International students in Australia must purchase health insurance and should consider getting travel insurance before leaving their home country. Both health and travel insurance will provide you and your family with confidence that you’ll be taken care of while in Australia. Below, we’ll provide some clarity on Australian health and travel insurance coverage.
Note: Insurance requirements and coverage details are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs and your insurance provider. This information was last updated in February 2026.
Still deciding where to study? Compare the cost of living across popular study destinations like Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the UK, and the USA.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance helps to protect you and your valuables while travelling to Australia. However, it isn’t required in order to study in Australia.
A typical travel insurance plan includes:
- Reimbursement for loss, damage, or destruction of personal belongings, including electronics like laptops, phones, and cameras
- Medical care after an illness or accident (in addition to your Overseas Student Health Cover, or OSHC)
- Coverage for the cost of bringing someone to stay with you if you’re hospitalized
- Personal liability: for example, if you cause personal injury or property damage to someone else during your travels, insurance covers collateral damages up to a set amount
- Trip disruption: for example, if your connecting flight is delayed, insurance will pay for your food and accommodation while you wait for the next available flight
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation expenses if you need to travel for medical treatment
Planning your budget? Check out our budgeting tips for international students in Australia.
Things to Consider
- Not all travel insurance plans cover the same things. Think about what you want coverage for, and research to see which plans meet your needs.
- Many insurance providers offer digital claims processing, which makes it easier to submit claims while abroad.
- Some credit cards provide travel insurance. So, check with your bank to learn what your card benefits offer!
- While most students will purchase travel insurance from a provider in their home country, some OSHC providers offer optional travel insurance add-ons with their health insurance plans.
Health Insurance
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is mandatory health insurance for all international students. It covers most basic medical expenses within Australia. You’ll need to apply for OSHC before you apply for a visa, as you’ll need to show proof of OSHC during your student visa application.
To make it easier to access health care, all major medical providers now offer 24/7 telehealth consultations through mobile apps. You’ll also be able to access enhanced mental health support and improved pharmaceutical benefits.
Students must be covered by OSHC through their entire stay. If your OSHC lapses, it can lead to automatic visa cancellation.
Basic OSHC coverage usually includes:
- GP (general practitioner or family doctor) visits
- Hospital treatment in public hospitals or agreement private hospitals
- Emergency ambulance services nationwide
- Some prescription medicines
OSHC Doesn’t Cover:
- Dental care
- Optical services (glasses, contact lenses, eye exams)
- Physiotherapy
- Chiropractic treatment
- Cosmetic surgery
- Treatment outside Australia
Extra Coverage: If you want coverage for dental, optical, or physiotherapy services, you can purchase “Extras OSHC” or supplement your OSHC with private health insurance.
Purchasing OSHC
You can purchase OSHC through any eligible private health insurer registered in Australia. This must be done before applying for your student visa.
Any family members joining you in Australia must also have OSHC coverage. The policy must list the names of all covered individuals, matching their passport names exactly. Policy types include: Single, Dual (a student plus a partner or children), and Family (a student, their partner, and any dependent children under 18).
There are currently six government-approved OSHC providers. They are:
- Allianz Care Australia (Peoplecare)
- ahm OSHC
- BUPA Australia
- Medibank Private
- nib
- CBHS International Health
Note: Prices vary, so consider using comparison platforms like OSHC Australia to find the best value.
Once your insurance policy is active, you can download your provider’s mobile app to make accessing health services easier. On the app, you may be able to access your digital membership cards, make a quick claim submission, conduct online doctor consultations, and see clinic locations.
If your student visa is refused, most health insurance providers will offer a refund. Refund processing usually takes two to six weeks.
Important: As you travel to Australia, keep your OSHC documents in your carry-on luggage so you can access them at the port of entry. Also, save a digital copy on your phone.
Discover why Australia is one of the world’s top study destinations.
Health Exam
Some international students must complete medical and radiological examinations as part of the visa application process. Health exams are typically required for students staying over 12 months, those entering healthcare or childcare environments, and students from countries with higher tuberculosis rates (including most South Asian countries).
The examination includes a physical check-up and chest X-ray for students aged 11 or older. The exam must be conducted by a panel doctor approved by the Department of Home Affairs using the eMedical system.
You can find a list of government-approved doctors on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements
Students from Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom may access Australian Medicare under reciprocal agreements. However, obtaining OSHC is still mandatory for your student visa, even if you’re eligible for Medicare.
Now that you know more about Australian health and travel insurance, check out study programmes in Australia on the ApplyBoard platform.
