What if I can't get my vaccination records from my home country?

Vaccinations that cannot be verified with records cannot be added to the AIR. First, try requesting an immunisation certificate from the medical facility or public health office in your home country (many countries can issue them remotely); if you cannot obtain one, talk to your GP. Depending on your situation, your GP will decide how to proceed — for example, antibody testing or revaccination.

What exactly is No Jab No Pay?

It is a federal policy under which, if your child does not meet the immunisation requirements (fully immunised, on an approved catch-up schedule, or medically exempt), your Family Tax Benefit Part A is reduced and you cannot receive the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) . Whether the requirements are met is determined from AIR records, so even if your child completed their vaccinations overseas, they will be treated as not meeting the requirements unless the records are on the AIR. Check Services Australia for the detailed criteria.

Are catch-up vaccines free?

Catch-up vaccines under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) are provided free to people under 20 and to refugees and humanitarian entrants (of any age) . However, even when the vaccine itself is free, a GP consultation fee may still apply (whether a clinic bulk bills varies), and the eligibility and age requirements can change, so check the latest criteria at health.gov.au.

Can I still be added to the AIR on a visa without Medicare?

Yes. Medicare enrolees are automatically included on the AIR, but people without Medicare can also be added using their personal details. However, you won't be able to view your records through a Medicare online account, so you will need to request your Immunisation History Statement directly from the AIR (Services Australia), and your costs for vaccines and consultations will also differ depending on your visa type — check before your visit.

Does the translation have to be a NAATI certified translation?

Records that are not in English need to be translated so your GP can accurately verify the vaccine types and vaccination dates. In Australia, the generally accepted standard for translations submitted to institutions is a translation by a NAATI certified translator . For finding a translator and the process involved, see the official NAATI website and AUWith's NAATI certified translation guide.

Are immunisation records definitely required for childcare enrolment?

It varies by state. Some states only allow children who are fully immunised or on an approved catch-up schedule to enrol in childcare (so-called No Jab No Play), while other states simply require an Immunisation History Statement to be submitted at enrolment. Always check the official guidance from the health authority in the state where you live.

Is there anything to check for adults or during pregnancy?

Adults can be affected too. Pertussis (whooping cough) boosters and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), among others, can be catch-up candidates for adults, and your GP will decide what is needed after reviewing your records. Recommended vaccinations during pregnancy follow separate guidelines, so check AUWith's pregnancy and birth guide together with the official information at health.gov.au.

Transferring overseas immunisation records and catch-up — AIR registration and family payment requirements - Adelaide

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Transferring overseas immunisation records and catch-up — AIR registration

Even if you completed every vaccination in your home country, you'll be treated as 'not immunised' if there's no record on the AIR. This guide walks through transferring records, translation, GP entry and catch-up, plus family payment and childcare requirements.

Not on the AIR = treated as not immunised — simply failing to transfer records can cut your payments

Australia runs a national immunisation register, the AIR (Australian Immunisation Register). Vaccines given in Australia are automatically recorded on the AIR by the provider, but vaccinations given overseas are not transferred automatically. The problem is that assessments for family payments and child care subsidies are based on AIR records, not on whether your child was actually vaccinated. Even a child who completed every vaccination in your home country will be treated as 'not immunised' unless the records are added to the AIR, which can lead to a reduced Family Tax Benefit Part A and loss of the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), and in some states even restrictions on childcare enrolment. This guide is not medical advice — it covers the record transfer and registration process; which vaccines to have and when is for your GP to decide.

No Jab No Pay (federal payments) vs No Jab No Play (state childcare rules)

No Jab No Pay is a federal policy. If your child does not meet the immunisation requirements (one of: fully immunised, on an approved catch-up schedule, or medically exempt), FTB Part A is reduced and you cannot receive CCS. No Jab No Play refers to state-level childcare enrolment rules, with some states restricting enrolment of unvaccinated children altogether. Both are assessed against AIR records, and being on an approved catch-up schedule is generally accepted as meeting the requirements — check the details with Services Australia and your state's health authority.

The record transfer process — 4 steps: obtain, translate, register, catch up

Transferring records proceeds in this order: 1) obtain the records from your home country → 2) English translation (if not in English, NAATI certified) → 3) visit a GP and request AIR entry → 4) set up a catch-up schedule for any missing doses. The key point is that only recognised vaccination providers such as GPs can enter records into the AIR. No matter how well you prepare the documents, registration cannot be completed without a GP visit.

What actually happens at the GP visit

The GP reviews the records you submit, enters the vaccine types and vaccination dates into the AIR, and compares them against the Australian immunisation schedule to identify anything missing. Vaccine names often differ from how they are written in your home country, so the more detailed the record — with verifiable components and timing — the smoother the registration. If any doses are missing, the GP prepares a catch-up schedule, and the GP decides the intervals and order of vaccinations.

Obtain an immunisation certificate from the medical facility or public health office in your home country, showing the vaccine types and vaccination dates

What to prepare and checking eligibility

The essential item is a verifiable vaccination record. If you haven't left yet, having an English certificate issued in your home country is the most efficient route; if you're already in Australia, look into remote issuance through family or institutions back home. If your visa allows Medicare enrolment, completing your child's Medicare registration first will make it easier to view the records afterwards.

Original immunisation certificate from your home country (in English), or the original-language record plus a NAATI certified translation
Medicare card (if your visa allows enrolment) and a myGov account — for viewing records after registration

4 common situations

What you need to focus on differs depending on your family members and situation. Cases where child payments or childcare are at stake are the most urgent, and adults can also be catch-up candidates.

Child catch-up (under 20)

For missing vaccinations, the GP prepares a catch-up schedule. NIP catch-up vaccines are free for under-20s (any age for refugees and humanitarian entrants) — verify eligibility through official sources. Being on the schedule is generally accepted as meeting the payment requirements.

Adult catch-up

Pertussis (whooping cough) boosters, MMR and others can be catch-up candidates for adults too. Adding your own overseas records to the AIR also makes future verification easier. Your GP decides what is needed.

Childcare and school enrolment

Requirements vary by state. Some states restrict childcare enrolment of unvaccinated children altogether, and schools may require an Immunisation History Statement at enrolment — always check your state's official guidance.

Family Tax Benefit (FTB) and Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

FTB Part A and CCS assess the immunisation requirements from AIR records (No Jab No Pay). Completing AIR registration before applying for payments helps you avoid reductions or blocked payments.

5 practical tips, step by step

The process itself isn't complicated, but getting the order wrong can cost you — redone translations or reduced payments. Work through these five points in order.

Getting records before you leave is best — having an English immunisation certificate issued in your home country in advance saves translation costs and time.
If you need an interpreter for your GP appointment, you can request the free interpreting service TIS National (131 450).
After registration, check your Immunisation History Statement on myGov or the Express Plus Medicare app to confirm the records were actually added.

5 things to watch out for and common mistakes

These are mistakes that actually happen often. Most stem from assuming 'the records are fine' and skipping verification.

Skipping AIR registration because 'we did all the vaccinations back home, so it's fine' — if it's not on the AIR, it's treated as not immunised, which can reduce payments or block CCS.
Bringing non-English records without a translation — a common case where the GP can't verify or enter them, forcing a repeat visit.
Deciding catch-up intervals and order yourself — the schedule is prepared by your GP based on Australian guidelines. Don't set it on your own.

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