How long does a specialist referral last?
0:44 video, published 22 September 2026, by NewDoc.
Transcript
The short answer
How long does a specialist referral last? A specialist referral in Australia generally lasts for 12 months from the date that you see the specialist, not when the letter is written.
An example
If your GP gave you a letter in February but you went to see the specialist in March, the referral lasts all the way until March the following year.
When the referral says otherwise
In some circumstances your GP can also write a longer time frame on the referral, which allows you to access the specialist for a longer period as well. So it depends on what the referral says, but by default a referral lasts 12 months from the date you see your specialist.
Read the full answer
This video is the short version. The written guide covers the detail and is kept up to date.
GP referral questions answered: validity, rules and more