The Medicare levy on a temporary visa
Do I pay the Medicare levy on a Republic of Ireland passport?
It depends, and this is one of the two countries where it does. Republic of Ireland has an agreement with Australia, but the entitlement it gives is partial — which changes the exemption question rather than settling it.
Why entitlement is the test, not your visa
The Medicare levy exemption is category 3: not entitled to Medicare benefits. It turns on entitlement, not on what visa you hold. Two people on the same 482 visa earning the same salary get different answers if one holds a reciprocal-agreement passport and the other does not.
What the agreement gives a Republic of Ireland passport holder
Does not enrol in Medicare; public hospital and PBS only. Entitlement is partial, so MES eligibility must be confirmed separately. Because the entitlement is partial rather than complete, eligibility for a Medicare Entitlement Statement is a question to put to Services Australia on your own facts rather than one this page can settle.
What would change the answer
The agreement list is set by Australia and it does change. This page is generated from a record read at the source, so if a country joins or leaves, the page moves with it rather than going quietly stale. The date it was last read is at the foot of this page.
The other condition applies regardless: every dependant must also be outside Medicare for any exemption to hold.
What this rests on
Every figure above comes from one of these records. This list is generated from them, so it cannot fall out of step with the calculator.
- Services Australia — RHCA
- au.rhca.members · effective 1 Jul 2026 · read 31 Aug 2026
- ATO — Medicare levy exemption, not entitled to Medicare benefits
- au.mes.exemption · effective 1 Jul 2019 · read 23 Aug 2026