A DVA card, which DVA calls a Veteran Card, gives you DVA-funded medical treatment, mental health treatment or prescription medicines in Australia. There are three DVA cards: the Veteran White Card, the Veteran Gold Card and the Veteran Orange Card. Each has its own eligibility rules and covers different care.
People also call them veterans cards or Defence cards. DVA issues them, not Defence: serving ADF members get their treatment through Defence.
Types of DVA cards and what each entitles you to
The Veteran White Card
DVA's name for it is Veteran Card – Specific Conditions. It covers treatment for your accepted service-related conditions. Depending on your service, it can also cover treatment for all mental health conditions, cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis, without you having to prove your service caused them.
Your White Card entitlements depend on your accepted conditions and your service. The first time you see a new health provider, show them your list of accepted conditions from MyService.
The Veteran Gold Card
DVA's name for it is Veteran Card – All Conditions. It covers clinically required treatment for all medical conditions in Australia, including GPs, specialists, hospitals, allied health, dental and optical. Treatment is usually free if the provider accepts the card, though some high-cost dental items can cost extra.
The Veteran Orange Card
DVA's name for it is Veteran Card – Pharmaceuticals Only. It gives concessions on prescription medicines, wound care items and nutritional supplements. It doesn't cover medical treatment. Prescription items cost $7.70 each until you reach the Safety Net threshold for the year.
DVA card and Veteran Card eligibility
Who can get a White Card
You may be eligible if you're a current or former ADF member, including reservists, with an accepted service-related injury or condition. A Commonwealth veteran whose condition is accepted by their country of service may also be eligible.
For mental health treatment alone, you may be eligible after one day of continuous full-time service, or if you took part in disaster relief or border protection service, or were in a serious service-related training accident.
Read our DVA White Card guide.
Who can get a Gold Card
The Gold Card requirements are stricter than the White Card's. You may be eligible if one of these applies:
- you're an ADF veteran over 70 with qualifying service
- you're a former prisoner of war
- you served with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan between 16 August 1945 and 28 April 1952, or in the British Nuclear Test program
- you receive a Disability Compensation Payment at 100% of the general rate or higher under the VEA
- you receive or are eligible for the Special Rate Disability Pension, or an Additional Disablement Amount assessed at 60 or more impairment points under the MRCA
- you receive the War Widow(er)'s Pension, or you're an eligible dependant of a veteran who died because of their service
DVA's Gold Card page lists every pathway, including service pensioners, Commonwealth and allied veterans, and some civilians.
Read our DVA Gold Card guide or DVA's Gold Card eligibility.
Who can get an Orange Card
You must be a Commonwealth or allied veteran or mariner, with Second World War qualifying service, who has lived in Australia for 10 years or more.
How to apply for a DVA card
If DVA knows you're eligible, it sends a card automatically, for example when it accepts a service-related condition or when an ADF veteran with qualifying service turns 70.
If you don't have one, make a DVA card application in MyService by choosing Veteran Covenant, or Mental Health Treatment for White Card mental health cover. For a Gold Card application, DVA's Gold Card page has the forms. You can also call DVA on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372).
Once you have a card, you'll find a digital version in MyService, and you can add it to your myGov wallet.
From July 2026 DVA is reissuing White and Gold cards with a new design. Your current card stays valid until the new one arrives, even if it shows as expired.
Read DVA's Veteran Card information
A card is not a Household Services approval
A Gold or White Card does not by itself confirm that DVA will pay for cleaning, gardening, meal preparation or other help at home. Those services require a separate decision through the applicable home-support program.
A written approval, determination or care plan should identify the program, approved services, limits and dates. Check that document before arranging funded household work.
Check what your card covers
Card holders can view accepted conditions in the Cards section of MyService. A White Card holder can save or print that list to show a treatment provider. If MyService is unavailable, DVA can provide a List of Covered Conditions letter.
Find accepted conditions in MyService
Concessions and other benefits
State and territory governments and participating businesses may offer concessions or discounts to Veteran Card holders. Each organisation sets its own conditions. A discount is separate from the medical treatment or pharmaceutical support available through DVA. See Veteran Card discounts and concessions by state.
Checked against DVA's website on 24 September 2026.