How to Enrol in Medicare in Australia for the First Time
Find out who can enrol in Medicare in Australia, which identity and residency documents you need, how to apply online through myGov or with form MS004, how family enrolment works and how you receive your Medicare card.
AU Australia
Documents & Identity ~ 9 min read
10 FAQ
Updated 2026-08-26
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If you are eligible and in Australia, you can enrol in Medicare online through myGov or use the Medicare enrolment form MS004. Online enrolment is available to eligible individuals and families who meet the online requirements, including living in Australia and having a current passport or ImmiCard. Non-citizens also need valid Department of Home Affairs visa details. The supporting documents depend on your citizenship, residency and visa circumstances. After Services Australia approves your enrolment, you receive a Medicare card number and your Medicare card is sent to the postal address you provided.
What you need
- Be in Australia when your Medicare enrolment application is processed.
- Meet an eligible Medicare category, such as being an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident, eligible applicant for permanent residency, or an eligible temporary resident covered by a Ministerial Order.
- Provide the identity, residency, citizenship and immigration documents required for your circumstances.
- For online enrolment, you and participating family members must live in Australia and have a current passport or ImmiCard. If you are not an Australian citizen, valid visa details from the Department of Home Affairs are also required.
- For a family application, provide details and identity documents for children under 15. A family member aged 15 or older completes their part through their own myGov account using the application number provided by the applicant.
Eligibility
You can enrol in Medicare if you live in Australia and are an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident, an eligible person applying for permanent residency, or a temporary resident covered by a Ministerial Order. Citizens or permanent residents of Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Lord Howe Island can also enrol. Some visitors from countries that have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia may be eligible for Medicare coverage under the relevant agreement.
You must be in Australia to enrol. Services Australia states that if you are outside Australia when it processes your application, you will need to reapply when you return to Australia to live.
Applicants for permanent residency have additional rules. In general, a person living in Australia who has applied for a permanent residency visa, other than a parent visa, or a permanent protection visa may be eligible if they also have a visa allowing them to work or have an eligible parent, spouse or child who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or New Zealand citizen living in Australia. Separate rules apply to parent visa applicants.
How to do it
- Check that you are eligible for Medicare and are in Australia.
- Gather the documents required for your circumstances. Requirements differ for Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, permanent residency applicants and eligible temporary residents.
- If you meet the online requirements, sign in to myGov or create a myGov account and start the Medicare enrolment process.
- Enter your personal details and provide the requested identity, residency and immigration information and supporting documents.
- If enrolling a family, provide details and identity documents for children under 15. Give the application number to each family member aged 15 or older so they can provide their own details and identity documents through their own myGov account.
- If you cannot enrol online, complete the Medicare enrolment form MS004 and submit it with the required supporting documents to Medicare Enrolment Services by email or mail.
- If submitting by email, use 'Medicare enrolment' in the email subject line. Electronic supporting documents must meet Services Australia's file format and size requirements.
- Wait for Services Australia to assess the application. Online applicants can track progress through myGov.
- If approved, follow any next steps provided by Services Australia. You will receive a Medicare card number, and Services Australia will mail your Medicare card to the address you supplied.
How to enrol in Medicare for the first time
First-time Medicare enrolment is handled by Services Australia. Eligible people can apply online through myGov or, when online enrolment is not suitable, complete the Medicare enrolment form MS004 and send it with the required supporting documents to Medicare Enrolment Services.
The documents you need are not the same for everyone. They depend on whether you are an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, applicant for permanent residency or another eligible resident.
Who can enrol in Medicare in Australia?
Services Australia lists Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, Australian permanent residents, eligible applicants for permanent residency and temporary residents covered by a Ministerial Order among the people who may enrol when living in Australia. Eligible citizens and permanent residents of Norfolk Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Lord Howe Island can also enrol.
Visitors from some countries may receive Medicare coverage under Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreements, subject to the conditions applying to their country and circumstances.
You must be in Australia when your application is processed
You need to be in Australia to enrol in Medicare. If you are outside Australia when Services Australia processes the enrolment application, you must reapply when you return to Australia to live.
What documents do you need to enrol in Medicare?
The exact Medicare enrolment documents depend on your status. Check the document requirements for your own circumstances before applying.
Australian citizens enrolling for the first time
An Australian citizen who has never been enrolled needs an Australian passport or birth certificate. Services Australia also requires evidence that the person lives in Australia. For an Australian citizen living in Australia, this includes two accepted residency documents dated within the previous 6 months. Examples listed by Services Australia include qualifying property or lease evidence with a gas or electricity account, evidence of employment, evidence that children attend childcare, school or university, and evidence relating to private health insurance, bank accounts or property or contents insurance.
Services Australia states that these supporting documents do not need to be certified.
Permanent residents
Australian permanent residents need documents proving identity and residency. Online applicants must meet the online enrolment requirements, including having a current passport or ImmiCard and valid Department of Home Affairs visa details.
If you have applied for permanent residency
If you are eligible to enrol while a permanent residency application is being assessed, Services Australia requires a current passport or ImmiCard and proof from the Department of Home Affairs that you applied for permanent residency for each person being enrolled.
If your visa does not allow you to work in Australia, additional evidence may be needed to prove your qualifying relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen living in Australia. Depending on the relationship, accepted evidence can include a birth certificate, marriage certificate, joint bank or utility account statement, or evidence that you own or rent a home together.
How to enrol in Medicare online through myGov
You can enrol online as an individual or family through myGov and track the progress of the application. To use online enrolment, you and participating family members need to live in Australia and have a current passport or ImmiCard. If you are not an Australian citizen, you also need valid visa details from the Department of Home Affairs.
If you already have a myGov account, sign in and start the Medicare enrolment process. If you do not have one, create a myGov account first. Follow the prompts and provide the requested personal information and supporting documents.
How to enrol in Medicare using form MS004
If you cannot enrol online, use the Medicare enrolment form MS004. This is the official Services Australia form for first-time Medicare enrolment, re-enrolment and certain other enrolment situations.
The MS004 form can enrol up to 5 people. If more than 5 people need to be enrolled, an additional MS004 form is required.
You can send the completed form and supporting documents to Medicare Enrolment Services by mail or email. Services Australia states that supporting documents do not need to be certified. If submitting by email, include 'Medicare enrolment' in the subject line.
File requirements when emailing documents
Services Australia accepts supporting documents in PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF or BMP format. Files must not be password protected or contained in a WinZip or RAR archive. Each document must be no larger than 5 MB, and all documents together must be no larger than 10 MB.
How Medicare family enrolment works
You can enrol as a family online. For children under 15, Services Australia requires their details and identity documents. To include a family member aged 15 or older, give that person your application number. They use the number to provide their details and identity documents through their own myGov account and complete their part of the enrolment.
If you use a family Medicare card, you need to nominate a contact person. Medicare cards and general information for everyone listed on that card are sent to the contact person. If you are the only person listed on your Medicare card, you are the contact person.
How long does Medicare enrolment take?
Services Australia's current general Medicare enrolment page does not publish a standard processing time for first-time enrolment. If you apply online through myGov, you can track the progress of your application there. Avoid relying on unofficial fixed processing estimates because assessment can depend on your circumstances and the documents supplied.
How much does it cost to enrol in Medicare?
Services Australia's Medicare enrolment guidance and MS004 enrolment form do not state an application or enrolment fee. This procedure therefore does not quote a fee that is not published by the responsible agency.
What happens after your Medicare application is approved?
If your application is approved, Services Australia will contact you about any next steps. You receive a Medicare card number after enrolment, and Services Australia sends your Medicare card by mail to the address you provided.
You can also access a digital copy of your Medicare card through the myGov app once the relevant Medicare access is available.
Important first-time enrolment situations
If you are already on your parent's Medicare card
If you are listed on your parent's Medicare card, you are already enrolled and do not need to enrol again. Services Australia states that from age 15 you can get your own Medicare card.
If you are enrolling a newborn
Newborn enrolment has its own process, including use of the Newborn Child Declaration in relevant circumstances. Adopted children and children born overseas can require additional documents. These situations should be handled under the applicable Services Australia newborn or child enrolment instructions rather than assuming the standard first-time adult process applies.
If standard identity documents are unavailable for an Indigenous Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians with standard identity documents can use the normal Medicare enrolment form or enrol online. Where standard identity documents are unavailable, Services Australia provides a separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medicare enrolment and amendment process that can use a referee.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enrol in Medicare online for the first time?
Yes. Eligible people can enrol online through myGov as an individual or family. Online applicants and participating family members need to live in Australia and have a current passport or ImmiCard. Non-Australian citizens also need valid visa details from the Department of Home Affairs.
What form do I use to enrol in Medicare?
The Medicare enrolment form is MS004. You can use it for first-time Medicare enrolment if you cannot enrol online. The completed form and supporting documents can be sent to Medicare Enrolment Services by mail or email.
Can permanent residents enrol in Medicare?
Yes. Australian permanent residents living in Australia can enrol in Medicare, subject to the applicable identity and residency requirements.
Can I enrol in Medicare while waiting for permanent residency?
Some applicants can. Services Australia states that a person living in Australia who has applied for a permanent residency visa, other than a parent visa, or a permanent protection visa may enrol if the additional eligibility conditions are met. These include having a visa that permits work or having a qualifying parent, spouse or child who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen living in Australia.
Do Medicare enrolment documents need to be certified?
Services Australia states that supporting documents submitted for the standard enrolment processes covered here do not need to be certified.
Can I enrol my family in Medicare at the same time?
Yes. Medicare online enrolment supports family applications. You provide details and identity documents for children under 15. Family members aged 15 or older use your application number and their own myGov account to complete their part of the enrolment.
How long does it take to enrol in Medicare?
Services Australia's current general enrolment guidance does not publish a standard processing timeframe. If you enrol online, you can track the progress of your application through myGov.
When will I get my Medicare card?
You receive a Medicare card number after you enrol. If your application is approved, Services Australia sends the Medicare card by mail to the address you provided. A digital Medicare card can also be accessed through the myGov app.
Can I apply for Medicare while I am outside Australia?
You need to be in Australia to enrol. Services Australia states that if you are outside Australia when your application is processed, you will need to reapply when you return to Australia to live.
Do I need to enrol if I am already on my parent's Medicare card?
No. If you are already listed on your parent's Medicare card, you are already enrolled in Medicare. From age 15, you can get your own Medicare card.
Official sources
Services Australia - Enrolling in MedicareServices Australia - Medicare enrolment form MS004Services Australia - Medicare enrolment form MS004 PDFServices Australia - Enrolling in Medicare if you're an Australian citizenServices Australia - Enrolling in Medicare if you're an Australian permanent residentServices Australia - Documents to enrol in Medicare if you've applied for permanent residencyServices Australia - Enrolling in Medicare if you're a New Zealand citizenServices Australia - Enrolling in Medicare if you're a temporary resident covered by a Ministerial OrderRelated procedures
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