The short answer
A referral letter is a written request from your GP, or another eligible practitioner, asking a specialist to help with a specific health problem. For Medicare purposes it must be in writing, signed and dated, and explain why you're being referred [1][2]. In most cases it doesn't need to name a particular specialist, and it can be sent electronically [1].
On this page
What is a medical referral letter?
A referral letter is a written request from one health professional to another, asking them to help with a specific health problem. Under Medicare, a referral to a specialist is a request for investigation, opinion, treatment or management of a condition, or for specific examinations or tests [1].
Most referrals come from GPs, because Medicare treats your GP as the main point of contact for your care [1]. The letter gives the specialist your history, your current situation and the reason their expertise is needed [1].
A referral letter is different from a request form for blood tests or scans. Those are requests, which follow separate Medicare rules [1][7].
Why do you need a referral letter?
Mostly for Medicare. You can see a specialist without a referral, but the specialist then has to bill a different Medicare item, so your benefit is lower and you'll likely pay more [1].
Private health insurance won't fill that gap. It doesn't cover specialist consultations in their rooms [3].
What must a referral letter include?
Medicare has a short list of must-haves [1][2]:
- the reason for referring you
- the date of the referral
- the referring practitioner's signature
The specialist's Medicare claim also has to show the referring practitioner's name and practice address or provider number, and the validity period if it's not the standard 12 months, so a referral normally includes these too [2].
A useful referral goes further. It should also include relevant clinical information about your condition [1]. National guidance on colonoscopy referrals is a good example of what specialists look for: your symptoms and how long you've had them, previous test results, your medical and family history, current medicines and allergies, and any interpreter or support needs. Complete information helps the receiving service judge how urgently you need to be seen [8]. Our colonoscopy guide goes through that example in more detail.
The rules also say the referring practitioner must have consulted you and turned their mind to whether you need the referral, and the specialist must receive it on or before your appointment [2]. The consultation doesn't have to happen on the day the letter is written [2].
Who can write a referral letter?
| Who | Can refer you to |
|---|---|
| GP | Any specialist, and allied health under certain Medicare plans [1][4] |
| Specialist | Another specialist, ideally with your GP kept in the loop [1] |
| Optometrist | An ophthalmologist [1] |
| Dental practitioner | A specialist [1] |
| Midwife | An obstetrician or paediatrician [1] |
| Nurse practitioner | A specialist [1] |
Other health professionals, such as physiotherapists and psychologists, can also write referral letters [3]. For a Medicare specialist rebate, though, the referral needs to come from one of the practitioners in the table [1].
Does a referral need to name a specific specialist?
Usually not. For specialists in the community, such as a private specialist clinic, referrals don't need to be made out to a particular specialist. It's your GP's decision whether to include a name [1]. A general referral might be addressed something like "Dear psychiatrist" [3], and you can take it to the psychiatrist of your choice (more in psychiatrist referrals).
If a specialist is named, you can still choose a different specialist in the same specialty, as long as you haven't already started seeing the named one. You don't need to go back to your GP for a new referral to do that [1].
There's one exception. If you choose to be treated as a private patient in a public hospital outpatient clinic, the referral must be addressed to a named specialist [1].
Either way, a specialist doesn't have to accept a referral, named or not [1].
Can a referral letter be sent electronically?
Yes. Referrals can be in hard copy or electronic, and electronic referrals must comply with the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 [1]. Allied health referrals under Medicare chronic condition plans can be signed electronically too [4].
Doctors consulting by telehealth are expected to have secure ways to send referrals and to make sure you know how you'll receive them [6].
Can I get a copy of my referral letter?
You can ask. Australian privacy law gives you a general right to request access to the health information a provider holds about you. The privacy regulator generally considers 30 days a reasonable time to respond, and any fee can't be excessive [5]. It's usually simplest to ask for a copy when the referral is written.
With your consent, a telehealth doctor should also let your usual GP know about referrals they've made [6].
Can I write my own referral letter?
No. Medicare only counts a referral as valid if it comes from a practitioner who has consulted you, considered whether you need it, and put it in writing, signed and dated [2]. A letter you write yourself won't get you the referred Medicare rebate. (The rules do allow doctors to refer themselves, but that's a different situation [2].)
How long does a referral letter last?
A GP referral lasts 12 months by default, a specialist-to-specialist referral lasts 3 months, and both start from your first appointment with the specialist [1]. GPs can also write longer or indefinite referrals for ongoing conditions [1]. The full detail is in how long does a referral last.
Getting a referral
Referral GP offers telehealth consultations by phone or video with AHPRA-registered Australian GPs. Where it's clinically appropriate, a GP can write a referral letter to a specialist, a request for imaging or pathology, or a referral to allied health where the rules allow. If you're wondering whether that works online, read can you get a referral online.
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
What must a referral letter include?
For Medicare, the reasons for referring you, the date and the referring practitioner's signature [1][2]. The specialist's Medicare claim also has to show the practitioner's name and practice address or provider number, and the referral period if it isn't 12 months, so these are normally on the letter too [2].
Does a referral letter have to be addressed to a specific specialist?
Not for private specialists in the community. It's your GP's choice whether to name one, and if they do, you can still see a different specialist in the same specialty unless you've already started with the named one [1]. If you choose to be a private patient in a public hospital outpatient clinic, the referral must be named [1].
Can I write my own referral letter?
No. Medicare only treats a referral as valid if it comes from an eligible practitioner who has consulted you, considered whether you need the referral, and signed and dated it [2].
Can a referral letter be emailed or sent electronically?
Yes. Referrals can be in hard copy or electronic, and electronic referrals must comply with the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 [1].
Can I get a copy of my referral letter?
You can ask for one. Australian privacy law gives you a general right to request access to the health information a provider holds about you [5].
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
- healthdirect. What is a referral? Last reviewed September 2023. Accessed November 2026. healthdirect.gov.au/what-is-a-referral
- 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
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Access your health information. Accessed November 2026. oaic.gov.au/privacy/your-privacy-rights/health-information/access-your
- Medical Board of Australia. Guidelines: Telehealth consultations with patients. Effective 1 September 2023. Accessed November 2026. medicalboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-policies/telehealth-consultations
- 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
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Colonoscopy referral information fact sheet. 2025. Accessed November 2026. safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-09/colonoscopy-referr
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.