Australia guide · OSHC · 3 min read
OSHC for Australia: what it costs, what it covers, and how to buy it from Nepal.
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is the health insurance every Australian student visa holder must keep for their whole stay. Single cover cost about AUD 600 to 800 a year in 2026, depending on the insurer. You buy it before you lodge the visa, usually through your university, for the full length of your visa. It covers doctor visits, hospital and most medicines at set rates; it doesn't cover dental, optical or physiotherapy unless you add extras.
The short version
- OSHC is compulsory for your whole stay. Buy it before you lodge the visa; the visa is granted to match it.
- Single cover: about AUD 600 to 800 a year (about Rs 64,000 to 85,000). Five insurers sell it; prices differ by about AUD 200.
- It covers GP visits, public hospital care and many prescription medicines. Dental, optical and physio need extras.
- Pre-existing conditions and pregnancy have waiting periods. Tell your insurer the truth before you buy.
- If the visa is refused, the unused cover is refunded.
OSHC in one table
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Health insurance for international students, required by the student visa |
| Who sells it | Five insurers approved by the Australian Government |
| Single cover, 2026 | About AUD 600 to 800 a year (about Rs 64,000 to 85,000) |
| When you buy it | After accepting your offer, before you lodge the visa |
| How long | Your whole visa, which runs past your course end date |
| Refund | Unused cover is refunded if the visa is refused or you don’t travel |
What OSHC covers, and what it doesn’t
| Covered | Not covered by basic OSHC |
|---|---|
| GP (doctor) visits, at the government fee level | Dental |
| Public hospital treatment, and some private hospital costs | Glasses, contact lenses, eye tests |
| Many prescription medicines, up to a limit | Physiotherapy, chiropractic |
| Ambulance | Cosmetic treatment |
| Some pathology and X-rays | Treatment overseas |
If your GP charges more than the government fee, you pay the gap. Ask clinics near your university which ones “bulk bill” OSHC or charge a small gap.
What it costs, and why it varies
Price differs by insurer, by your exact dates, and by single, couple or family cover. Your visa length decides how many months you pay for, and a visa normally runs a few months past your course end date, so a 2-year course needs a little more than 2 years of cover.
| Course | Typical visa length | Single OSHC, at AUD 700 a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year master’s | About 15 months | about AUD 875 (about Rs 93,000) |
| 2-year master’s | About 27 months | about AUD 1,575 (about Rs 1.7 lakh) |
| 3-year bachelor’s | About 39 months | about AUD 2,275 (about Rs 2.4 lakh) |
At Rs 105.97 per AUD (18 Oct 2026). Get the exact quote for your dates before paying.
How to buy it from Nepal
- Accept your offer. Most universities offer to arrange OSHC with their partner insurer and add it to the deposit invoice.
- Or buy it yourself from any of the approved insurers online, for the exact visa dates.
- Pay it with your deposit, through your bank, after your NOC.
- Keep the certificate: the policy number goes into your visa application.
Either way is fine. Buying through the university is simpler; buying yourself can be slightly cheaper.
Waiting periods
Like most insurance, OSHC has waiting periods for some conditions: usually 12 months for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy-related care, and shorter for some psychiatric care. Emergencies are covered.
If you have a known condition (asthma, diabetes, a thyroid problem), bring enough medicine for the first months, a letter from your doctor in Nepal, and tell the insurer before you buy.
Using it when you arrive
- Download your insurer’s app and save your membership card.
- Find a GP near your home or campus; your university health service is often the easiest.
- For an emergency, call 000.
- Keep every receipt and claim through the app.
Your OSHC checklist
- Cover for the full visa length, starting before your flight
- The policy certificate in your visa file
- The insurer’s app downloaded and card saved
- Medicines and a doctor’s letter for any known condition
- Extras for dental or optical, if you want them
