Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

International students undertaking formal studies in Australia, and their dependents (spouses and children under 18 years old), must obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) before the course starts and for the entire duration of their stay in Australia.  

If students organise their OSHC, they will need to include the name of the health insurance provider, the start and end dates of the policy and the policy number in the application form.

Basic OSHC includes visits to the doctor, hospital treatment, limited pharmaceuticals, ambulance cover, some prosthetic devices and access to private hospitals and day surgeries. Dental, optical and physiotherapy treatments are not covered by basic OSHC but are available as ‘extras’ from some OSHC providers as part of a more comprehensive OSHC cover.

The OSHC must be for the proposed duration of the student visa and students need to renew their OSHC if they extend the length of the student visa. 

Students need to ensure that they enter the same name as mentioned on their passports. OSHC certificate is required to be submitted as part of the student visa application so both passport and OSHC certificate need to show the same name. 

Students need to contact their OSHC provider and show them a copy of the denial/refusal letter received from the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs to request a full refund of the OSHC.