How to Apply for a Medicare Card in Australia: Step-by-Step Guide (2025-26)

Medicare is Australia's public health system, giving you access to free or subsidised doctor visits, hospital treatment, and prescription medicines. If you're eligible, enrolling is one of the first things you should do when you arrive. Here's exactly how to do it.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare?

Not everyone in Australia can get Medicare. Your eligibility depends on your visa type and residency status.

Visa / Status	Medicare Eligible?	Type of Coverage
Australian citizen	Yes	Full Medicare
Permanent visa holders (189, 190, 801, 100, 143, etc.)	Yes	Full Medicare
Partner visa holders (820, 309)	Yes	Full Medicare
Humanitarian/Refugee visas (200–204, 866)	Yes	Full Medicare
New Zealand citizens (Subclass 444)	Yes	Full Medicare
Applicants for permanent visa (bridging visa)	Yes	Full Medicare (if applied for a permanent visa)
Visitors from RHCA countries	Limited	Medically necessary treatment only
Student visa (500)	No	Must have OSHC
Temporary work visa (482, 494)	No	Need private health insurance
Visitor visa (600)	No	Need travel insurance
Working Holiday visa (417, 462)	No (unless from RHCA country)	Limited RHCA or private insurance

Not sure about your visa? Use our Medicare Comparison tool to check your eligibility and understand what's covered.

Bridging Visa Holders: If you've applied for a permanent visa and are on a bridging visa while waiting, you are generally eligible for full Medicare. Bring your bridging visa grant letter and your permanent visa application acknowledgement.

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA)

Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with 11 countries. If you're a citizen of one of these countries on a temporary visa, you can get limited Medicare coverage:

Full agreement: United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Slovenia
What's covered: Medically necessary treatment (GP visits, public hospital as a public patient, PBS medicines)
What's NOT covered: Elective procedures, pregnancy care (in most cases), dental, ambulance

How to Enrol: Step by Step

There are two ways to enrol in Medicare: in person at a Services Australia service centre or online. In-person enrolment is faster and recommended for new arrivals.

Option 1: Enrol In Person (Recommended)

Step 1: Find a Service Centre

Locate your nearest Services Australia service centre. You can search by postcode on the Services Australia website. Most centres are open Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm.

Step 2: Bring Your Documents

You'll need to bring the following to the service centre:

Your passport (current, with photo page)
Visa grant letter or VEVO printout showing your visa status
Proof of Australian address — rental agreement, utility bill, or bank statement with your address
Travel document — if different from your passport
For RHCA: Passport from your RHCA country showing citizenship
For partner visa: Your partner's details (name, date of birth, Medicare number if they have one)

Step 3: Complete the Enrolment Form

Fill out the Medicare Enrolment Application (form 3101). You can download it from the Services Australia website beforehand or fill it in at the service centre. The form asks for:

Personal details (name, date of birth, gender)
Visa and passport information
Australian address
Whether you want to join an existing Medicare card (e.g., your partner's)

Step 4: Get Your Interim Medicare Number

After submitting your documents, you'll receive an interim Medicare number on the spot. This is a temporary number you can use immediately to:

Visit a GP and get bulk-billed
Fill prescriptions under the PBS
Present at a hospital

Write it down or take a photo — you'll need this number until your card arrives.

Step 5: Receive Your Green Medicare Card

Your physical Medicare card (the green card) will be posted to your Australian address within 2–3 weeks. Once it arrives:

Set up the Medicare app on your phone for a digital card
Link Medicare to your myGov account to manage claims online

Pro Tip: Visit the service centre early in the morning (before 9am) or mid-afternoon to avoid long queues. Bring all documents — missing even one can mean coming back another day.

Option 2: Enrol Online

You may be able to enrol online through Services Australia's website if you:

Already have a myGov account
Can verify your identity online
Hold an eligible visa

However, online enrolment can be tricky for new arrivals who don't yet have Australian ID. In-person enrolment is usually faster and more straightforward.

Interim Number vs Green Card

Feature	Interim Number	Green Card
When you get it	Same day at service centre	2–3 weeks by post
Format	Printed on paper or verbal	Physical plastic card
Can see a GP?	Yes	Yes
Can go to hospital?	Yes	Yes
Digital card in app?	No — not yet linked	Yes — via Medicare app
Valid for claims?	Yes	Yes

Adding a Newborn Baby to Medicare

If you have a baby in Australia, you should add them to your Medicare card as soon as possible after birth.

How to Add Your Baby

Visit a Services Australia service centre with the baby's hospital birth notification
Bring your Medicare card and the baby's birth details (name, date of birth)
Baby gets added to your card — they'll share your Medicare number with a new Individual Reference Number (IRN)
New card posted — an updated card with your baby's name will arrive in 2–3 weeks

Citizenship Matters: If your baby is an Australian citizen (born to at least one citizen parent), they're automatically eligible for Medicare. If your baby is not a citizen, their Medicare eligibility depends on your visa status. On most permanent and partner visas, your baby will be eligible.

What Medicare Actually Covers

Medicare covers a wide range of health services, but not everything. Here's what you need to know:

Covered by Medicare (Free or Subsidised)

GP visits — free if the GP bulk-bills (use our Bulk Billing Finder to find one)
Public hospital treatment — free as a public patient
Specialist consultations — Medicare rebate applies (may have a gap fee)
Pathology and imaging — blood tests, X-rays, ultrasounds (rebate applies)
PBS medicines — subsidised prescription medicines (up to $31.60 per script, or $7.70 with a concession card)
Mental health — up to 10 subsidised psychology sessions per year with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP
Eye tests — one bulk-billed optometrist visit every 3 years (every year if over 65 or diabetic)

NOT Covered by Medicare

Dental — not covered for adults (children may get free dental through CDBS)
Ambulance — not covered in most states (consider ambulance cover)
Private hospital — need private health insurance
Optical (glasses/contacts) — not covered
Physiotherapy — limited coverage (5 allied health sessions via GP referral)
Cosmetic procedures — not covered

For a full comparison of what's covered, use our Medicare Comparison tool.

Check What Medicare Covers for You

Compare Medicare coverage, find bulk-billing GPs, and understand your health options.

Use Medicare Comparison Tool

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Medicare enrolment take?

You get an interim number the same day at a service centre. The physical green card arrives in 2–3 weeks by post. If you haven't received it after 4 weeks, call Medicare on 132 011.

Can I use Medicare before my card arrives?

Yes. Your interim Medicare number works immediately. Give it to your GP, hospital, or pharmacist.

Can I enrol in Medicare before I arrive in Australia?

No. You must be physically in Australia to enrol. However, your coverage starts from the date your eligible visa is granted (or the date you arrive, whichever is later), and you can claim retroactively for services received between your visa grant and enrolment.

What if I'm on a visa that's not eligible?

If you're on a student visa, temporary work visa, or visitor visa, you cannot enrol in Medicare. Your options are:

OSHC — Overseas Student Health Cover (mandatory for student visas)
Private health insurance — required for most work visas
Travel insurance — for visitor visas
RHCA — if you're from a reciprocal country, you get limited coverage

Can I have both Medicare and private health insurance?

Yes, and many Australians do. Medicare covers public care, while private insurance gives you choice of doctor, private hospital, and extras like dental and optical. Having private insurance also helps you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you earn over $93,000.

What happens to my Medicare if I leave Australia?

If you leave Australia permanently, your Medicare eligibility ends. If you're a permanent resident travelling temporarily, Medicare continues but only covers treatment in Australia — it doesn't cover overseas medical expenses (except under RHCA in some cases).

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