Can I get a free medical certificate online in Australia?
Effectively yes, if you hold a valid Medicare card. At a bulk billing telehealth practice like NewDoc, the GP consultation that produces the certificate is billed directly to Medicare, so you pay $0 out of pocket, and there is no separate fee for the certificate itself. Two conditions apply: you must be Medicare eligible, and the GP must assess you and agree a certificate is clinically appropriate. If you are not eligible for Medicare, a private consultation fee applies instead.
How a medical certificate ends up costing $0
Bulk billing means the GP bills Medicare directly for the consultation and accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, so nothing is charged to you. Because the certificate is produced as part of that consultation, there is no extra document fee at NewDoc. You book online, see the GP by video or phone, and if a certificate is appropriate it is emailed to you the same day.
What paid certificate offers usually mean
Many online services charge a per-certificate fee or a subscription regardless of your Medicare status. That is a legitimate business model, but if you are Medicare eligible you do not need to pay it: a practice that bulk bills the consultation achieves the same outcome at $0 out of pocket. Always check whether an advertised price is for the consult, the certificate, or both.
One thing no provider can legitimately sell is a guaranteed certificate. Australian GPs issue certificates based on a clinical assessment, so treat any service promising a certificate with no real consultation with caution.
Last reviewed 12 July 2026. Editorial policy