Medical Treatment Visa — Patients, Donors, and Caregivers
Visa Subclass 602 – Medical Treatment Visa Australia
Access World-Class Healthcare in Australia — The Medical Treatment Visa for Patients, Donors, and Caregivers
Australia's healthcare system ranks among the best in the world. Its hospitals offer access to specialist treatments, cutting-edge surgical procedures, advanced cancer care, organ transplant programs, and fertility treatments that may not be available — or may not be available at the same standard — in many other countries.
The Subclass 602 Medical Treatment Visa Australia is a temporary visa that allows people to travel to or stay in Australia for medical care, for those coming to donate or receive an organ, or to support a patient undergoing treatment. This visa may also be granted to people supporting someone else undergoing medical treatment, or a patient or organ donor who has applied for or currently holds this visa.
The Subclass 602 is one of the most compassionate visa categories in the Australian immigration system. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents assist patients, donors, and caregivers with Subclass 602 applications — including urgent cases where treatment cannot wait and time-sensitive applications that need to be lodged and processed as quickly as possible.
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If applying from within Australia
Urgent processing available
Open to all ages
Visa Overview
What is the Visa Subclass 602?
The Subclass 602 Medical Treatment visa allows people to come to Australia for medical treatment, or allows people who are already in Australia to stay longer to receive medical care. If you are unable to leave Australia for medical reasons, you can also apply for this visa.
Medical treatment can include consultations with medical specialists, major or minor surgery, cosmetic surgery and related procedures, organ donation, childbirth, and in-vitro fertilisation. It does not include travel to give birth to a surrogate child or to receive alternative health care services such as homeopathy. There are two types of medical treatment visas available: a short-term visa for stays generally up to 3 months, and a long-term visa for stays beyond 3 months.
Key Features of the Visa Subclass 602
- Temporary visa — length of stay determined on a case-by-case basis based on treatment plan
- Free if you apply from outside Australia or represent a foreign government — AUD $315 if applying from within Australia
- Can be applied for from inside or outside Australia
- May be granted as a single or multiple entry visa
- No work rights — Condition 8101 "No Work" applies
- Study allowed for up to 3 months, with a handful of exceptions
- Multiple-entry visas enable return trips for follow-up treatments
- Support persons and family members can accompany the patient
- For urgent cases, priority processing may be available with strong evidence
- No age limit — there is no age limit to apply for Subclass 602
Who This Visa Is For
The Three Categories of Subclass 602 Applicants
The Subclass 602 covers three distinct groups of people. Understanding which category applies to your situation determines how you frame your application and what evidence you need to provide.
Patient Seeking Medical Treatment
The most common category. Individuals seeking medical treatment or consultations in Australia. You do not necessarily need to demonstrate that the treatment is unavailable in your home country — but must give sufficient explanation as to why you want to receive treatment in Australia.
Organ Donor
People who are travelling to Australia specifically to donate an organ to a recipient who is in Australia — or who will also be travelling to Australia. The primary reason for the visit must be to receive medical treatment, including consultations, surgery, or organ donation.
Support Person or Caregiver
A spouse, parent, sibling, close friend, or other support person who can apply for the Subclass 602 to accompany or support a patient or organ donor. The key requirement is demonstrating a genuine connection to the patient and a genuine need for your presence during the treatment.
Covered Medical Treatments
What Medical Treatments Are Covered Under Subclass 602?
The definition of medical treatment under the Subclass 602 is deliberately broad. Applicants must prove they are seeking medical treatment in Australia and provide evidence from an Australian medical provider outlining the treatment needed.
Treatment Types That ARE Covered
- Specialist consultations — second opinions, specialist assessments
- Major surgery — cardiac, neurological, orthopaedic, oncological
- Minor surgery and day procedures
- Cancer treatment — chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy
- Organ transplantation — both for donors and recipients
- In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and fertility treatment
- Cosmetic surgery and related procedures
- Childbirth — where the pregnancy-related treatment is the purpose
- Ongoing chronic disease management under specialist care
- Rehabilitation following surgery or serious illness
- Mental health treatment by registered practitioners
- Dental treatment where it is clinically significant
Treatment Types NOT Covered
- Travel to give birth to a surrogate child — explicitly excluded
- Alternative health care services such as homeopathy — not recognised as medical treatment under this visa
Visa Benefits
Key Benefits of the Visa Subclass 602
Access to Australia's World-Class Healthcare
Australia's hospitals and medical specialists are globally recognised for excellence across a wide range of disciplines — oncology, cardiac surgery, neurology, fertility treatment, organ transplantation, and many more. The Subclass 602 ensures you can access these facilities legally while complying with immigration rules.
Stay for the Full Duration of Treatment
The subclass 602 visa stay period depends on your treatment plan and the doctor's recommendation. You are not granted a fixed period and then forced to leave — the stay is tailored to your actual medical needs. Extensions are available if treatment takes longer than anticipated.
Multiple Entry for Follow-Up Treatments
Multiple-entry visas enable return trips for follow-up treatments. For patients who need to return to Australia for check-ups, further procedures, or ongoing monitoring after returning home, a multiple-entry visa allows this without reapplying each time.
Family and Support Persons Can Accompany You
This visa allows you to bring your minor child and family with you if you require emotional support and extra care. Having family nearby during a medical procedure or treatment significantly affects patient wellbeing and recovery. Each accompanying person must lodge their own separate application.
Can Apply from Inside Australia
The Subclass 602 Medical Treatment visa allows people who are already in Australia to stay longer to receive medical care. If you are unable to leave Australia for medical reasons, you can also apply for this visa — a critical safety net for visitors or temporary residents whose medical condition changes unexpectedly.
Largely Free and Urgent Processing Available
The Medical Treatment Visa is free for most applicants who apply from outside Australia — removing financial barriers for people already dealing with the costs of serious medical treatment. For life-threatening conditions or time-critical treatments, the Department can prioritise processing when medical urgency is clearly documented.
Eligibility
Who Can Apply for the Visa Subclass 602?
To be eligible for this visa, applicants must meet specific criteria. The genuine temporary stay requirement is essential — you must be able to demonstrate that you intend to leave Australia once your treatment is concluded. Applicants who appear to be using the medical treatment visa as a pathway to remain in Australia long-term will not have their applications approved.
Core Eligibility Criteria
- Have a primary reason for your visit that is to receive medical treatment, including consultations, surgery, or organ donation
- Do not have a medical condition that could be a threat to public health or endanger the Australian community
- Have adequate funds to cover medical costs, living expenses, and any expenses for dependants accompanying you
- Can demonstrate a Genuine Temporary Stay — you intend to leave Australia once your treatment is complete
- Meet health and character requirements as set by the Department of Home Affairs
- Have a treatment plan or letter from an Australian medical provider confirming the treatment required
Important Conditions to Know
- No work permitted — Condition 8101 "No Work" applies. This visa does not allow the holder to work
- Study limited to 3 months
- Must depart when treatment is complete — unless an extension is approved before the current visa expires
- Extensions require a new application — apply before your current visa expires, not after
- Separate application for every person — accompanying family members must apply individually
- Children born in Australia do not automatically become Australian citizens — they are granted the same visa as their parent
- Overstaying has serious legal consequences — always monitor your visa expiry date
Documents and Costs
Documents Required and Visa Costs
Documents Required
- Valid passport — all pages including bio-data page
- Two passport-size photographs
- Letter from your Australian medical provider confirming your treatment plan, procedures, estimated dates, and expected duration of stay
- Medical reports from your treating doctor in your home country confirming your diagnosis and the reason for seeking treatment in Australia
- Referral letter from your home country doctor to the Australian specialist or facility
- Any existing test results, scans, or reports relevant to your condition
- Bank statements, payslips, or other financial evidence demonstrating access to sufficient funds for medical and living costs
- Evidence of health insurance or financial arrangements for medical costs in Australia
- Health examination results from a Department-approved panel physician — if required
- Police clearances — if required based on country of origin and travel history
- For support persons: evidence of relationship to the patient and evidence confirming the patient's treatment and need for a support person
- Evidence of ties to home country — employment, property, family
Cost Breakdown (2026)
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa Fee — Offshore applicant | Free — AUD $0 |
| Visa Fee — Onshore applicant | AUD $315 |
| Health Examinations (if required) | AUD $300–$500 |
| Biometrics (if required) | AUD $50–$100 |
| Police Clearances (if required) | Varies |
| Private Health Insurance (OVHC) | Varies by coverage |
Processing Times (2026)
- Typical processing range: 9 days up to 4 months depending on complexity
- Most applications completed within 49 days
- For straightforward applications with complete documentation: 20–45 days typical
- Urgent priority processing available with strong medical evidence for life-threatening cases
- Apply as early as possible — ideally as soon as your Australian treatment is confirmed and booked
How We Help
Our Visa Process
Medical Documentation Review and Assessment
We begin by reviewing your treatment plan, medical letters, and the nature of your condition to confirm you meet the Subclass 602 eligibility criteria. We advise on what additional medical documentation may strengthen your case and help present the treatment plan in the format the Department expects.
Application Preparation and Lodgement
We prepare your complete application — all forms, medical evidence, financial documentation, identity documents, and genuine temporary stay evidence — and lodge via ImmiAccount. For onshore applicants, we ensure the correct fee is paid and all conditions of the existing visa are addressed. A complete, decision-ready application from day one minimises processing time.
Urgent Application Handling
For life-threatening conditions or time-critical treatments where standard processing timelines are not practical, we prepare urgent priority processing requests supported by the medical evidence required to demonstrate genuine urgency. We know what the Department needs to see to prioritise an application.
Support Person Application Coordination
We coordinate the support person or caregiver application alongside the primary patient application — ensuring the relationship evidence, treatment connection, and role of the support person are clearly documented and consistently presented across both applications.
Extension Application Management
If your treatment takes longer than anticipated, we prepare your extension application well before your current visa expires — gathering updated medical evidence, revised treatment plans, and any additional documentation required to support the extended stay.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
When someone needs a medical treatment visa, they are usually not in a position to spend time navigating complex immigration documentation. They have medical appointments to prepare for, treatment to arrange, travel logistics to manage, and — most importantly — their health to focus on. At Migration Republic, we handle the immigration side so that patients, donors, and their families can focus on what matters most.
Medical Documentation Expertise
We know what the Department expects to see in a Subclass 602 application — the right medical evidence, the right financial documentation, and the right framing of the genuine temporary stay — and we present it correctly the first time to maximise the chance of a smooth, timely outcome.
Urgent Case Handling
For urgent applications where time is critical, we move quickly. We know what medical evidence is required to support a priority processing request and we submit it in the format the Department needs to act on it promptly.
Compassionate, End-to-End Support
From initial assessment through to visa grant and beyond — including extension applications when treatment takes longer. Transparent process with regular updates. For complex cases — patients already in Australia, prior visa complications, or ongoing treatment — we bring the experience that makes the difference.
Ready to Apply for the Visa Subclass 602 Medical Treatment Visa?
If you or a loved one needs to access medical treatment in Australia — whether for a specialist consultation, a major procedure, an organ donation, or ongoing care — the Visa Subclass 602 Medical Treatment Visa is the pathway that makes it possible. It is free for most applicants, tailored to your specific treatment duration, and designed to keep families together through difficult times. Our MARA-registered agents at Migration Republic are ready to help you prepare the strongest possible application — quickly, carefully, and with genuine understanding of what this process means to you.
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