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VISITORS to Australia residing in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Malta and Italy are entitled to immediately necessary medical and public hospital treatment for any ill health or injury they have while in Australia which requires treatment before returning home.
Visitors from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands are covered for the duration of their approved visit to Australia.
Visitors residing in Malta and Italy are covered for a period of six months only from the date of their arrival.
To be eligible, enrol in Medicare at any Medicare office in Australia. You do not need to enrol unless you will be receiving treatment. As a visitor to Australia you should provide:
* your passport with an appropriate visa and/or entry permit/entry stamp
* acceptable identification showing you are enrolled in your country's national health care scheme (e.g. national health service card or certificate).
Before travelling to Australia contact your national health scheme to make sure you have the correct documents you will need to be eligible to enrol in Medicare.
If your application is approved you will receive a Medicare card in the mail. Some people are not issued with a card because they are visiting for a short time or cannot provide a mailing address during their stay. If this applies in your case Medicare will provide you with information on what is required if you need medical