International medical graduates
By your side as you build your medical career in Australia
Moving to Australia as an overseas qualified doctor is a big step. The process involves more than just getting here - you’ll need to meet visa and registration requirements, adapt to a new healthcare system, and protect yourself with medical indemnity cover. We’ve brought together the information, support, and offers you need, so you can focus on building your career with confidence.
Support for wherever you are in the journey
Before you move to Australia
Before you move to Australia, there are several key steps to complete. These requirements cover visas, medical registration, and preparing for life and work in a new healthcare system.
Key steps to understand:
- Visas – Find out which visa pathway is right for you and the requirements you need to meet as a doctor.
- Medical registration pathways – Learn about the Australian Medical Council and the different routes to registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
- Applying for registration with Ahpra – The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency manages the process for medical practitioners.
- Private health insurance – Some visas require you to hold adequate health insurance before approval.
Helpful organisations
The Avant guide to working in Australia for international medical graduates
Our FREE eBook steps you through how to prepare before you practise: from visas to registration and Medicare compliance, plus getting the support you need to thrive once you start working.
Once you have arrived in Australia
Once you’ve arrived in Australia, there are some important requirements to understand:
- Medicare and PBS – Once registered with Ahpra, you’ll likely need a Medicare provider and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) numbers.
- Continuing professional development (CPD) - Maintaining your CPD is an integral part of your medical registration.
- Medicare compliance - Practising within Medicare guidelines is essential for delivering patient care in Australia.
What is Medical Indemnity Insurance?
Before you can practise medicine in Australia, you need medical indemnity insurance. Medical indemnity insurance is provided by a medical defence organisation. It protects doctors from the legal and financial consequences of patient claims, complaints, or adverse events arising from their healthcare services. The policy covers legal defence costs and compensation amounts you may become liable to pay associated with allegations and complaints.
Why do you need it?
Medical indemnity insurance is a mandatory requirement for practising medicine in Australia and for Ahpra registration. While your employer, such as a hospital, might provide you with indemnity insurance, it’s important to consider taking out a personal policy to make up for any gaps in their cover.
What does your insurance cover?
| Professional indemnity cover | Legal expenses cover | Treatment of public patients | Employment contract disputes |
| Extensive $20 million* cover for compensation claims against you, and for the costs to defend the claims. *Sub-limits apply. A maximum of $20 million will be paid in a single policy period. | $2 million cover for coronial inquiries, complaints and investigations, and unpaid healthcare you provide – such as emergency assistance or volunteer work. | Cover for care and treatment provided to public patients, to the extent you are not otherwise indemnified. | Defending you in disputes relating to your role as an employee or an employer. |
Cover is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy.
Avant is Australia’s leading medical defence organisation, supporting IMGs to practise safely, and build their career and connections. To find out how Avant can support you:
Ready to practise or start a placement
Whether you’ve received your Ahpra registration and are preparing to start work, or you’re undertaking a placement in Australia, it’s essential to have your own medical indemnity cover. Avant Membership protects you against claims, complaints and employment matters that may arise, giving you the support and confidence you need to focus on your medical career.
Working in a public hospital
If you’re employed in a public hospital, your employer may provide some indemnity. However, this usually does not cover situations like Medical Board complaints, coronial inquiries, disciplinary investigations, employment disputes, or Medicare audits. Avant Membership ensures you’re protected in these areas and more. If you first registered in Australia within the last three years, you may also be eligible for a discounted offer designed for IMGs.
Arriving from the MDU in the UK
If you’re a current paying member of the Medical Defence Union (MDU) in the UK, you may be able to access up to two years of complimentary Avant membership and cover when you move to Australia. This arrangement is subject to eligibility criteria and is designed to support your transition into the Australian healthcare system with confidence.
Studying in Australia
Avant is dedicated to supporting early career doctors, and our cover for students is free. This ensures you’re protected as you begin your studies and transition into practice. Learn more about what indemnity insurance means for you and how Avant can support your journey into the profession.
Moving overseas from Australia
If you’re an Avant member and are moving to the UK, Avant has an arrangement with the Medical Defence Union (MDU) in the UK where you may be able to access a complimentary membership for up to 2 years (subject to meeting eligibility criteria).
Starting your journey to practise in Australia? Here are some common questions we get from IMGs and recently migrated doctors like you.
Avant provides a extensive suite of services tailored for IMGs, including:
- Medical indemnity insurance: Coverage for civil liability claims, disciplinary matters, Medicare audits, coronial inquests, public liability, and hospital inquiries.
- Legal assistance: Access to medico-legal experts for advice and support.
- Educational resources: An extensive range of materials to help navigate the Australian medical system.
- Contract review services: Discounts on expert legal advice on Australian employment contracts.
Yes - in Australia, having appropriate professional indemnity insurance is a requirement to practise medicine.
Medical indemnity protects you if something goes wrong in your professional practice — such as a patient complaint, legal claim, or medical board investigations. Avant provides medical indemnity insurance that includes expert legal support, advice, and protection across a wide range of scenarios.
Indemnity is the protection you receive if a claim is made against you.
Insurance is the financial product (your policy) that provides that protection. In Australia, medical indemnity is delivered through regulated insurance policies like those Avant offers.
Yes. While hospitals may provide some cover for your clinical work, this may not extend to things like:
- Medical Board complaints
- Employment disputes
- disciplinary, coronial and criminal investigations
- a dispute with your employer regarding your professional conduct towards a hospitalised patient
- pursuing indemnity from your employer’s insurer if they decline to assist you regarding a claim
- threats to personal safety
Avant can help ensure you’re protected across all these situations and more. Read more on our Hospital Employed Doctors cover here.
Before you start practising. It’s essential that you’re covered from day one, even if you’re working in the public system. You can apply for cover with Avant once you are registered to work in Australia.
Every health system is different. In Australia, doctors may face:
- Patient complaints to regulators
- Investigations by the Medical Board of Australia or the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra)
- Medicare billing investigations and audits
- Coronial inquiries (after a patient death)
- Disciplinary hearings (even from minor professional conduct issues)
- Employment disputes
With Avant, you’ll have access to experienced medico-legal experts who understand how to support doctors through these complex situations.
Your premium depends on several factors:
- Your specialty and healthcare that you provide
- Your level of risk (e.g., surgical specialties are higher risk)
- Your gross annual private billings, if you are also working in private practice as a locum etc.
As a new practitioner in Australia, you may be eligible for significant discounts. Avant can help you get a tailored quote. Read more on factors that influence medical indemnity insurance premiums here.
Beyond extensive cover, Avant membership gives you access to:
- 24/7 medico-legal advice and support, in emergencies
- Discounts on employment contract reviews with Avant Law
- Risk management and education
- Support through regulatory and hospital processes
- Wellbeing programs
- A community of 90,000+ doctors across Australia
We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Avant has curated an extensive collection of educational materials to assist IMGs in understanding the Australian medical system. This includes an E-book designed to support recently migrated doctors. All the materials can be located here.
Look for a provider who offers:
- Strong medico-legal expertise
- Extensive coverage tailored for the healthcare you provide
- Transparent costs and benefits
- Additional support services (like education, advice, and medico-legal advice)
- A track record of supporting IMGs
At Avant, we’ve helped thousands of international doctors successfully transition to practising in Australia. And we have over 90,000 students and doctors insured with Avant, more than any other MDO.
Avant Law offers a fixed-fee contract review service for IMGs, providing concise legal advice on key terms of Australian employment contracts. This service aims to give clarity and confidence to IMGs as they embark on their medical careers in Australia. For more information on this service, please refer to Avant Law Personal Legal Services.
Resources to support you as you navigate the Australian healthcare system
Medico-legal Advisory Service
Specialist medico-legal advisers available 24/7, in emergencies, to offer advice and support.
Avant Law Medical Indemnity
With Australia’s largest medical indemnity team.
Risk advisory services
Tailored risk assessments, educational resources, and practical advice to help you navigate medico-legal challenges.
Professional Indemnity insurance products are issued by Avant Insurance Limited (ACN 003 707 471, AFSL 238 765) (’AIL’), a public company incorporated in Australia. AIL is an Australian general insurer that is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, and subject to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority dispute resolution scheme. This publication is intended for Australian residents only and does not constitute financial or personal advice. The information provided by AIL is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. You should consider these, and the relevant Product Disclosure Statement or policy wording (available at www.avant.org.au or by contacting AIL on 1800 128 268), having regard to the appropriateness of the advice before deciding to purchase or continue to hold these products.
Legal services are only available in Australia and are provided by Avant Law Pty Limited (Avant Law) in accordance with the applicable state and territory legislation governing Australian Legal Practitioners. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Legal practitioners employed by Avant Law are members of the scheme.