Visa Requirements

Visa and insurance requirements in Australia 

Whether you’re visiting Australia for a quick holiday or staying for an extended period, health insurance could be a valuable safety net if something happens to you. It could help pay for expenses ranging from doctor visits to hospital stays, and possibly even emergency medical evacuation if you need to head back home. 

Other than it being a good idea, there’s another reason you might want to take out health insurance: it might be necessary for your visa. For several Australian visas, such as student visas and bridging visas, you need to take out health cover before the Australian government will grant them. 

To help you figure out the requirements under your visa, you’ll find the different types of visas available in Australia below. 

Work visas 

People from around the world migrate to Australia to work, both temporarily and permanently. You might be visiting as a consultant or starting a new career. Depending on your visa, you may or may not have to take out health cover.  

Study visas 

Australia is an incredibly popular destination for students, thanks to its many universities, vocational education providers, English language schools and other educational institutions.  

If you’re studying in Australia, you’ll likely need to take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless you’re coming from an exempt country like Sweden, Norway or Belgium.  

Here are the study visas available in Australia: 

• 407 Training visa
• 500 Student visa
• 590 Student Guardian visa 

Holiday visas 

If you’re only in Australia to take a holiday, visit friends and family, or stop by for a few days en route to your final destination, you likely won’t need to take out health insurance to secure your visa.  

That being said, it could still be a good idea so you’re not caught out by unexpected medical expenses if something happens during your trip.  

Here are the holiday visas available in Australia: 

• 417 Working Holiday visa
• 462 Work and Holiday visa
• 600 Visitor visa
• 601 Electronic Travel Authority visa
• 651 eVisitor visa
• 771 Transit visa 

Family and partner visas 

You might be accompanying someone while they work or study in Australia, either as their partner, guardian or dependent. Or perhaps you’re a parent of an Australian citizen intending to stay down under for a few years. Depending on your visa type, you may need to take out health insurance.  

Refugee and humanitarian visas 

In Australia, refugees, humanitarian entrants and some asylum seekers can access Medicare. However, heath insurance could still be worth considering, as it could provide a financial safety net for expenses not covered by Medicare – like ambulance and the majority of dental services. 

Here are the refugee and humanitarian visas available in Australia: 

• 200, 201, 203, 204 Refugee visas
• 202 Global Special Humanitarian visa
• 785 Temporary Protection visa
• 790 Safe Haven Enterprise visa
• 851 Resolution of Status visa
• 866 Protection visa 

Bridging visas 

If your current visa expires, you could be able to access a bridging visa, which lets you stay in Australia until your situation is resolved.  

No matter what kind of bridging visa you have, you’ll need to take out adequate health insurance.  

Here are the bridging visas available in Australia: 

• BVA 010 Bridging Visa A
• BVB 020 Bridging Visa B
• BVC 030 Bridging Visa C
• BVE 050 Bridging Visa E
• BVE 051 Bridging Visa E

Which Australian visas require health cover? 

In Australia, there’s a particular category of visa that requires you to take out health insurance. It’s known as condition 8501.

Where can I find Overseas Visitors Health Cover? 

If your visa has a health insurance requirement, or you’re looking for extra coverage while you’re in Australia, visit our Overseas Visitors Health Cover page for more information.