OSHC explained

Who needs it?

You and your family members must hold adequate health insurance for the whole of your stay. The only exceptions are students covered by the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, Swedish students covered by Kammarkollegiet, and Belgian students covered under the reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.

When must it start?

• Applying from outside Australia: from the day you arrive. If you want to arrive before your course starts (usually 1 week to 1 month earlier), your OSHC start date must be your arrival date. Do not enter Australia before your OSHC begins, and keep it until you leave. You can be refused entry if you cannot show insurance on arrival.
• Applying inside Australia: you need OSHC. If your previous visa required insurance, cover must be continuous with no gap.

How to get it

Find an approved provider and pay for a policy. Your education provider or agent may arrange it. If they do, you need the provider name and the policy start and end dates, and the provider includes the details on your Confirmation of Enrolment. If you arrange it yourself, you need the policy number for the visa application. The application is refused if you do not give this information.

Family members

Every family member must be insured, including children born in Australia after you arrive. If you hold a single policy and have family, consider a family policy. A family member who joins later must show OSHC for their whole stay.

OSHC and your visa end date

OSHC must at least cover your course length. The extra time added after the course is only granted if OSHC covers that time, and the visa end date cannot be changed once granted. See length of stay.

Breaching the condition

Failing to keep insurance breaches condition 8501. See 8501.