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- Most people need Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) health insurance when coming to Australia.
- There are special policies made for tourists, workers and students.
- Prices start from around AU$60 per month, depending on what cover you need.
What is overseas visitors health cover?
Overseas visitors health cover (OVHC) is private health insurance designed specifically for people coming to Australia on a temporary visa. It's mandatory on some visas, but you may be exempt if you're a citizen of a country with a reciprocal health care agreement. If you're a student, you may need overseas student health cover.
What is Condition 8501?
Condition 8501 is a mandatory health insurance requirement for certain Australian visas. If your visa is subject to this condition, you must maintain adequate health cover for the duration of your stay in Australia.
This typically means holding Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) that meets government requirements. Failing to maintain valid health insurance could affect your visa status.
To ensure compliance:
- Check if your visa has Condition 8501 before arriving in Australia.
- Purchase an OVHC policy that meets visa requirements.
- Keep your health insurance active while in Australia.
Even if you're eligible for Medicare under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA), you may still need OVHC to meet Condition 8501. Always review your visa conditions carefully.
Providing evidence of OVHC coverage
To provide evidence you have adequate health insurance in place, most insurers will send you a copy of your policy as soon as you purchase it. You can attach this to your visa application.

"Applicants generally provide a letter or policy statement from the insurance provider indicating that the person(s) have made adequate arrangements for health insurance. Generally speaking, health insurance is not a requirement for the visa to be granted. Rather, it is a visa condition imposed as part of the visa grant, commencing when they enter Australia."
What does OVHC cover?
OVHC is made to cover most of the medically necessary medical costs you're likely to have while you're in Australia. However, it doesn't cover everything. Here's what is typically covered:

Hospital care
Cheaper policies will cover emergency ambulance rides and treatment in a hospital, plus accommodation fees. Other common services include cover for hernias, cancer and joint replacements.

Doctor's appointments
This is when you need to make an appointment at a doctor's clinic, known as a General Practitioner (GP) in Australia, because you're feeling unwell or have some other health issue that may require medication.

Prescribed medicine
If you are on medication, it's likely worth getting a policy that will cover your prescriptions. Otherwise, medicine can be quite expensive in Australia.

Repatriation
If you become seriously unwell or suffer a life-altering disability, most overseas visitor policies will pay to fly you home under medical supervision.

Extras (out-of-hospital services)
Some OVHC policies will cover out-of-hospital services, known as 'extras'. This includes dental, optical, physiotherapy and other services that you might need. These aren't covered by the most basic plans, so you'll either need a more comprehensive OVHC policy, or to take out a separate extras health policy (which you are allowed to do, even if you're not an Aussie citizen).
How does OVHC work (video)
How to Find the Best OVHC Cover
Choosing the right Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) can help you meet visa requirements while keeping healthcare costs manageable. Here are some key tips to find the best policy:
- Compare multiple providers – Prices and benefits can vary widely, so it's worth shopping around. Use our best OVHC guide to compare top options.
- Check visa compliance – Ensure your policy meets Condition 8501 requirements if your visa requires health insurance.
- Look at what's covered – Basic policies usually cover hospital and GP visits, but extras like dental and ambulance services may not be included.
- Consider waiting periods – Some treatments may have waiting periods before you can claim, so check the fine print.
- Review exclusions – OVHC policies often exclude pre-existing conditions or pregnancy-related services, so make sure you understand the limitations.
How to Find Cheap OVHC Cover
If you're looking for affordable Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), here are some tips to help you save while still meeting visa requirements:
- Compare policies online – Prices vary between insurers, so use our comparison tools to make sure you're getting great value.
- Choose a basic policy – If you only need cover to meet Condition 8501, a basic hospital-only plan may be the most cost-effective choice.
- Look for discounts – Some insurers offer discounts for paying annually instead of monthly.
- Avoid unnecessary extras – Extras cover (e.g. dental or optical) can increase costs, so only include what you need.
- Check waiting periods – Some cheaper policies have longer waiting periods for certain treatments, so weigh up cost vs. access to care.

"I arrived in Australia from overseas with no clue about health insurance, medicare or bulk billing! However, getting OVHC was a requirement for my visa. I took out a policy with Allianz, which covered the visa condition 8501. Policies with GP and dental visits cost quite a lot more, so I just got a basic policy for $80 a month that would cover me if I needed to go to emergency. Luckily, I haven't had to use the policy much, but it's been great having peace of mind while also keeping the Australian Government happy!"
Overseas visitor health cover for couples and families
If your visa requires you to have health insurance and the other members of your family are coming over on the same visa as you, everyone will be required to have OVHC. Most insurers offer singles, couples and family policies so that you can all be covered under the same policy.
That said, some couple policies can be really expensive for some visas, especially student visas. This tends to happen when you're both covered for pregnancy related claims and because you're a young couple, therefore considered by insurers as more likely to have kids soon.
What's not covered by overseas visitor health cover (OVHC)?
There are some conditions and treatments that OVHC won't typically cover. Here are a few of the most common:
- Ambulance rides that aren't considered an emergency
- Elective cosmetic surgery such as a nose job or breast implants
- Treatment arranged in advance of your arrival in Australia
- IVF and other assisted reproductive services
- Services provided outside of Australia
Do you need overseas visitor health cover?
If you plan on working in Australia, your visa application will generally require you to have OVHC in place by the time you enter Australia, unless you're a citizen of a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.
When should you get overseas visitor health cover?
If you're applying for a visa that requires health insurance, it's important to have Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) in place at the right time. Here's what you need to know:
- Before you apply for your visa - Many visas require proof of OVHC at the time of application. Check your visa requirements and arrange cover in advance.
- Before you arrive in Australia - If your visa has already been granted offshore, make sure your policy starts from the date you land.
- If you're already in Australia - If you're applying for a new visa onshore and your current visa requires OVHC, you should maintain continuous cover to meet the conditions of your visa.
Reciprocal Health Care Agreements
If you're from one of the 11 countries listed below, you're eligible for Medicare and won't be required to have Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC). This is due to an agreement between your country and Australia called a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA).
This agreement allows you to receive publicly funded healthcare for:
- Medically necessary care outside of hospital
- Medically necessary care as a public patient in a public hospital, including inpatient and outpatient services
- Certain prescription medicines at the general rate
While you're not required to have OVHC if you're eligible for Medicare, we suggest considering OVHC as well. RHCA benefits are limited, and private cover can help with:
- Ambulance services, which may not be fully covered under the RHCA
- Treatment in private hospitals or as a private patient in a public hospital
- Services not covered by Medicare, such as dental, optical and physiotherapy
Countries with an RHCA
If you're from any of the following countries, you can access Medicare under an RHCA:
- Belgium
- Finland
- Italy
- Malta
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Republic of Ireland
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
Frequently asked questions
The lowdown on Finder Score
We look at more than 50 eligible overseas health insurance products from around 15 providers, assessing them for core features to give them each a score out of 10. We consider various features including pricing, hospital cover, extras cover and emergency travel.
The Finder Score methodology is designed by our Insights team. Commercial partners carry no weight and all products are reviewed objectively.
Digging deeper into the Finder overseas health insurance score
- 9+ Excellent - These policies offer outstanding value with strong hospital and extras cover, competitive pricing, and generous benefits.
- 7+ Great - These policies may have slightly higher costs or fewer benefits but still provide solid overall coverage.
- 5+ Satisfactory - These options often come with higher premiums or limited features and may fall short in one or more key areas.
- Less than 5 – Basic - These policies offer the least value, with limited cover and fewer included benefits.
Ask a question
26 Responses
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wanted to best cover for visitor coiming to Australia. a couple
Hi Baru,
Thanks for your comment and I hope you are doing well.
It looks like you are on the accurate page to find and compare overseas health cover. On the page, you will find a table that compares the features and benefits of each OVHC provider such as price, visa complaint, cover and etc. You can also click the compare box beside each loan option and compare up to 4 options side by side for easier comparison. This way it will be easier for you to see which provider fits you best.
As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.
Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to us again for further assistance.
Best,
Nikki
I’m looking for ambulance cover for a friend of mine currently holding a Bridging Visa. Can you advise?
Hi Luke,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. 😃
It’s nice to hear that you’re helping your friend. We do have a page about bridging visa health insurance that might help. On the page, you will see a table that allows you to compare bridging visa health insurance based on various details and descriptions. Moreover, the insurers listed on that page should include ambulance cover unless otherwise stated.
While looking for insurers, please make sure you read the terms and conditions of the policy to learn more and know if it is the right policy for you or not.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
My girlfriend is coming to live with here in Australia and she has a condition, (childhood arthritis) she requires an injection every 10 days and pills everyday. she is from Slovakia. we have found the medication is available is Australia by prescription. can she be covered by insurance.
Hi Corey,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
This may depend on the insurer you would be going with for the policy if they cover pre-existing conditions as well as medication needed for that condition. The exact list of excluded services varies between insurers, so take a closer look at the policy document before choosing a policy. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
Pl advise
Pl advise me how can I do visitor health insurance for tourist visa (600) with short stay about 30 days?
Hi Jayakar,
Here is how to apply for tourist visitor health insurance.
You’ll need to provide a range of documents to support your application for a 600 visa. Depending on your country of origin and your visa stream, the requirements will vary. Contact your nearest immigration office outside of Australia for details on what you will need to provide in order for your visa application to be accepted. For example, if you are going on vacation then you will need to provide the following to qualify for the tourist stream:
– A completed visa application form
– Certified copies of the biographical pages of your passport
– A recent passport-sized photograph
– A certified copy of your birth certificate
– Evidence of sufficient funds for your trip, such as bank statements
– A copy of your travel itinerary
– Information to show that you intend to return to your home country
– All documents must be certified copies, and any documents not in English must be accompanied by accredited English translations.
Hope this helps!
Best Regards,
Nikki
parents have sub class 600 with visa condition 8501,8101& 8201. Please suggest a policy which suits the above conditions
Hi Tanya,
Thanks for your inquiry.
You may compare your options from a range of health insurance for parents visiting Australia. You may click the name of your preferred insurance to know more details and you may click the “Go to Site” button to submit an online application through their official site.
Please ensure you review the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
Best regards,
Rench