Country guide — Asia-Pacific
Expat insurance and health insurance in Australia
In short
In Australia, private health insurance is not generally mandatory for a permanent resident eligible for Medicare, but it is explicitly required for holders of a working holiday visa (417), subject to visa condition 8501. Crucially, France is not one of the eleven countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia, unlike the UK or Italy — so a French national cannot, in the vast majority of cases, claim any Medicare cover during a temporary stay. Only a permanent resident becomes eligible for Medicare. Lacking cover as a 417/462 holder risks future visa refusals and very high medical bills.
Key figures
- French community estimated at ≈75,000 people (about 2/3 with dual nationality); 27,614 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (25,656 in 2024, +7.63%).
- Life expectancy at birth: 83.0 years in 2023 — Australia ranks 10th out of 38 OECD countries.
- Health spending: 270.5 billion AUD in 2023-2024, or 10,037 AUD per capita and 10.1% of GDP.
Local healthcare system
Australia has a universal public health system, Medicare, funded by the Medicare Levy, which covers a large share of GP consultations (“bulk billing” possible), public hospital care and part of specialist care. Optional private insurance coexists alongside it for private hospital care and certain uncovered treatments. Access to Medicare is reserved for citizens, permanent residents, New Zealanders, and nationals of the eleven countries with a reciprocal agreement — a list that does not include France. A French national on a temporary visa therefore has, except in specific cases, no access to Medicare.
Legal and visa obligations
- Working holiday visa (417): visa condition 8501 requires holding and maintaining adequate health insurance (OVHC) for the whole stay — see our working holiday visa insurance. Lacking cover risks visa cancellation or refusal of a future visa.
- Student visa (500): Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is an explicit condition for obtaining and keeping the visa (see our student insurance abroad).
- Temporary skilled work (482): an equivalent adequate-insurance condition, at the expense of the employee or the sponsoring employer.
- Permanent residency (189): grants entitlement to Medicare once obtained; a medical exam by a panel physician is required, valid for 12 months.
- No reciprocal agreement for France, unlike the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, New Zealand and six other countries.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation (private clinic) | — | 80 to 120 AUD or more |
| Hospital outpatient consultation (NSW) | 176 AUD | — |
| Emergency care (WA, depending on complexity) | 519 to 2,470 AUD | — |
| Night of hospitalisation, non-critical care (NSW) | 1,660 AUD/day | — |
| Night of hospitalisation, critical care (NSW) | 4,124 AUD/day | — |
| Overnight admission (WA) | 3,118 AUD | — |
| Ambulance, emergency call-out (NSW) | 909 AUD + 8.20 AUD/km | — |
| MRI | Free in a public hospital; as an outpatient with an eligible MBS item, out-of-pocket cost ≈160 to 225 AUD after Medicare reimbursement (e.g. knee: fee 548 AUD, reimbursement 363 AUD) | Up to ≈1,000 AUD outside Medicare cover (scan outside hospital, non-accredited facility) |
Social security agreements with France
There is no bilateral social security agreement between France and Australia: two rounds of negotiations (2008, 2010) did not succeed.
- No coordination for pensions, health or unemployment; no CLEISS form applies to Australia.
- No Medicare access for France, unlike the eleven countries under the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement.
- Periods worked in Australia do not automatically coordinate with a French pension.
- Voluntary affiliation with the CFE is possible, alongside mandatory Australian insurance.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa (417) | OVHC mandatory for the whole stay (condition 8501) | Take out cover before departure; a gap puts the current visa and future applications at risk |
| Student (500) | OSHC mandatory for the whole duration of the visa | Take out cover before arrival; check that dependants are covered |
| Seconded employee / temporary work (482) | Condition 8501 or equivalent, no coordination with France | Check what the sponsoring employer covers |
| Permanent resident (189) | Medicare eligibility once the visa is granted | Plan for the period before it is actually granted, which is not covered |
| Retiree | No dedicated visa identified; no Medicare access without permanent residency | Private or international cover essential; consider the CFE |
Hospitals and care network
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (Sydney) — major public university hospital, 2nd in the Newsweek 2026 national ranking.
- The Alfred (Melbourne) — 1st in the Newsweek 2026 national ranking, a reference for trauma and critical care.
- St Vincent's Hospital / St Vincent's Private Hospital (Sydney and Melbourne) — leading public and private facilities.
Practical steps
- Working holiday visa (417): take out OVHC covering the whole stay before departure.
- Student (500): take out OSHC for the whole duration of the visa before departure.
- Before applying for permanent residency (189): a medical exam with a panel physician, valid for 12 months.
- Once permanent residency is granted: register for Medicare with Services Australia as soon as you arrive.
- In the months following your move: register with the roll of French nationals living abroad (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Noumea).
Frequently asked questions
Can a French national use Medicare like a British or Italian tourist?
No. France is not one of the eleven countries with a reciprocal health agreement with Australia. A French national on a temporary stay therefore has no access to Medicare.
Is health insurance mandatory for all working holiday visa holders?
For French nationals (visa 417), visa condition 8501 requires holding and maintaining adequate health insurance for the whole stay.
Is there a social security agreement between France and Australia?
No. Two rounds of negotiations (2008 and 2010) did not succeed. No CLEISS form applies to Australia.
Does a French permanent resident have access to Medicare?
Yes: once a permanent residency visa is obtained (for example 189), registering for Medicare is possible as for any permanent resident.
Can the CFE replace Australian insurance for a non-permanent resident?
No: it does not exempt you from Australian visa requirements (condition 8501, OSHC). Insurance meeting Australian requirements remains necessary, with the CFE only possible as a supplement.
Moving to Australia? Get a quote
Written by Expavy
Sources
- CLEISS — Social security in Australia
- France Diplomatie — Register of French nationals living abroad (carte-registre, 2025 data)
- Department of Home Affairs — Visas subject to condition 8501
- Services Australia — Medical costs, Medicare
- HCF — Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
- AIHW — Health expenditure Australia 2023-24
- Canstar — MRI scan cost in Australia