The short answer
A GP referral to a specialist lasts 12 months unless your GP writes a different period, which can be shorter, longer or indefinite. A referral from one specialist to another lasts 3 months. In both cases the clock starts at your first appointment with the specialist, not the date the referral was written [1].
On this page
How long is a referral valid for in Australia?
It depends on who wrote it and who it's for. Here's the quick version.
| Type of referral | How long it lasts | When the clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| GP to specialist | 12 months, unless the GP writes a different period, including indefinite [1] | Your first appointment with the specialist [1] |
| Specialist to specialist | 3 months, or longer while you're an admitted hospital patient [1] | Your first appointment with the new specialist [1] |
| GP to allied health under a chronic condition plan | 18 months, unless the GP writes a different period [3] | Your first session [3] |
| Better Access (psychologist and similar) | Until the sessions in that course are used [3][4] | Not time-based |
| DVA allied health | Up to 12 sessions or one year, whichever ends first [5] | The date the referral is issued [5] |
| Imaging or pathology request | Not a referral, so these limits don't apply [6] | See below |
How long is a GP referral to a specialist valid?
A referral from your GP lasts 12 months by default. Your GP can write a different period instead, such as 3, 6 or 18 months, or make it indefinite [1][2].
Longer referrals are meant for people whose condition needs ongoing care from a specialist [1][2]. For an indefinite referral, the GP should make that clear, ideally with the word "indefinite", although words like "ongoing" or "continuing care" can also be accepted [1]. An indefinite referral covers the condition it was written for. If you develop a new or unrelated condition, you need a new referral [1].
How long is a specialist-to-specialist referral valid?
When one specialist refers you to another, the referral lasts 3 months. The specialist can make it shorter but not longer [1].
The exception is if you're an admitted hospital patient. Then it lasts 3 months, or the length of your admission if that's longer [1].
When does a referral start?
From your first appointment with the specialist, not the date your GP wrote the referral [1].
Say your GP writes a standard 12-month referral in March, and your first appointment with the specialist isn't until July. The referral then runs until July the following year.
What does "valid" actually mean?
A valid referral lets the specialist bill Medicare's referred consultation items, which attract a higher rebate. You can still see a specialist without a valid referral, but the specialist has to bill a different item, so your Medicare benefit is lower and you'll likely pay more out of pocket [1].
A referral also covers a single course of treatment for a particular condition. That includes your first consultation and the ongoing care up to the point you're handed back to your GP [1].
Do imaging and blood test forms expire?
Requests for scans and blood tests aren't referrals under Medicare rules, so the 12-month and 3-month periods don't apply to them [6].
- Imaging requests (X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI): requests don't expire and stay valid until the test is done. But if one request covers more than one scan, all of them need to be done within 14 days of the first one [7].
- Pathology requests (blood tests and similar): these are requests, not referrals, either [6]. If your form is old, call the collection centre or your GP before you go, especially if your symptoms have changed.
If a request has been sitting in a drawer for a while, it's worth checking with your GP whether the test is still the right one. See the guides for MRI referrals and blood tests.
How long do allied health and psychology referrals last?
Chronic condition plans. Referrals to allied health, such as a physio or podiatrist, under a GP chronic condition management plan last 18 months from your first session, unless your GP writes a different period. They can't be indefinite [3].
Better Access. A referral for psychology under Better Access lasts until the sessions in that course of treatment are used, up to the yearly limit [3]. Sessions left over at the end of the year carry into the next calendar year, so you don't need a new referral for them. Once they're all used, you need a new referral [4]. More on this in do I need a referral for a psychologist.
DVA. DVA allied health referrals cover up to 12 sessions or one year from the date of issue, whichever ends first. At the end of the cycle, your GP decides whether you need another [5].
What if my referral is lost or has expired?
Lost referral. Ask the doctor who wrote it to resend it. If that can't happen before your appointment, the specialist can note on the claim that the referral was lost. That only works for the first appointment. They'll need a copy of the referral for any later ones [1][2].
Expired referral. Get a new one from your GP before your next appointment, or your rebate for that visit drops [1]. A new referral for the same condition doesn't necessarily mean starting over with a new initial consultation [6].
Your GP has retired or moved. The referral stays valid for its original period, as long as their provider number was valid when they wrote it [1].
Your specialist has moved. A referral is linked to the specialist, not the location, so it moves with them [1].
You want to change specialists. Once you've started seeing one specialist, you need a new referral to see a different one, for example for a second opinion [1].
How do I check when my referral runs out?
Look for the date and any validity period written on the referral. If none is written, the default for that type applies. The specialist has to keep your referral on file [2], so their rooms can tell you when they'll need a new one.
Getting a referral
Referral GP offers telehealth consultations by phone or video with AHPRA-registered Australian GPs. If your referral has expired or you need a new one, a GP can review your situation and, where clinically appropriate, write a referral to a specialist, a request for imaging or pathology, or an allied health referral where the rules allow. Read about getting a referral online and what goes into a referral letter.
A consultation doesn't guarantee a referral. Your GP decides what's clinically appropriate.
Bulk billed for eligible patients. If you're not eligible, a consultation fee may apply, and we'll confirm it with you before your consult.
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice.
Common questions
How long is a GP referral valid for in Australia?
12 months by default, counted from your first appointment with the specialist. Your GP can write a shorter or longer period, or make it indefinite if you need ongoing specialist care [1].
Does a referral start from the date it was written?
No. The referral period starts from the date of your first consultation with the specialist, not the date the referral was issued [1].
What happens if my referral expires?
You can still see the specialist, but they can't bill the referred Medicare items, so your rebate is lower and you'll likely pay more [1]. Ask your GP for a new referral before your next appointment.
Do blood test and imaging forms expire?
References
- MBS Online. Factsheet: Referrals for specialist services. Last updated August 2026. Accessed November 2026. mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/650f3eec0dfb990fca2
- MBS Online. Explanatory note GN.6.16: Referral of patients to specialists or consultant physicians. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=GN.6.16&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Explanatory note AN.15.6: Referral requirements for allied health and other primary health care services. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=AN.15.6&qt=noteID
- MBS Online. Explanatory note MN.6.3: Referral requirements for Better Access treatment services. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=MN.6.3&qt=noteID
- Department of Veterans' Affairs. Allied health treatment cycle. Accessed November 2026. dva.gov.au/get-support/health-support/health-services/allied-health-tr
- MBS Online. Factsheet: Difference between requests for diagnostic imaging services and referrals for other services under Medicare. Last updated 16 September 2022. Accessed November 2026. mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/ACBD06B0458
- MBS Online. Explanatory note IN.0.6: Requests for R-type diagnostic imaging services. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=IN.0.6&qt=noteID
Published by Referral GP. Last updated 6 November 2026. This page is general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice about your own situation. If you or someone else is in danger, call 000.