Can Swedish, Norwegian and Belgian students claim an OSHC exemption?

Some Swedish, Norwegian and Belgian students may qualify for an OSHC purchase exemption under special national arrangements, but nationality alone is not enough. Students from Sweden and Belgium in Australia on a student visa can apply for Medicare under reciprocal agreements, while students from Norway are not covered by an agreement with Norway; Medicare access does not cancel the OSHC requirement, and OSHC pharmaceutical benefits are limited to $50 per item and $500 a year for single membership ($1,000 for a family membership). The official Overseas Student Health Cover guidance, checked 1 October 2026, directs students who may have national arrangements to confirm their status with the Department of Home Affairs.

What does the guidance say about each country?

Country	Published position	What you should confirm
Sweden	Students in Australia on a student visa from Sweden can apply for Medicare under Sweden’s Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. A separate OSHC exemption may apply under special national arrangements.	Ask the Department of Home Affairs whether those arrangements exempt your particular status from purchasing OSHC.
Norway	Students from Norway are not covered by an agreement with Norway. However, the OSHC guidance says an exemption may still apply under special national arrangements.	Confirm with the Department of Home Affairs whether an exemption applies to you.
Belgium	Students in Australia on a student visa from Belgium can apply for Medicare under Belgium’s Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. A separate OSHC exemption may apply under special national arrangements.	Ask the Department of Home Affairs whether your status qualifies for an exemption.

These are not three identical arrangements. Medicare eligibility and an exemption from the OSHC purchase requirement are separate questions.

Does access to Medicare remove the need for OSHC?

No. The standard visa condition requires an overseas student on a temporary student visa to maintain adequate health insurance throughout their stay in Australia. That means purchasing OSHC and keeping the policy up to date while you are in Australia and holding a student visa.

Any Medicare coverage for which you are eligible under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement is additional to OSHC. Being able to apply for Medicare as a Swedish or Belgian student therefore does not, by itself, cancel the OSHC requirement.

How can I check whether an exemption applies to me?

• Review your current visa and its conditions through the Department of Home Affairs.
• Ask the Department of Home Affairs whether any special arrangement under your national scheme makes you exempt from purchasing OSHC.
• Do not treat nationality, a country list or the ability to apply for Medicare as confirmation of an exemption.
• Do not cancel or avoid an existing policy solely because you come from one of these countries.
• If no exemption is confirmed, purchase OSHC and maintain it for the required period.

The published statement does not provide a nationality-only eligibility test or a standard document checklist. It directs students who may have special national arrangements to Home Affairs for the individual assessment.

What should I check if I still need OSHC?

The OSHC Deed sets the minimum policy requirements, while the exact terms should be checked in the policy documents.

Feature	Published OSHC position
Medical and hospital care	OSHC helps international students meet some of the costs they may incur.
Ambulance cover	Included.
Pharmaceutical benefits	Limited to $50 per pharmaceutical item and $500 a year for single membership, or $1,000 for a family membership.
Dental, optical and physiotherapy	Not included as ancillary or extras treatment. Additional Extras OSHC or general treatment cover may be available.

Pharmaceutical treatment can still involve substantial out-of-pocket costs. The guidance particularly highlights oncology treatment, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Only a small number of registered health insurers offer OSHC under a Deed of Agreement with the Department of Health and Aged Care. Compare the policy documents rather than assuming that similarly named products have identical cover.

What can affect my cover during my stay?

• Payments or renewal: If you fall behind, your cover may continue, but you may not be able to claim for services received while you were in arrears.
• Visa or Medicare changes: Tell your insurer as soon as possible so it can assess whether your level of cover remains suitable.
• Visa expiry: When your student visa expires, you are no longer eligible to hold OSHC.

Sources

• Overseas Student Health Cover — privatehealth.gov.au

FAQ

Are all students from Sweden, Norway and Belgium exempt from OSHC?

No. The guidance says exemptions may apply to some students under special national arrangements, but it does not make nationality alone sufficient. Confirm your status with the Department of Home Affairs.

Can a Swedish or Belgian student use Medicare instead of OSHC?

No. Eligible Medicare coverage under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement is additional to OSHC and does not remove the standard OSHC requirement.

What should a Norwegian student do?

Students from Norway are not covered by an agreement with Norway, but a separate OSHC exemption may still exist under special arrangements. Ask the Department of Home Affairs before treating the purchase requirement as waived.

Should I cancel OSHC while my exemption is being checked?

Do not cancel or avoid cover based only on your nationality. The standard visa condition requires adequate health insurance throughout your stay, so obtain confirmation of your status before relying on an exemption.

What if my visa or Medicare eligibility changes?

Inform your insurer as soon as possible. The insurer can then determine whether your existing level of cover remains suitable.