Can I Enrol for Medicare If My Visa is Still Pending?
15.04.25Published 15 April 2026 | Written by Migration Lawyer Marley Fenn
QUICK ANSWER
Yes. You do not need to wait for your Permanent Visa/Permanent Residency (PR) to be granted to access Medicare. If you live in Australia and your PR application is still processing, you can enrol now, provided you can show evidence of your PR application (an Acknowledgement of Application letter or Bridging Visa Grant letter from the Department of Home Affairs), identity documents, and either working rights on your visa or a qualifying family relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen. Eligibility runs from the date you applied for PR, or from the date you arrived in Australia if you were living overseas at the time. If your PR is later refused, you can stay enrolled while an appeal is on foot; if you don’t appeal, you’ll need to check whether a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement covers you instead.
To be eligible for Medicare benefits, you are not required to wait until your Permanent Visa/Permanent Residency (‘PR’) has been granted. If you live in Australia and your application is still processing, you may still be eligible to enrol.
REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE MEDICARE BENEFITS IF YOUR VISA IS STILL PENDING
As long as you meet the specific requirements, if you have applied for Permanent Residency and you live in Australia, you may be eligible to receive Medicare benefits. The requirements are as below:
- Provide evidence that you have applied for PR (Acknowledgement of Application letter from the Department of Home Affairs or Bridging Visa Grant letter); and
- Identity documents.
You must also have working rights on your visa allowing you to work, or a parent, spouse or child who is either an Australian citizen, Permanent Resident or a New Zealand citizen living in Australia.
You are eligible to enrol in Medicare from either:
- The date you applied for PR; or
- The date you arrive in Australia to live, if you previously lived outside Australia.
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY IF YOUR PR IS REFUSED OR UNDER APPEAL
If your PR is refused and you lodge an appeal, you are still eligible to apply for or remain enrolled in Medicare. Since October 2024, PR-related merits review appeals are heard by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). If you do not lodge an appeal, you will not be eligible for Medicare and will need to confirm whether you may have cover under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
RAMSDEN LAWYERS – HOW OUR MIGRATION LAWYERS CAN HELP YOU
If you have applied for permanent residency and need assistance regarding Medicare eligibility and requirements, our Migration Division has considerable expertise in this area. We are happy to arrange an obligation-free consultation to assist you in navigating the relevant legislation for your circumstances. If you would like to speak with our team to arrange a consultation, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The content of this article is intended to provide general guidance to the subject matter and must not be relied on as legal advice. Specific advice should be sought about your circumstances.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to wait until my PR visa is granted before I can enrol in Medicare?
No. You can enrol in Medicare while your permanent residency application is still being processed, as long as you live in Australia and meet the other eligibility requirements, such as holding evidence of your PR application and either working rights or a qualifying family connection.
What documents do I need to enrol in Medicare while my PR application is pending?
You need identity documents (such as a passport or ImmiCard) and evidence that you’ve applied for PR, which is usually an Acknowledgement of Application letter from the Department of Home Affairs or a Bridging Visa Grant letter. If your visa doesn’t allow you to work, you’ll also need to show a qualifying family relationship.
What if my visa doesn't give me the right to work, can I still enrol?
Yes, but you’ll need to show that a parent, spouse, or child is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen living in Australia. Acceptable evidence includes documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or proof of a shared household, like joint utility bills or joint property ownership.
From what date does my Medicare eligibility actually start?
Your eligibility starts from either the date you applied for PR, or, if you were living overseas at the time, the date you arrived in Australia to live. It does not start from the date your PR is eventually granted.
What happens to my Medicare if my PR application is refused?
If your PR application is refused, you can remain eligible for Medicare provided you lodge an appeal. Merits review appeals against migration decisions are now heard by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which took over this role from the former Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) in October 2024.
What if I decide not to appeal a refused PR application?
If you don’t lodge an appeal, you’ll no longer be eligible for Medicare on the basis of your PR application. At that point, you’ll need to check whether you’re covered under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, which Australia has with a number of countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, and several others.
Can I rely on a family member's status instead of my own visa conditions to enrol?
Yes, if your visa doesn’t allow you to work, showing that a parent, spouse, or child is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen living in Australia can satisfy this part of the eligibility criteria, alongside your evidence of a PR application and identity documents.
Where can I get help working out my Medicare eligibility as a PR applicant?
Medicare eligibility rules can be difficult to apply to an individual’s specific visa history and circumstances. Ramsden Lawyers’ Migration Division can review your situation and advise on the documents you need. Contact us to arrange an obligation-free consultation.
