OVHC for the 485 Graduate Visa: When You Actually Need It
Do you need OVHC on the subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa? Covers condition 8501, the 11-country Reciprocal Health Care Agreement exception and what it doesn't cover, the pregnancy waiting period, and keeping cover for the whole visa. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
Watch
Chapters
- 0:00 Your student health cover
- 0:12 Condition 8501:
- 0:32 11 countries
- 0:42 RHCA doesn't cover:
- 0:53 Planning a baby?
- 1:03 Cover the whole visa —
- 1:13 The two mistakes
- 1:23 Where to read more
Transcript
Your student health cover doesn't carry over to a subclass 485 graduate visa — it simply ends when your student visa does.
Most 485 visas carry condition 8501 — a requirement to hold adequate health cover for the entire length of the visa.
Most graduates need Overseas Visitor Health Cover. The exception: if your home country has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, you may enrol in Medicare instead.
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with 11 countries — including the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Italy and Sweden.
An RHCA isn't a full substitute for private cover. It excludes dental, optical, ambulance, and any pre-arranged or elective treatment.
Planning a baby during the visa? A standard 12-month waiting period applies to pregnancy and birth cover — so timing when you take out the policy matters.
Whatever cover is chosen, it needs to run for the entire visa — not just the first year. A gap in cover can breach condition 8501.
The two mistakes that catch graduates out: paying for a higher tier than needed, or under-insuring to save money and facing a large bill later.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description.
Short versions
- Your OSHC doesn't carry over to the 485 (0:31)
- 11 countries skip OVHC entirely (0:31)
- Planning a baby on your 485? Timing matters (0:26)
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