31 Oct Can I Apply for Medicare When I Apply for a 186 Visa? – Complete 2026 Guide
Can I Get Medicare While My Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa Is Being Processed?
For many temporary skilled workers in Australia, lodging a Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa is the moment the path to permanent residency becomes real. It also raises a very practical question that we hear almost every week at Worldly Migration:
“Can I apply for Medicare when I apply for my 186 visa, or do I have to wait until it is granted?”
The good news is that, for most onshore 186 applicants, you do not have to wait for the visa grant. Australia’s Medicare rules allow certain people who have applied for a permanent visa to enrol in Medicare while their application is being processed.
However, eligibility depends on where you are, what visa you currently hold, whether you have work rights, and who in your family is included in the application. There are also tax and health insurance consequences that many applicants do not expect. In this guide, we explain who can enrol in Medicare after lodging a 186 visa, when eligibility starts, what documents you need, what happens to your family members, and the common mistakes to avoid.
The Short Answer
Yes. In most cases, you can enrol in Medicare from the date you lodge your Subclass 186 visa application, provided you:
- live in Australia;
- have lodged a valid application for a permanent visa (the 186 is a permanent visa, and it is not a Parent visa); and
- hold a current visa (including a bridging visa) that gives you permission to work in Australia.
If your current visa does not allow you to work, you may still be eligible if you have a parent, spouse/de facto partner or child who is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen living in Australia.
If you applied for the 186 from outside Australia, Medicare eligibility generally starts from the date you arrive in Australia to live, not the date you lodged.
What is the Subclass 186 Visa?
The Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa is a permanent employer-sponsored visa. It allows skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer to live and work in Australia permanently.
The 186 visa has three streams:
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream – for workers who have been working for their sponsoring employer on a 482 (Skills in Demand / TSS) or 457 visa.
- Direct Entry stream – for applicants who meet the skills assessment and work experience requirements, or who have never (or only briefly) held a 482 visa.
- Labour Agreement stream – for workers nominated under a labour agreement.
Because the 186 is a permanent visa, lodging a valid application can open the door to Medicare well before the visa is granted.
Medicare Eligibility for Permanent Visa Applicants
Services Australia allows people who have applied for a permanent residency visa (other than a Parent visa) to enrol in Medicare if they live in Australia and either:
- hold a visa that allows them to work; or
- have a parent, spouse/de facto partner or child who is an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen living in Australia.
Most 186 applicants who lodge onshore are already in Australia on a 482 visa (or a 457 visa, or a bridging visa associated with one), which gives them work rights. In practice, this means the majority of onshore 186 TRT applicants can enrol in Medicare soon after lodgement.
Practical Example
Priya is working in Melbourne on a 482 Skills in Demand visa. Her employer nominates her for a 186 visa under the TRT stream, and she lodges her visa application on 1 August.
Because Priya lives in Australia, has applied for a permanent visa and holds a visa with work rights, she can enrol in Medicare from 1 August. She does not need to wait until her 186 is granted.
When Does Medicare Eligibility Start?
The start date depends on where you lodged your 186 application:
| Your situation | Medicare eligibility generally starts from |
|---|---|
| 186 lodged while you are in Australia | The date you lodged the 186 application |
| 186 lodged while you are outside Australia | The date you arrive in Australia to live |
| 186 granted | Ongoing eligibility as a permanent resident living in Australia |
| 186 refused and no appeal lodged | Eligibility ends |
Important: eligibility is a right to enrol, not automatic enrolment. You must apply to Services Australia and provide the required documents. Medicare will not contact you just because you have lodged a visa application.
What if I Am on a Bridging Visa?
If you lodge your 186 while holding a 482 visa, you will usually be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). The BVA comes into effect when your 482 ends, and keeps you lawful while your 186 is processed.
Your bridging visa does not stop you from being Medicare eligible. What matters is that you:
- remain in Australia;
- continue to have a pending permanent visa application; and
- hold a visa (substantive or bridging) with permission to work, or have a qualifying family relationship.
Work rights on a bridging visa can differ depending on your circumstances. You can check your current visa conditions through VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online). Services Australia also relies on VEVO when assessing enrolments, so it is worth checking that your work rights display correctly before you attend.
Can My Family Members Enrol in Medicare Too?
Often, yes. But do not assume it happens automatically.
Each family member included in your 186 application generally needs to satisfy the Medicare criteria in their own right. Practically, this means:
- Secondary applicants with work rights (for example, a spouse or partner holding a 482 subsequent entrant visa with work rights) can usually enrol from the date the 186 application was lodged.
- Family members without work rights may need to show a relationship to a parent, spouse/de facto partner or child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Family members who are not included in the 186 application are not covered by your application and will need their own pathway to Medicare.
Where only some family members meet the criteria, only those members may be enrolled. Because family situations vary, we recommend checking each person’s eligibility before attending Services Australia.
Practical Example
Daniel, a 482 visa holder, lodges a 186 Direct Entry application that includes his wife, Sofia, and their two children.
Daniel and Sofia both hold 482 visas with permission to work, so both can enrol in Medicare from the date of lodgement. The family should confirm with Services Australia how their children will be enrolled, and take documents for every family member when they attend.
How to Enrol in Medicare After Lodging a 186 Visa
You can enrol by completing the Medicare enrolment application and submitting it to Services Australia with supporting documents. You do not need to have your documents certified.
For each person you want to enrol, you will generally need:
- a current passport or ImmiCard;
- proof from the Department of Home Affairs that you have applied for permanent residency (for example, your 186 visa application acknowledgement letter showing the visa subclass and lodgement date); and
- proof of a valid visa with permission to work (for example, your visa grant notice or a VEVO record).
If your visa does not allow you to work, you will also need evidence of your relationship to an eligible parent, spouse/de facto partner or child, and evidence of that person’s citizenship or residency status.
Tip: Keep a digital copy of your 186 acknowledgement of application. It is one of the most commonly requested documents, and you will also need it for tax and health insurance purposes later.
What Kind of Medicare Card Will I Receive?
Permanent visa applicants are generally issued with a Medicare card linked to their pending application, which typically has an expiry date. This is often called an interim Medicare card.
Once your 186 visa is granted, you should notify Services Australia and provide your grant notice so your enrolment can be updated to reflect your permanent resident status. If your card is due to expire while your application is still being processed, contact Services Australia about extending your eligibility.
What Happens If My 186 Visa Is Refused?
This is a critical point that many applicants overlook.
Your Medicare eligibility is tied to your pending permanent visa application. If that application is refused:
- If you lodge a review with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART): you can generally remain enrolled in Medicare while the review is ongoing.
- If you do not lodge an appeal: you are no longer eligible for Medicare.
- If the ART affirms the refusal: your Medicare eligibility ends.
- If you seek judicial review or Ministerial Intervention: you are not considered an Australian resident for Medicare purposes, and you are not eligible for Medicare during that stage.
If your 186 is at risk of refusal, early advice from a Registered Migration Agent can protect both your visa position and your access to healthcare.
The Tax Side: Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge
Becoming eligible for Medicare also has tax consequences.
According to the Australian Taxation Office, you become liable for the Medicare levy from the date you are eligible to enrol in Medicare, not the date your visa is granted, and not necessarily the date you actually enrol. For onshore 186 applicants, this is usually the date of lodgement.
This means:
- You generally cannot claim a Medicare levy exemption for the period after your 186 application was lodged, even if you chose not to enrol.
- If your income is above the relevant threshold and you do not hold an appropriate level of Australian private hospital cover, you may also be liable for the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS). Some forms of Overseas Visitor Health Cover may not be accepted for MLS purposes once you are Medicare eligible.
- If you need to prove the period you were not eligible for Medicare (for a part-year exemption), you can request a Medicare Entitlement Statement from Services Australia.
Practical Example
Ahmed lodges his 186 TRT application on 15 September but decides to keep his Overseas Visitor Health Cover and does not enrol in Medicare until his visa is granted in March.
For tax purposes, Ahmed is likely to be liable for the Medicare levy from 15 September anyway, because that is when he became eligible to enrol. If his income is above the MLS threshold and his policy does not qualify as Australian private hospital cover, he may also be exposed to the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
We recommend speaking with your registered tax agent about the Medicare levy, MLS and any Lifetime Health Cover loading implications for your circumstances.
Should I Cancel My Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC)?
Not without advice.
While you continue to hold your 482 visa, you remain subject to its conditions, including the requirement to maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance under visa condition 8501. Before cancelling your OVHC, you should confirm that your Medicare enrolment and any replacement cover satisfy your visa obligations.
Many 186 applicants choose to:
- enrol in Medicare as soon as they are eligible;
- review their OVHC with their insurer; and
- move to an Australian resident private health policy (hospital and/or extras cover) once they are confident their visa obligations and tax position are protected.
Remember that Medicare does not cover everything. Dental, optical, most physiotherapy, private hospital accommodation and, in many states and territories, ambulance transport are generally not covered by Medicare.
Medicare Through the 186 Visa Journey – At a Glance
| Stage | Typical visa held | Medicare position | Health insurance considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working in Australia before 186 lodgement | 482 / 457 | Generally not eligible (unless covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement) | OVHC required under condition 8501 |
| 186 lodged onshore | 482, then Bridging Visa A | Generally eligible to enrol from lodgement date if you have work rights | Review OVHC; consider Medicare levy and MLS |
| 186 lodged offshore | Not yet in Australia | Eligible from the date you arrive to live in Australia | Arrange cover for travel and arrival |
| 186 granted | Permanent resident | Eligible as a permanent resident; update Services Australia | Australian resident private health cover is optional, but may matter for MLS and Lifetime Health Cover |
| 186 refused and ART review lodged | Bridging visa | Generally remains eligible during the review | Maintain cover and seek advice |
| ART refusal, judicial review or Ministerial Intervention | Bridging visa | Not eligible | Private cover needed |
Common Myths About Medicare and the 186 Visa
Myth 1: You have to wait until your 186 is granted to get Medicare
False. Most onshore 186 applicants with work rights can enrol from the date of lodgement.
Myth 2: Medicare enrolment happens automatically when you lodge
False. You must apply to Services Australia and provide documents for every person you want to enrol.
Myth 3: If I don’t enrol, I won’t pay the Medicare levy
False. The levy is linked to when you become eligible to enrol, not when you actually enrol.
Myth 4: Once I have a Medicare card, I can cancel my OVHC straight away
Not necessarily. While you hold a 482 visa, condition 8501 may still apply. Check your obligations first.
Myth 5: My Medicare is safe no matter what happens to my 186
False. If your 186 is refused and you do not lodge an appeal, your eligibility ends.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I apply for Medicare when I apply for a 186 visa?
Yes, in most cases. If you live in Australia, have lodged a 186 application and hold a visa with work rights, you can generally enrol in Medicare from the date of lodgement.
Do I need to wait for my bridging visa to come into effect?
No. What matters is that you have lodged a valid permanent visa application and hold a current visa with work rights (or have a qualifying family relationship). That visa can be your 482 or your bridging visa.
Can I get Medicare if I applied for the 186 from overseas?
Yes, but generally only from the date you arrive in Australia to live.
Can I enrol in Medicare after lodging my 186 nomination, but before I lodge my visa application?
No. The employer’s nomination is not a visa application. Eligibility is linked to the lodgement of your permanent visa application.
Can my spouse and children get Medicare?
Potentially. Each person generally needs to meet the eligibility criteria in their own right, and must be included in the 186 application. Family members with work rights can usually enrol; those without work rights may need to show a qualifying relationship.
What documents do I need to enrol?
Generally a current passport or ImmiCard, your Home Affairs acknowledgement of your 186 application, and proof of a valid visa with permission to work, for each person you wish to enrol.
Will I pay the Medicare levy once I lodge my 186?
Usually yes. The ATO treats you as liable for the Medicare levy from the date you become eligible to enrol, which is generally the date your onshore 186 application was lodged.
What happens to my Medicare if my 186 is refused?
If you lodge a review with the ART, you can generally stay enrolled while the review is ongoing. If you do not appeal, or if the refusal is affirmed, your eligibility ends.
Do I still need private health insurance once I have Medicare?
It depends on your visa conditions, income and needs. While you hold a 482 visa, condition 8501 may still apply. Private cover may also help you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge and cover services Medicare does not.
Does the same rule apply to other permanent visas?
Similar rules apply to most permanent visa applications made in Australia, such as the 189, 190, 191 and 820/801 partner visas, but Parent visas are treated differently.
Conclusion
Lodging a Subclass 186 visa is a major milestone, and for most onshore applicants it also means you can access Medicare without waiting for your visa grant.
To make the most of this, enrol as soon as you are eligible, take the right documents for every family member, understand the Medicare levy and surcharge implications, and do not cancel your existing health insurance until you are sure your visa obligations are protected.
Most importantly, remember that your Medicare eligibility depends on your 186 application remaining on foot. A well-prepared application is the best protection for both your visa and your access to healthcare.
Need Advice About Your 186 Visa and Medicare Eligibility?
Medicare eligibility during a 186 application can be affected by your current visa, work rights, bridging visa status, family members, and whether your application is lodged onshore or offshore.
If you are:
- Preparing to lodge a 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa
- Transitioning from a 482 visa to permanent residency
- Unsure whether your family members can enrol in Medicare
- Facing a refusal or Administrative Review Tribunal review
- Planning your pathway to Australian permanent residency
it is important to obtain advice tailored to your individual situation.
Contact a Registered Migration Agent at Worldly Migration for tailored advice on changing employers, transferring sponsorship, maintaining visa compliance, and planning your pathway to Australian permanent residency.
Primary sources referenced:
- Services Australia – Enrolling in Medicare if you’re an Australian permanent resident (including if you’ve applied for permanent residency)
- Services Australia – Documents you need if you’ve applied for permanent residency
- Services Australia – Applicants for permanent residency eligibility for Medicare (Operational Blueprint)
- Australian Taxation Office – Medicare levy, Medicare levy exemption and Medicare Levy Surcharge
- Department of Home Affairs – Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186)
- Department of Home Affairs – Adequate health insurance (visa condition 8501)
All information is accurate as of the date of writing, 26 October 2026
Written by Evan Bishop, Registered Migration Agent MARN 1679414.
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