Before you start

A visa that confers Medicare eligibility, or citizenship of an RHCA country
Passport and visa evidence
An Australian address
For temporary visa holders: a compliant health insurance policy in force from arrival

Step-by-step

1
Work out which category you're in
Permanent residents and applicants for certain permanent visas enrol in Medicare. Temporary work-visa holders generally do not qualify and must maintain private cover. RHCA country citizens get limited cover for medically necessary treatment.
OnlineWho: You
2
Take out Overseas Visitors Health Cover, if you're on a temporary visa
Employer-sponsored visas usually carry a condition requiring adequate health insurance for the duration of your stay. The policy must be in force from the day you arrive, so buy it before you fly.
OnlineWho: You or your employer≈AUD 90–190 per month for a single adult, varying by insurer and policy
3
Enrol in Medicare, if eligible
Enrol online through myGov, or by taking your documents to a Services Australia service centre. Supporting documents do not need to be certified.
OnlineWho: You
4
Register a myGov account and link Medicare
myGov is the single front door to Medicare, the ATO and Centrelink. Linking Medicare gives you a digital card in the Express Plus app before the physical one arrives.
Mobile appWho: You
5
Register with a local GP practice
There is no catchment system — you can attend any practice. Some 'bulk bill' (no out-of-pocket cost with Medicare); many charge a fee and you claim part of it back. Ask which applies when you book.
In personWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport and current visa
Evidence of permanent residency, where applicable
For RHCA claims: passport of the agreement country and, for some countries, a national health card or statutory declaration
Australian residential address

Things most newcomers don’t know

Eleven countries have Reciprocal Health Care Agreements, and the terms differ for each one.

Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden hold agreements — but coverage length and required documents vary by country (Italy and Malta are capped at six months, for instance). Check your specific country's page rather than assuming a common standard.

Source: Services Australia — Reciprocal Health Care Agreements

An RHCA only covers 'medically necessary' treatment, not everything Medicare covers.

It's designed for care that can't wait until you go home. Elective procedures, most dental and ambulance transport typically fall outside it — which is why RHCA-country nationals on long stays often keep private cover anyway.

Source: Services Australia — when RHCAs apply

Ambulance transport is not covered by Medicare in NSW.

This surprises almost everyone. A single ambulance call-out can run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Ambulance cover is cheap and is usually bundled into private health insurance or available as a standalone subscription.

Source: community-reported; verify current NSW Ambulance fees before relying on the figure

Your visa condition on health insurance is enforceable, not advisory.

Letting employer-sponsored cover lapse mid-stay can breach a visa condition. If you change jobs or your employer stops paying the premium, close the gap immediately rather than at the next renewal.

Source: Home Affairs visa conditions

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming a work visa comes with Medicare — most temporary visas do not.
Arriving before your health cover starts, leaving a gap in a visa-condition requirement.
Treating an RHCA as full Medicare equivalence.
Not asking whether a GP bulk bills before the appointment, then being surprised by the bill.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.