Student visa (subclass 500) holders generally need adequate health insurance for their whole stay — that’s visa condition 8501. For most students, OSHC is the cover used to satisfy it; limited national scheme exemptions are explained below.
Condition 8501 requires adequate health-insurance arrangements for the entire stay. For student visa holders, OSHC is the cover the Department's policy recognises — starting on or before arrival and running until the visa ends.
Cover comes in single, couple, and family tiers. Accompanying family members on the visa need cover for the same period as the student.
Norwegian students under their National Insurance Scheme, Belgian students under the reciprocal health-care agreement, and some Swedish students with CSN/Kammarkollegiet cover don't need OSHC.
OSHC can only be sold by insurers holding a Deed of Agreement with the Australian Government. The official Private Health directory listed these six insurers when checked on 22 August 2026. Open the insurer's own site for current products, policy wording and a quote for your dates and family type.
| Provider | Official destination |
|---|---|
| ahm OSHC | ahmoshc.com.au ↗ |
| Allianz Care Australia | allianzcare.com.au ↗ |
| Bupa Australia | bupa.com.au ↗ |
| CBHS International Health | cbhsinternationalhealth.com.au ↗ |
| Medibank | medibank.com.au ↗ |
| nib OSHC | nib.com.au ↗ |
We have no commercial relationship with these insurers and receive nothing if you buy. The list follows the government directory in alphabetical order; the government page remains authoritative if it changes. Official information: privatehealth.gov.au. Complaints about a health insurer go to the Commonwealth Ombudsman.
Which cover you need, and how condition 8501 applies to your situation, depends on your circumstances — that’s advice only a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner can give.
Find a verified practitionerImportant notice: General information only — not immigration assistance or legal advice. For advice about your circumstances, contact a verified practitioner.
Provider names follow privatehealth.gov.au; policy details and quotes remain on each insurer's official website. No practitioner or lawyer reviewed this page.