Applicants for permanent residency eligibility for Medicare 011-44020000

Entitlement types

Entitlement periods

Applicants for permanent residency (Flag P)

Linked to the Department of Home Affairs (DIAC link)

Ongoing for 42 months.

• 1st card is issued for 12 months
• 2nd card automatically reissues for 12 months
• 3rd to 5th cards automatically issue for 6 months each

Note: 1st to 5th cards = 42 months.

After 42 months, cards may be manually extended for 12 months at a time (from date of processing or visa expiry date if earlier).

Not linked to Home Affairs:

• 1st card is issued for 12 months
• 2nd card is a manual extension for 12 months (from date of processing or visa expiry date if earlier)
• 3rd to 5th cards are manual extensions of 6 months (from date of processing or visa expiry date if earlier)
• After the 5th card and all further cards, if required, manual extensions of 12 months (from the date of processing or visa expiry date if earlier)

Refused applications:

Manual extension for 12 months at a time (from date of processing or visa expiry date if earlier).

Applications for permanent protection visas (Flag Z)

Linked to Home Affairs (DIAC link).

Ongoing for 24 months.

• 1st card is issued for 12 months
• 2nd and 3rd cards automatically reissues for 6 months

Note: 1st to 3rd cards = 24 months

After 24 months, cards may be manually extended for 6 months at a time (from date of processing or visa expiry date if earlier).

Not linked to Home Affairs:

• 1st card is issued for 12 months
• 2nd card onwards is manual extension for 6 months (from date of processing or visa expiry date if earlier)

Refused application:

Manual extension for 12 months at a time (from date of processing or visa expiry date if earlier).