Veteran Card

The Veteran Card (Gold, White and Orange) provides access to medical treatment and a range of services and supports.  

What is a Veteran Card?

Depending on the type of card, you may get access to free or cheaper health care and support, discounts on medicine, transport, and water and power bills. Some businesses may also give discounts. 

Importantly, there will be no changes to these entitlements or how treatment is provided following changes which are commencing on 1 July 2026. 

Am I eligible? 

There are different eligibility criteria for each type of Veteran Card. 

• White Card
• Orange Card
• Gold Card 

There are extensions to eligibility for the Gold Card that are outlined in the “What will happen from 1 July 2026?” section below. 

How do I apply?

White Card

In most cases, DVA will send you a White Card automatically when:

• you discharge from the Australian Defence Force (ADF), if you have at least one day continuous full-time service (CFTS); or
• DVA accepts your service-related injury or illness.

If you don't yet have a White Card you can apply for one by submitting a Non-Liability Health Claim through Myservice. You can sign in or register for Myservice at www.dva.gov.au/myservice.

Alternatively, you can call us on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).

Gold Card

If we know you are eligible, we will send you a Gold Card automatically.

If you meet the eligibility criteria (listed in the previous section) you can apply using claims forms on the Gold Card DVA page or you can call us on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) to request a claim form.

Orange Card

Orange cards are not available under the MRCA but may continue to be provided under the VEA to certain eligible groups.

What will happen from 1 July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the VEA and DRCA will be closed to new claims for rehabilitation and compensation and DVA will consider all claims submitted from that date under an improved MRCA.

VEA veterans

If you already hold a Gold Card under the VEA there will be no change to your entitlements.

However, all new Gold Card claims will be assessed under the MRCA from 1 July 2026.

DRCA veterans

From 1 July 2026, DRCA veterans with high levels of impairment may, for the first time, be eligible for a Gold Card under the MRCA. 

However, eligibility will require the acceptance of a new claim for initial liability under the MRCA for existing impairments to have worsened by at least five impairment points overall as a trigger for eligibility/assessment under the MRCA.

MRCA veterans

Eligibility for the Veteran Card (Gold and White) remains the same for MRCA veterans from 1 July 2026.

Dependants of DRCA veterans

If you are a dependant of a deceased DRCA veteran with a claim lodged from 1 July 2026, you may become eligible for a Gold Card. 

However, the dependants of veterans who have previously received compensation under the DRCA will not receive a Gold Card retrospectively.

Additional Resources

There is a range of additional resources available on the Legislation Reform website covering a variety of topics. These include: Additional Disablement Amount (ADA), Special Rate Disability Pension (SRDP) and Compensation for Dependants.

There are individual pages for different veteran cohorts including VEA veterans, DRCA veterans, MRCA veterans and family members of veterans.