved overseas, you continue to be eligible for Medicare. You’re eligible for 12 months from the date you first left Australia.
You can’t access Medicare services from outside of Australia. If we have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with the country you’re in, you may get access to medically necessary care. You’ll need a Medicare card to do this.
If you live overseas for more than 12 months you’ll no longer be eligible for Medicare. You’ll need to re-enrol in Medicare when you move back to Australia to live.
If you live in Australia and have applied for permanent residency
You may be able to get a Medicare card if you live in Australia and have applied for a:
- permanent residency visa, excluding parent visas, or
- permanent protection visa
You must:
- be on a visa allowing you to work, or
- prove your parent, spouse or child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen living in Australia
This includes if you’ve applied for a combined spouse visa 309/100 or 820/801.
You’re eligible for Medicare from the date you applied for permanent residency. This date may be different to the date you were granted your temporary visa 309 or 820. If you applied outside Australia, you’re eligible from the date you arrived in Australia to live.
If your permanent resident application was refused
If your permanent resident application was refused and you:
- have lodged an appeal, you may be able to get a Medicare card
- haven’t lodged an appeal, you’re not eligible for Medicare unless you’re covered under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement
If you’re a Parent visa applicant
If you’re an applicant for Parent visa subclass 804 or 103, you can’t get a Medicare card unless you’re eligible under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
If you’re a Contributory parent visa applicant
If you’re an applicant for a Contributory parent visa, you can get a Medicare card if you hold a:
- temporary visa subclass 173 or 884, or
- temporary visa subclass 173 or 884 and have applied for permanent visa subclass 143 or 864
If you’ve applied directly for the permanent Contributory parent visa subclass 143 or 864 without holding the temporary Contributory parent visa first, you’re not eligible until your permanent Contributory parent visa is granted. However, you may be able to get a Medicare card if you’re eligible under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
If you’re visiting Australia
You may get a Medicare card if you visit Australia from a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement country.
Some of your costs for medically necessary care may be covered during your stay.
You may be eligible if you meet the agreement conditions.
If you have adopted a child
If you adopt a child from overseas, you can add them to your Medicare card if:
- they hold a permanent resident visa, and
- you have a letter proving the adoption is finalised
If you adopt a child from overseas, the child will get their own Medicare card if:
- the adoption has not been finalised, and
- they hold a permanent resident visa, or
- they have applied for permanent residency
If you adopt a child from Australia, you can add them to your card if you have:
- their birth certificate,
- a letter proving the adoption is finalised
If the adoption is not finalised, the child will get their own Medicare card.
If you think you need our advises and assist, please come to us and do a proper consultation, we will help you to reach your goals.
MARN: 0701575
Paul migrated to Australia in 1999 as an international student. After completing his IT degree at the Queensland University of Technology in 2003, he began his career as an education consultant, going on to become a registered migration agent in 2007. His professional experience covers a range of visa areas, including business sponsorship, skilled migration, partner, parent and student visas.