The Medical Treatment Visa (Subclass 602) is a temporary Australian visa for medical care and certain related purposes, including organ donation and accompanying a patient as a support person.
Before applying, you need to consider both your treatment arrangements and your immigration circumstances. A confirmed appointment is only one part of preparing for the journey.
Quick Answer
A medical treatment visa may suit an eligible patient, organ donor or support person. Home Affairs determines the stay period individually. Applications made outside Australia have no government application charge, although treatment and travel expenses remain separate.
Why This Matters
Planning treatment overseas involves more than choosing a hospital or specialist. You need a realistic budget, suitable accommodation and documents explaining the purpose of your stay.
Confirm the likely treatment schedule before making firm travel arrangements. Ask your provider whether the estimate includes consultations, procedures, follow-up appointments and any expected recovery period.
Your visa application and treatment booking are separate processes. Neither should be treated as confirmation that the other has been approved.
Who Can Apply for a Medical Treatment Visa?
The main applicant groups include people seeking treatment or consultations, organ donors and people supporting an eligible patient or donor.
There are also specific provisions for certain people already in Australia, including some applicants aged 50 or older who were refused a permanent visa on health grounds and are unfit to depart. These circumstances require individual assessment.
Treatment Arrangements and Eligibility
For a standard treatment application, you generally need established arrangements for care and payment. Your intended stay must be temporary, and public health and other immigration requirements also apply.
The rules exclude treatment for surrogate motherhood and address whether granting the visa would disadvantage Australian citizens or permanent residents seeking care.
If your main purpose is tourism or visiting relatives, the options for ordinary visits may be more relevant.
Similarly, transit stops on the way to treatment in another country involve different entry considerations from receiving care in Australia.
Can a Support Person Apply for a Medical Treatment Visa?
A family member or friend may apply to support a patient or organ donor. Being related to the patient does not automatically provide permission to accompany them.
Prepare a clear explanation of the support you will provide and how the proposed stay relates to the patient’s treatment.
For example, your plans might involve accompanying the patient to appointments or helping with daily arrangements during recovery. Explain your actual circumstances rather than relying on a general statement that you want to travel together.
What Financial Evidence Should You Prepare?
Applicants generally need adequate resources for their stay and arrangements to cover treatment and related expenses, including those of accompanying people.
When reviewing your available funds, build a budget covering:
- Treatment and consultations.
- Accommodation and everyday expenses.
- Travel to appointments.
- Flights and departure arrangements.
- Costs for a support person, where relevant.
Obtain written estimates wherever possible. If another person or organisation will pay, explain what they are funding and provide evidence supporting that arrangement.
Keep your treatment estimate and living-cost budget separate. This makes it easier to understand whether the money available covers the whole proposed stay.
Does a Medical Treatment Visa Provide Free Healthcare?
Do not assume that visa approval pays for treatment or establishes Medicare eligibility.
Services Australia states that the UK Reciprocal Health Care Agreement does not apply when someone travels to Australia specifically for medical treatment. This differs from medically necessary care arising during an ordinary visit.
Before using Australian healthcare, confirm the provider’s charges, any insurance cover and the amount you must pay yourself.
Home Affairs recommends obtaining an estimate of treatment costs and checking insurance benefits and out-of-pocket expenses before receiving care.
What Documents Support a Medical Treatment Visa Application?
Organise your supporting evidence around the questions your application needs to answer.
| Evidence to prepare | What it helps explain |
|---|---|
| Passport and identity records | Who is applying |
| Treatment confirmation or provider correspondence | What care is planned and when |
| Treatment estimates and payment arrangements | How the care will be funded |
| Financial records and accommodation plans | How you will support yourself |
| Support person’s explanation, where relevant | Why another person needs to accompany the patient |
Use the current Home Affairs checklist to determine exactly what you must submit. The table above is a preparation guide, rather than a substitute for that checklist.
When Is Form 1507 Needed?
Home Affairs says applicants in Australia who do not hold a substantive visa need Form 1507, completed and signed by a registered medical practitioner, when making the application.
A substantive visa excludes bridging, criminal justice and enforcement visas. For a support person in this situation, the form concerns the patient’s intended treatment.
Failing to include the required form can make the application invalid.
What If Home Affairs Requests Form 80?
If the processing office asks for the personal history form, follow the request and provide accurate information.
Form 80 concerns personal particulars and character assessment. It serves a different purpose from the medical evidence in Form 1507.
How Do You Apply for a Medical Treatment Visa?
Prepare your evidence before completing the application in ImmiAccount.
A practical sequence is to:
- Check the requirements against your circumstances.
- Confirm your treatment and funding arrangements.
- Prepare identity, financial and medical evidence.
- Complete the application accurately.
- Attach the required documents and pay any applicable charge.
- Monitor ImmiAccount for further requests and the decision.
ImmiAccount provides tools to prepare and manage applications. Read the visa-specific instructions before lodging.
If you apply inside Australia, you must be inside Australia when the visa is granted. If you apply outside Australia, you must be outside Australia at grant.
Applicants already in Australia should also check their current visa conditions before proceeding. A medical appointment does not automatically remove restrictions on making another application.
How Much Does a Medical Treatment Visa Cost?
The government charge depends on where you apply and whether a concession or exemption applies.
| Application circumstances | Base government application charge |
|---|---|
| Applying outside Australia | No charge |
| Standard application made inside Australia | AUD 480 |
| Eligible Pacific-regional passport holder applying inside Australia | AUD 390 |
| Applying as a representative of a foreign government | No charge |
The legislation sets these base charges. Check the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator for the amount applicable to your circumstances before lodging.
A visa fee exemption does not cover medical care, accommodation or travel. Document preparation and professional assistance can also involve separate costs.
How Long Does Medical Treatment Visa Processing Take?
Use the current Home Affairs processing times guide for an indication of decision times.
The guide reflects recently decided applications. It does not predict the outcome or decision date for your individual case.
Coordinate with your treatment provider about what happens if approval takes longer than expected. Keep appointment details current and respond promptly if Home Affairs requests more information.
How Long Can You Stay on a Medical Treatment Visa?
There is no standard stay period for every applicant. Home Affairs considers the treatment plan and individual circumstances.
The visa cannot simply be extended. If more time is needed, another visa application is required, subject to eligibility.
If treatment dates change, review your immigration position early. Do not assume a revised medical schedule also changes the expiry date on your visa.
Can You Work or Study on Subclass 602?
The usual conditions prohibit work and limit study to three months. Limited exceptions exist, so your grant notice determines what you are permitted to do.
A No Further Stay condition may also apply. Read your conditions before making plans for employment, study or another application.
This temporary route does not itself establish eligibility for permanent residency. Longer-term migration plans require a separate assessment.
Common Mistakes
- Treating an appointment booking as visa approval.
- Budgeting for the procedure without accommodation or recovery expenses.
- Assuming Medicare or insurance will pay for planned treatment.
- Giving conflicting dates across medical and travel documents.
- Overlooking Form 1507 when it is required.
- Assuming a support person is automatically included.
- Waiting until visa expiry to consider further treatment needs.
Where to Go Next
Explore these pages according to your travel purpose and application needs:
FAQs
Home Affairs allows applicants of any age, although particular eligibility provisions have their own requirements.
No. Confirming care with a provider and obtaining immigration permission are separate processes.
The UK agreement does not apply when you travel to Australia specifically for medical treatment. Confirm funding before travelling.
The published requirement specifically addresses applicants in Australia who do not hold a substantive visa. Check the instructions applicable to your application.
Discuss the revised schedule with your provider and review your visa expiry and conditions promptly. Medical correspondence does not, by itself, change your immigration permission.
Conclusion
The Medical Treatment Visa (Subclass 602) provides temporary permission for eligible people seeking care in Australia or travelling for related purposes.
Applicants need to consider treatment arrangements, payment evidence, living expenses, supporting documents and their current immigration circumstances. A confirmed appointment is only part of preparing an application.
Timing is particularly important. Coordinate treatment dates with the application process and review your visa conditions early if your plans change.
If you’re unsure whether the Medical Treatment Visa or another Australian visa suits your circumstances, book a consultation with IC Australia to discuss your options.
Claire Dawson
Australian visa content specialist focused on skilled migration, employer sponsorship, partner visas, student pathways, and long-term options for moving to Australia.
