Many Australian visas come with condition 8501, which requires visa holders to maintain an adequate level of private health insurance while they’re in Australia. If you’re living, working or studying in Australia on a temporary visa, this condition will often apply and means you’ll need suitable health cover in place for the duration of your stay.
8501 visa condition health insurance requirements
If your visa is subject to condition 8501, you must hold adequate health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. This is to ensure you can meet the cost of medical treatment while living, working or studying in Australia if you are not covered by Medicare, Australia’s public health system.
To be visa-compliant, your health insurance must provide cover comparable to Medicare, namely:
- Treatment as a public patient in a public hospital
- Emergency ambulance transport
- Prescription medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Medical services covered by the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
There are two types of health insurance that cover this:
- Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) for people living and working temporarily in Australia. Premiums are paid monthly for the duration of your stay.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for international students. You pay for the entire policy in a lump sum upfront.
Policies range from basic cover that meets the minimum visa requirements through to more comprehensive options, with some plans also offering additional benefits or optional extras at a higher cost.
Which visas does the 8501 condition apply to?
Depending on your visa, the 8501 health insurance condition may be:
- Mandatory, meaning it is required for every visa in that category.
- Discretionary, meaning it isn’t automatically applied to every visa in that category but can be added by the decision-maker depending on your situation. If imposed, the 8501 condition becomes a legal requirement for your visa.
| Mandatory | Discretionary |
|---|---|
| 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) | 408 Temporary Activity |
| 407 Training | 417 Working Holiday |
| 482 Temporary Skill Shortage / Skills in Demand | 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship |
| 485 Temporary Graduate | 462 Work and Holiday |
| 500 Student | 771 Transit |
| 590 Student Guardian | 600 Visitor (Tourist) – only in certain streams or circumstances |
| 870 Sponsored Parent |
Bridging visas may also be subject to the condition in specific situations.
How much is health insurance that meets the 8501 visa condition?
The cost of your health cover will depend on a number of factors:
- Your visa type: whether you’re classed as a visitor (such as a 600 visa), a worker (like a 482) or a student can affect pricing, as each visa requires different types of cover.
- Level of cover: basic, minimum-required cover is usually cheaper, while higher-tier plans cost more and may include broader benefits or extras.
- Excess amount: this is what you pay out of pocket if you make a claim. Choosing a higher excess can lower your premium but means higher costs if you need treatment.
- Extras: adding extras, or choosing a plan with a wider range of extras, will generally increase the price.
- Provider: insurers price their policies differently, so premiums can vary even for similar levels of cover.
Here’s a look at how much you might expect to pay for different visas that have or may have the 8501 visa condition:
| Visa | Price range (monthly) |
|---|---|
| 407 | $65 – $488 |
| 482 | $65 – $488 |
| 485 | $65 – $488 |
| 870 | $164 – $724 |
| 408 | $65 – $488 |
| 417 | $65 – $488 |
| 461 | $164 – $724 |
| 462 | $65 – $488 |
| 600 | $164 – $724 |
| Source: Compare Club, January 2026 Examples shown are for a single 30-year-old. Price ranges include policies with excesses ranging from $0 to $500. Some policies in these ranges include extras cover, which can increase the premium. |
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How do I get health insurance to fulfil the 8501 visa condition?
If your visa has the 8501 condition, you must have health insurance in place before you apply for your visa, and it must be active when you arrive in Australia. With a range of providers and plans available, using a comparison service can make this easier, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the Australian healthcare system.
Savvy can help you compare a range of OVHC and OSHC plans in one place, tailored to your visa and needs. Getting started is simple:
Savvy can help you compare a range of OVHC plans in one place, tailored to your visa and needs. Getting started is simple:
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Apply through Savvy
Tell us who needs cover, your visa type and the level of cover you’re looking for.
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Connect with an advisor
A health insurance expert will contact you to discuss options that meet the 8501 visa condition.
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Take out your policy
Choose your health insurance plan and you’ll be covered for your time in Australia!
