Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC)
A guide to OVHC for temporary visa holders in Australia — what it covers, which visas require it, and where to compare plans from Australia's six approved providers.
What is OVHC?
Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) is health insurance for temporary visa holders in Australia who are not eligible for Medicare. It covers medical treatment, hospital stays, emergency services, and in some cases prescription medicines.
OVHC is separate from OSHC, which is specifically for international students. If you hold a temporary work visa, graduate visa, visitor visa, or training visa, OVHC is the product you need.
Whether OVHC is mandatory depends on your specific visa conditions. For some visas (such as 482 and 485), maintaining health insurance is a visa condition. For others, it is strongly recommended. Always check your visa grant letter.
Which visas may require OVHC?
The following visa subclasses commonly require or recommend health insurance. Always check your visa grant letter for your specific conditions.
Employer-sponsored workers. OVHC is a visa condition for the primary applicant and any dependants.
Recent graduates. Health insurance is a visa condition. OVHC satisfies this requirement.
Tourists and business visitors. Health insurance is strongly recommended but not always a visa condition. Check your grant letter.
Occupational trainees. Health insurance is a visa condition. OVHC satisfies this requirement.
Seasonal workers and international relations workers. Health insurance requirements vary by stream.
Regional skilled workers. Health insurance is a visa condition for applicants not eligible for Medicare.
Not sure about your visa conditions? Your visa grant letter lists all conditions that apply to you. If you are unsure whether health insurance is mandatory for your visa, an immigration lawyer can help clarify your obligations.
What does OVHC generally cover?
Coverage varies between providers and plan levels. OVHC plans are typically available in tiers — from basic hospital-only cover to comprehensive plans that include extras.
Always check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of the specific plan you are considering. Waiting periods, exclusions, and benefit limits vary significantly between providers and plan levels.
The 6 approved OVHC providers
These providers offer OVHC plans that satisfy visa health insurance requirements. Visit their websites directly to get quotes and purchase cover.
Where to compare OVHC plans
These independent comparison sites let you compare OVHC pricing and features across providers. We list them as a convenience — we have no commercial relationship with any of these sites.
We are immigration lawyers — not insurance brokers.
We cannot advise on which OVHC policy to choose. But if you have questions about your visa conditions, what happens if your insurance lapses, or whether your visa requires health cover — that is exactly what we do.
Nilesh Nandan has 27 years of experience across every visa category. 4.8 stars from 500+ Google reviews.
Frequently asked questions about OVHC
Health insurance is one part of the picture. If you have questions about your visa conditions, compliance, or next steps in Australia — talk to an immigration lawyer.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) in Australia. It is not financial advice or insurance advice. We do not sell, recommend, or receive commissions from any insurance product. The provider and comparison site links are provided as a free resource. Always confirm current pricing, coverage, and eligibility directly with the provider before purchasing. MyVisa Insurance is operated by MyVisa Lawyers. For immigration advice, book a consultation at myvisa.com.au.