Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (IRL)
Travel insurance is essential for visits to Australia whether as a tourist or a working holidaymaker/ gap year, it is essential to have at least a minimum of health insurance.
Australia and the Republic of Ireland have a reciprocal Health Care Agreements which entitles you to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia.
The following is a short summary of the cover provided. It is still very important to have travel insurance from a UK Insurance provider.
Period of cover
If you are a resident of the Republic of Ireland you are covered for the duration of your approved stay in Australia.
Access to cover
Reciprocal health care agreements cover treatment that is deemed medically necessary. Medically necessary means any ill-health or injury which occurs while you are in Australia and which requires treatment before you return home.
Your entitlements
As a resident of the Republic of Ireland you are entitled to free treatment as a public in-patient or outpatient at a public hospital and access to subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme during your stay in Australia. This covers any ill health or injury needing medical treatment while in Australia. To access these benefits you should show your passport at hospitals or pharmacies. You are not entitled to Medicare benefits for non-hospital medical care and you will not be issued with a Medicare card.
Enrolling in Medicare
If you will be receiving treatment you can enrol at Medicare offices throughout Australia. If you receive treatment before you enrol, Medicare benefits will be back paid for eligible visitors.
Travel insurance is essential for visits to Australia whether as a tourist or a working holidaymaker/ gap year, it is essential to have at least a minimum of health insurance.
Australia and the Republic of Ireland have a reciprocal Health Care Agreements which entitles you to limited subsidised health services for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia.
The following is a short summary of the cover provided. It is still very important to have travel insurance from a UK Insurance provider.
Period of cover
If you are a resident of the Republic of Ireland you are covered for the duration of your approved stay in Australia.
Access to cover
Reciprocal health care agreements cover treatment that is deemed medically necessary. Medically necessary means any ill-health or injury which occurs while you are in Australia and which requires treatment before you return home.
Your entitlements
As a resident of the Republic of Ireland you are entitled to free treatment as a public in-patient or outpatient at a public hospital and access to subsidised medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme during your stay in Australia. This covers any ill health or injury needing medical treatment while in Australia. To access these benefits you should show your passport at hospitals or pharmacies. You are not entitled to Medicare benefits for non-hospital medical care and you will not be issued with a Medicare card.
Enrolling in Medicare
If you will be receiving treatment you can enrol at Medicare offices throughout Australia. If you receive treatment before you enrol, Medicare benefits will be back paid for eligible visitors.
To enrol in Medicare you will need:
- your passport with a valid visa
- to provide, in some cases, identification showing you are enrolled in your country's national health scheme. If your application to enrol in Medicare is approved, you will receive an Australian reciprocal health care card in the post.
- Medicines not subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Dental work and allied health services
- Treatment arranged before your visit to Australia
- Accommodation and medical treatment in a private hospital
- Accommodation and medical treatment as a private patient in a public hospital
Healthcare for visitors from the Republic of Ireland and New Zealand (PDF 261k)
