Our role in the supply of blood products overseas under the National Blood Agreement
Where a product is funded under the National Blood Agreement, we may issue blood or blood products to be used, or delivered to and used, by Australian residents (as defined in subsection 3(1) of the Health Insurance Act 1973) at a location outside of Australia. Products funded under the National Blood Agreement can be found here.
The National Blood Authority (NBA) and the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (Lifeblood) have various roles in processing and approving requests to take blood and blood products overseas.
Supply for Australian residents overseas
Australian residents travelling or studying overseas may be eligible to receive blood products.
Blood products may also be available to Australian residents serving overseas and in international waters, including, but not limited to:
- Australian Defence Force members
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade employees
- Australian Antarctic Division staff
- Australians involved in medical retrieval operations overseas.
If you are an Australian resident and you want more information about how to apply for the supply of blood products overseas, see Applying for overseas supply of blood products.
More information is also on the page Travelling with blood products in or outside Australia.
Length of supply
Australians who are travelling or living temporarily overseas for up to 12 months in any rolling 24-month period may be eligible to receive blood products funded under the national blood arrangements for that time. This time restriction helps ensure patients get proper clinical oversight of their treatment.
In exceptional circumstances you may be eligible for extended supply, but usually only by up to 3 months.
If you need an extension, you must apply before your current supply approval ends.
Each request will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
You are responsible for all applicable costs of shipping and storing your blood products.
Supply for non-Australian residents
Under this policy, we may supply blood products to non-Australian residents overseas:
- in situations where Australia is coordinating humanitarian aid and disaster relief
- under the International Blood Exchange Program
- in retrieval operations
- in response to Australian Government requests.
Get in touch
If you have a questions about overseas blood product supply or would like advice on other overseas supply scenarios not covered above, please contact us.
Last updated: 04 Feb 2026