Overseas visitor health cover (OVHC) for 600, 482 and 485 visa holders
Overseas visitor health cover is private health insurance for people in Australia who are not eligible for Medicare. If your visa carries condition 8501, you must hold adequate health insurance for your whole stay, and OVHC that meets the Home Affairs standard is how most visa holders satisfy it. It is mandatory on visas including the 482, 485 and 870, and can be imposed on the 600 visitor visa. Student visa holders need Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) instead.
Even without 8501, Home Affairs strongly recommends cover for every visitor who is not eligible for Medicare, because without it you pay the full cost of hospital and medical care, including in a public hospital. Visiting on a 600 visa? See when a visitor visa 600 needs health insurance.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team · Last reviewed
What visa condition 8501 means
Condition 8501 is set out in the Migration Regulations: the visa holder must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia. Home Affairs words it as having and maintaining adequate health insurance for the whole of your stay. It is a condition of the visa, not just of the application, so a policy that lapses, is cancelled or falls into arrears part way through your stay puts you in breach.
Home Affairs may cancel a visa if the holder does not comply with its conditions. It usually tells you first and gives you a chance to respond, but a cancellation can affect future visa applications. Check the conditions on your own grant notice or in VEVO; the same visa subclass can be granted with or without 8501 in some streams.
Which visas need health insurance
Home Affairs publishes a list of visas where 8501 is mandatory and where it is discretionary. The visas people most often ask about:
| Visa | Condition 8501 or insurance requirement | What Home Affairs says |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor (subclass 600) | 8501 can be imposed in certain streams or circumstances | Some visitor visas are granted with 8501. Parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents granted a visitor visa valid for more than 12 months must have adequate health insurance arrangements. |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482) | 8501 is a mandatory condition | You must maintain adequate health insurance, which should cover medically necessary treatment, including transport. |
| Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) | 8501 is a mandatory condition | You and your family must have and maintain adequate health insurance for your stay. |
| Student (subclass 500) | OSHC required for the whole stay | Cover must start the day you arrive. Exemptions: Norwegian students covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, Swedish students covered by Kammarkollegiet, and Belgian students covered under the reciprocal agreement. |
| Student Guardian (subclass 590) | 8501 is a mandatory condition | Adequate health insurance for the whole stay. |
| Training (subclass 407) | 8501 is a mandatory condition | Adequate health insurance for the whole stay. |
| Temporary Activity (subclass 408) | 8501 can be imposed | Adequate health insurance arrangements for the stay are required. |
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) | 8501 is a mandatory condition | Cover must be from an Australian health insurance provider. |
| Working Holiday (417) and Work and Holiday (462) | 8501 can be imposed | Check your grant letter for the conditions on your visa. |
Visitor visa 600: when health insurance is required
Most tourists on a subclass 600 visa are not required to hold health insurance, but Home Affairs can grant the visa with 8501 in certain streams or circumstances. The clearest case on the Tourist stream page is parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents who are granted a visa valid for more than 12 months: they must have made adequate arrangements for health insurance. If your grant notice lists 8501, cover must be in place for the whole stay.
Whether or not it is required, a visitor without Medicare pays the full cost of any treatment, including public hospital care charged at the rates for Medicare-ineligible patients. Travel insurance bought in your home country may help, but check what it covers against the Home Affairs minimum below if your visa carries 8501.
Our visitor visa 600 health insurance guidesets out what each 600 stream says about cover, the rules for parents visiting for more than 12 months, and how pre-existing conditions are treated.
482 and 485 visas: working visa health cover
For the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, holding adequate health insurance is a condition of the visa, and Home Affairs says the cover should include medically necessary treatment, including transport. For the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa, you and any family members on the visa must have and maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of your stay.
Where a visa requires evidence of insurance at application, Home Affairs asks for a current policy held with an Australian registered private health insurer for you and any other applicants. Insurers commonly market separate working-visa and non-working-visa OVHC products, and many state on the product information whether it satisfies 8501. If your family is on the visa, each family member must be covered.
What counts as adequate health insurance
Home Affairs publishes a recommended minimum level of cover for all visitors, based on the government's OSHC base product. A policy that meets it is the safe way to satisfy 8501. Home Affairs notes that policies from Australian or overseas insurers may be acceptable, but Australian OVHC products are the ones most commonly built to this standard.
| Area | Recommended minimum |
|---|---|
| Public hospital | Benefit equal to the state or territory gazetted rates for Medicare-ineligible patients, for accommodation, theatre, intensive care, emergency department fees and related care |
| Private hospital | At least the amounts in the Benefit Requirement Rules, or the insurer's contract with the hospital |
| In-hospital doctors | Admitted treatments covered by the Medicare Benefits Schedule |
| Out-of-hospital doctors | Benefits up to the MBS amount for services with an MBS item number |
| Ambulance | Ambulance services, including inter-hospital transfers and emergency treatment |
| Medical devices | 100% of the minimum benefit listed in the government's medical devices rules |
| Annual benefit limit | Not less than A$1,000,000 per person per year |
| Buy-out clauses | Not permitted: a policy with a buy-out clause would leave you in breach of 8501 if exercised |
| Waiting periods | No higher than OSHC maximums: 12 months for pre-existing conditions; 12 months for pregnancy (0 months on policies of 2 years or more); 2 months for psychiatric care, rehabilitation, palliative care and everything else |
OVHC vs OSHC vs reciprocal Medicare
Three different arrangements cover people from overseas, and they are often confused. OSHC is for student visa holders and is governed by a Deed between insurers and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, which sets base benefits such as 100% of medically necessary ambulance costs and 100% of the MBS fee for in-hospital doctors. OVHC is for everyone else on a temporary visa, and its benefits vary by product. Reciprocal Medicare is not insurance at all: it is limited access to Medicare for residents of countries with an agreement.
| Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) | Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) | Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Visitors and temporary visa holders not eligible for Medicare | Student visa (500) holders and their dependants | Residents of 11 countries visiting Australia |
| Where it comes from | Private insurers | Insurers with a Deed of Agreement with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | Medicare, through a government agreement |
| Satisfies a visa condition? | Yes, if it meets the adequate cover standard; insurers often say whether a product satisfies 8501 | Required for student visas | Not on its own for most visas; you may be able to apply to Home Affairs for an 8501 exemption once enrolled in Medicare |
| Private hospital cover | Depends on the product | Yes, at least Benefit Requirement Rules amounts | No: public patient care only |
| Ambulance | Usually included; check the product | 100% of medically necessary ambulance costs | Not listed as covered |
| Pre-existing conditions | Most insurers apply a 12-month wait; some exclude them | Up to a 12-month wait | Covered if medically necessary, unless you travelled for treatment |
| Government rebate / LHC | Neither applies; GST is charged | Does not count for Lifetime Health Cover | Not insurance; does not count for Lifetime Health Cover |
Student visa holders cannot use reciprocal Medicare in place of OSHC, except for the specific Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian exemptions Home Affairs lists. privatehealth.gov.au is explicit that reciprocal access to Medicare does not by itself exempt a student from OSHC.
Reciprocal Health Care Agreement countries
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with 11 countries. Eligible visitors can get medically necessary care through Medicare while in Australia, usually as a public patient. Eligibility depends on residence or insurance in the home country's system, and in some cases citizenship, rather than on nationality alone.
| Country | What you can get | Limits | Student visa holders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Medically necessary out-of-hospital care, public hospital care as a public patient, some PBS medicines | Must be insured in the Belgian system | Eligible (and exempt from OSHC) |
| Finland | As for Belgium | Finnish citizens, or people who live in Finland | Not eligible |
| Ireland | Public hospital care (inpatient and outpatient) only | Irish citizens or residents; no GP benefits and no Medicare card | Not eligible |
| Italy | As for Belgium | Italian citizens; 6 months, or until your visa ends if sooner | Eligible |
| Malta | As for Belgium | Maltese citizens; 6 months, or until your visa ends if sooner | Not eligible |
| Netherlands | As for Belgium | Must be enrolled in the Dutch scheme | Eligible |
| New Zealand | Public hospital care (inpatient and outpatient) only | No GP benefits and no Medicare card for short visits | Students staying more than 6 months may enrol as NZ citizens |
| Norway | As for Belgium | Must have lived in Norway and be a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme | Not eligible (but may be exempt from OSHC through the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme) |
| Slovenia | As for Belgium | Must be insured in the Slovenian system | Eligible |
| Sweden | As for Belgium | People who live in Sweden | Eligible (Kammarkollegiet-insured students are exempt from OSHC) |
| United Kingdom | As for Belgium | Residents of the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man | Eligible |
Reciprocal cover does not pay for private hospital treatment, and ambulance is not listed as covered, so it leaves real gaps even where it applies. privatehealth.gov.au says people covered by an agreement and enrolled in Medicare may be able to apply to Home Affairs for an exemption from 8501, but you can only enrol after you arrive, so you need complying cover first.
What OVHC usually covers and excludes
OVHC products are sold at several levels, from hospital-only to hospital plus extras. Most include:
- Hospital treatment as a public or private patient, including theatre and accommodation, with the level depending on the product.
- Doctors' fees in hospital, and on many products out-of-hospital GP and specialist visits up to the MBS fee.
- Emergency ambulance, which Medicare does not cover for anyone.
- Prescription medicines, often with limits.
- Optional extras such as dental, optical and physio on higher levels.
Things to check before you buy:
- Pre-existing conditions. privatehealth.gov.au says most insurers impose a 12-month wait and some permanently exclude them. Illness that begins while you are travelling to Australia is usually treated as pre-existing.
- Pregnancy. Home Affairs' recommended maximum is 12 months, or none on policies of two years or more. Many products apply the 12 months.
- Out-of-pocket gaps. Doctors can charge above the MBS fee. Ask for estimates before planned treatment.
- Buy-out clauses and annual limits. A buy-out clause or a limit below A$1,000,000 per person per year falls short of the Home Affairs minimum.
- Arrears. A policy that lapses for non-payment leaves you without adequate insurance, which is a breach of 8501.
OVHC vs travel insurance for visitors
Overseas visitor health cover is health insurance for your stay in Australia; travel insurance is cover for a trip, bought in your home country before you leave. privatehealth.gov.au suggests travel insurance can be worth having alongside visitors' cover, especially for a short stay, because it may pay for things visitors' cover doesn't, such as lost travel goods and getting you home in a medical emergency.
Whether a travel policy can stand in for OVHC depends on your visa. If your visa carries 8501, Home Affairs says policies from Australian or overseas insurers may be acceptable, but only if they meet its minimum: at least A$1,000,000 in benefits per person per year, no buy-out clause, waits no longer than the OSHC maximums, and cover for GP visits, hospital treatment, tests, medicines and ambulance. Visas that need evidence of insurance with the application ask for a policy held with an Australian registered private health insurer. And the ATO says travel insurance and overseas policies never count as hospital cover for the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
Who sells overseas visitors health cover
These registered health insurers list overseas visitors cover on their PrivateHealth.gov.au profile, in alphabetical order. privatehealth.gov.au notes that some general insurers based in Australia and insurers overseas also sell visitors' cover. The list isn't a ranking.
Source: each insurer's PrivateHealth.gov.au profile, checked 2 October 2026. Names link to our fund reviews where we have one; the reviews cover each insurer's domestic policies and don't cover visitor products.
OVHC, tax and Lifetime Health Cover
OVHC sits outside the domestic private health insurance incentives. The private health insurance rebate does not apply to it, GST is charged on it, and neither OVHC nor OSHC counts as hospital cover for Lifetime Health Cover.
If you are not entitled to Medicare benefits, you can generally claim an exemption from the Medicare levy, which also removes the surcharge, with a Medicare Entitlement Statement, provided your spouse and dependants are also exempt. If you are enrolled in Medicare, including through a reciprocal agreement, are an Australian tax resident and earn above the threshold, you may be liable for the surcharge, and only hospital cover from an Australian registered insurer counts: the ATO says travel insurance and overseas policies do not.
If you become a permanent resident, your Lifetime Health Cover base day is the later of the 1 July after your 31st birthday or the first anniversary of your full Medicare registration. Taking domestic hospital cover before that date avoids the loading. Our health insurance comparison guideexplains the tiers you will choose between, and the under-30s guidecovers the age-based discount if you are 18 to 29.
Before you buy OVHC
OVHC products differ more than domestic policies, so compare them on the points that decide whether they meet your visa and what you'll pay out of pocket.
| Check | Why it matters | What Home Affairs or privatehealth.gov.au says |
|---|---|---|
| Meets condition 8501 | If your visa carries 8501, a policy that falls short leaves you in breach | Insurers often state whether a product satisfies 8501; Home Affairs publishes the recommended minimum |
| Hospital only, or hospital and medical | Hospital-only products may not pay for GP and specialist visits | Cover for out-of-hospital medical services is recommended for all visitors |
| Out-of-hospital GP and specialist benefits | Most care happens outside hospital | Benefits up to the Medicare Benefits Schedule fee for services with an MBS item number |
| Pre-existing condition and pregnancy waits | A long wait or a permanent exclusion can leave a known condition uncovered | Waits no higher than the OSHC maximums: 12 months for pre-existing conditions; 12 months for pregnancy, or none on policies of two years or more. Some policies permanently exclude pre-existing conditions |
| Annual benefit limit | A low cap can leave you paying the rest of a large bill | At least A$1,000,000 per person per year |
| Buy-out clause | If exercised, it ends the insurer's liability and your adequate cover | Not permitted |
| Excess | What you'd pay towards each admission | Check the product terms |
| Family members | Everyone on your visa may need to be covered | Visas such as the 485 require cover for you and your family |
- Check your visa grant notice or VEVO for condition 8501.
- Make sure cover starts on or before the day you arrive and runs for your whole stay.
- Set up payments so the policy never falls into arrears, which would breach 8501.
Common questions
Is international private medical insurance enough for my visa?
It can be, if it meets the Home Affairs standard. Home Affairs says policies from Australian or overseas insurers may be acceptable, as long as they meet its recommended minimum: at least A$1,000,000 in benefits per person per year, no buy-out clause, waits no longer than the OSHC maximums, and cover equivalent to the OSHC base product. But visas that need evidence of insurance with the application ask for a policy held with an Australian registered private health insurer, which an overseas policy isn't. Check the conditions on your visa grant notice.
What isn't covered by travel insurance in Australia?
It depends on the policy, which is why it pays to read it against the Home Affairs minimum if your visa carries 8501. Travel insurance is bought in your home country and built around a trip: privatehealth.gov.au notes it may cover things visitors' health cover doesn't, such as lost travel goods and medical repatriation. Check whether it covers GP visits, ongoing treatment, pre-existing conditions and pregnancy in Australia, and for how long. It never counts as hospital cover for the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
What is overseas visitor health cover (OVHC)?
Private health insurance for visitors and temporary visa holders who are not eligible for Medicare. It pays towards hospital, medical and usually ambulance costs, and a policy that meets Home Affairs' adequate cover standard satisfies visa condition 8501.
What is visa condition 8501?
A visa condition that says the holder must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia. It is mandatory on visas including the 482, 485, 407 and 870, and can be imposed on others such as the 600 visitor visa. Breaching a visa condition can lead to visa cancellation.
Do I need health insurance for a visitor visa 600?
Only if your visa was granted with condition 8501, which Home Affairs can impose in certain streams and circumstances, or you're the parent of an Australian citizen or permanent resident granted a visa valid for more than 12 months, who must have made adequate arrangements for health insurance. Home Affairs strongly recommends cover for every visitor who is not eligible for Medicare. Our visitor visa 600 health insurance guide covers each stream.
What is the difference between OSHC and OVHC?
OSHC is for student visa holders and is required for the whole of a student's stay; insurers provide it under a Deed with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. OVHC is for other visitors and temporary visa holders, such as 482, 485 and 600 visa holders.
Do I need OVHC if I have Medicare through a reciprocal agreement?
Usually yes if your visa carries 8501. Reciprocal Medicare covers only medically necessary care as a public patient, not private hospital care or ambulance. You may be able to apply to Home Affairs for an exemption once enrolled in Medicare, but you need complying cover until then.
Does OVHC cover pre-existing conditions?
Most insurers impose a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, and some exclude them. Illnesses that start while you are travelling to Australia are usually treated as pre-existing. Check the policy before you buy, especially if you or a family member has an ongoing condition.
Does OVHC count for Lifetime Health Cover or the rebate?
No. The private health insurance rebate does not apply to OVHC, and OVHC and OSHC are not hospital cover for Lifetime Health Cover. If you later become a permanent resident, your LHC base day is the later of the 1 July after your 31st birthday or one year after you register fully for Medicare.
Do overseas visitors pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
If you are not entitled to Medicare benefits you can generally claim an exemption from the Medicare levy, and with it the surcharge, using a Medicare Entitlement Statement, provided your spouse and dependants are also exempt. Visitors enrolled in Medicare, including through a reciprocal agreement, who are tax residents may be liable. Travel insurance and overseas policies do not count as hospital cover for the surcharge.
Travelling out of Australia instead? See travel insurance. Moving here permanently? Start with how to compare Australian health insuranceand health insurance waiting periods.
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