Packaged course OSHC: what evidence covers the remaining stay?
For a packaged course, a student whose provider insured only the institution portion must evidence OSHC arranged for the rest of their stay.
If your provider insured only the portion of a packaged course studied at its institution, you must provide evidence that you arranged OSHC for the remaining period of your stay. Overall, OSHC must provide medical and hospital insurance in Australia from your arrival until you leave Australia or move to a non-student visa; a Student visa holder without health insurance breaches visa condition 8501, even before the course starts. The Department of Home Affairs’s Education provider responsibilities guidance was checked 1 October 2026.
What evidence is missing when a course is packaged?
The missing evidence is a student-arranged OSHC policy covering the part of your stay that the provider’s policy does not cover. A provider may arrange insurance only for the package component studied at its institution, but that does not establish cover for your entire stay in Australia.
| Record or evidence | What to check |
|---|---|
| CoE in PRISMS | Whether the provider arranged OSHC and, if so, its recorded start and end dates |
| Provider disclosure | The name of the health insurer and the policy start and finish dates |
| Expected stay | Your arrival date and expected departure date, or the date you move to a non-student visa |
| Remaining period | Any part of your stay not covered by the provider-arranged policy |
| Additional evidence | Evidence that you arranged OSHC for that remaining period |
Read the actual dates rather than assuming that the word “packaged” means the provider insured the whole course. Your own evidence should make the remaining coverage easy to identify.
What information should the remaining-policy evidence show?
The Department’s guidance identifies the information students need, but it does not prescribe one document format. Your evidence should make the following details easy to verify:
| Information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Health insurer’s name | Identifies the company providing the remaining cover |
| Policy start and finish dates | Shows which part of your stay the policy covers and whether it leaves a gap |
| Policy number | Must be included on the visa application when you arranged your own OSHC |
| Terms and conditions | Allows you to check the policy conditions, usually through the product disclosure statement or a link to the insurer’s website |
A policy number does not need to be included on the application when the education provider arranged the OSHC. If you arranged it yourself, however, the Department says you must include the policy number.
The Department also says students need this information to complete the visa application and potentially to make a claim before the course begins. If required information is omitted from the application, the Department says the visa may be refused.
Where must the extra OSHC apply?
The additional policy must apply throughout the remaining stay in Australia that is not covered by the provider’s arrangement. It is not limited to course attendance days or the period physically spent at the provider.
| Point in the stay | OSHC requirement |
|---|---|
| Arrival in Australia | OSHC must begin on the arrival date |
| Arrival before the course starts | Use the arrival date, not the course start date, as the OSHC start date |
| Purchase before the course | Depending on your circumstances, OSHC may start up to a month before the course |
| Period after the provider-covered component | Your evidence must show OSHC arranged for the remaining stay |
| Leaving Australia | Maintain the required cover until you leave |
| Moving to a non-student visa | Maintain the required cover until the move occurs |
You are responsible for ensuring that you do not enter Australia before your OSHC begins and that the required cover continues until you leave Australia.
Who is responsible for arranging and recording the cover?
Education providers do not have to arrange a student’s health insurance, although many choose to collect premiums and arrange OSHC on the student’s behalf.
| Party | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Education provider | Declare on the student’s CoE in PRISMS whether it arranged OSHC; if it did, select “yes” and enter the insurance start and end dates |
| Student | Provide evidence for any remaining period not covered by the provider’s arrangement and maintain the required cover |
| Insurer | Supply the policy information and terms applicable to its own product |
A provider-arranged policy may therefore answer only part of the OSHC question. If its dates end before your required stay ends, you need evidence of your own OSHC for the remaining period.
How can I check the evidence before submitting it?
- Read the CoE entry in PRISMS and note whether the provider arranged OSHC.
- Record the provider’s insurance start and finish dates.
- Compare those dates with your expected arrival and departure or move to a non-student visa.
- Identify the dates that the provider’s policy does not cover.
- If your own policy covers those dates, make sure its insurer, dates, policy number and terms are clear.
- Keep the product disclosure statement or the insurer’s terms link with your application records.
- Check the policy documents and the Department of Home Affairs information relevant to your visa before submitting the evidence.
This is general information. Your policy documents and the Home Affairs page for your visa should be checked for your particular circumstances.
Sources
FAQ
Does OSHC arranged by my provider cover the whole packaged course?
Not necessarily. If the provider insured only the package portion studied at its institution, you must provide evidence that you arranged OSHC for the remaining period of your stay. Check the policy dates rather than relying on the course structure alone.
What evidence should I provide for my own remaining OSHC?
Make the insurer’s name, policy start and finish dates, policy number and terms easy to identify. If you arranged the policy yourself, the Department says the policy number must be included on the visa application.
What if I arrive in Australia before my course starts?
Your OSHC must start on your arrival date, not the course start date. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to purchase OSHC starting up to a month before the course.
Am I required to purchase OSHC if I have another form of health insurance?
The Department lists these students as having adequate health insurance and not needing to purchase OSHC:
- Norwegian students covered by the National Insurance Scheme
- Swedish students with insurance provided by Kammarkkllegiet
- Belgian students covered under a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia
Check the Home Affairs information for your visa if you believe one of these arrangements applies to you.
Who must keep the OSHC active?
The student is responsible for maintaining the required OSHC until leaving Australia or moving to a non-student visa. A provider may arrange and record part of the cover, but that does not remove the need to account for the rest of the stay.