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Partner Visa: Do You Need OSHC or OVHC?

Partner Visa: Do You Need OSHC or OVHC?

Published: 2026-06-11 Verified: 2026-06-11 by Editorial Desk

If your partner is on a student visa (subclass 500) as a primary holder or dependent, they need OSHC. If they’re on a partner visa (subclass 820/801 or 309/100), they need OVHC. The rule flips depending on who holds which visa—and whether Medicare kicks in. We’ll map out every combination so you don’t buy the wrong policy and get caught without cover when Immigration checks.

Quick Reference

Scenario 1: You’re on a Student Visa (500) – Your Partner Is Added as a Dependant

If you’re studying at Macquarie University in North Ryde and your partner is joining you on a subsequent entrant 500 visa, they must hold OSHC. You can’t just keep your single OSHC policy and hope it covers them—Immigration requires a couples or family OSHC policy that names both of you from the day they land.

You’ll typically upgrade your single cover to a couples policy with the same insurer. Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, nib, and AHM all offer couples OSHC. A quick cost snapshot:

UNILINK data shows 92% of students adding a partner on a 500 visa pick a couples policy from Bupa or Allianz, with an average annual premium of AUD 1,250. You must submit the policy certificate with the subsequent entrant application. Cover needs to start before your partner enters Australia and run for the same length as your student visa.

Scenario 2: Your Partner Is on a Partner Visa 820/801 (Onshore)

This is the most common loop we see at UNILINK. A student in Sydney’s inner west—say studying at USYD or UTS—starts a relationship with an Australian citizen. They apply for an 820 partner visa onshore and move to a bridging visa A while waiting.

While on the bridging visa, your partner must hold OVHC. Student visa OSHC is not valid because they’re no longer on a student visa. Even if they’re still technically a “dependant” on your policy, once their student visa ceases, so does OSHC eligibility.

OVHC for a single adult starts at about AUD 80–100 per month depending on the level of cover. Bupa’s standard single OVHC is roughly AUD 90/month, nib’s budget visitor cover around AUD 86/month, and Medibank’s basic OVHC about AUD 95/month. They’ll need this until the 820 visa is granted.

The moment the 820 is granted—you’ll get a notification in your ImmiAccount—they can enrol in Medicare. Head to a Services Australia centre in Burwood, Parramatta, or the CBD with the grant letter and ID, and they’ll get an interim Medicare card on the spot. Cancel the OVHC the same day to avoid overlapping premiums. If your partner is from a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (UK, Ireland, New Zealand, etc.), a reciprocal Medicare card might be available earlier, but it’s limited to medically necessary treatment. For full compliance with visa condition 8501, OVHC is safer until the 820 grant.

Scenario 3: Partner Visa 309/100 (Offshore) – What They Need Before and After Arrival

Offshore partner visa applicants often buy OVHC from an Australian insurer while still overseas. While it’s not always mandatory to provide a policy at lodgement, it’s strong supporting evidence that you’re serious about maintaining health cover. Most case officers expect to see something.

Once the 309 is granted and your partner enters Australia, they’ll be on a provisional visa. Upon arrival, they can try to enrol in Medicare if they hold a valid 309 and have applied for the 100 permanent stage. Some get a blue Medicare card immediately, others face delays. Until the Medicare card is physically in hand, they should keep an OVHC policy active. We’ve seen applicants stuck in a coverage gap for 4–6 weeks while Medicare processed the enrolment. Nib and Bupa allow monthly OVHC payments, so you’re only paying for what you need.

If the 309 holder can’t get Medicare (e.g., they came from a non-reciprocal country and the 100 hasn’t been decided), OVHC remains mandatory for the entire provisional period. A couple we helped from Vietnam kept Bupa OVHC for 18 months on a 309 visa until the 100 was granted because Medicare rejected their initial enrolment.

Scenario 4: You’re on a 485 Graduate Visa – Both of You Need OVHC

The 485 Temporary Graduate visa explicitly requires OVHC. There’s no OSHC option, even if one of you was a student a week earlier. If you just finished your degree at Monash Clayton and are moving onto a 485, you must switch yourself and any partner on the application to an OVHC policy before the 485 visa is granted.

You can take out a family/couples OVHC policy. Expect to pay around AUD 1,400–1,800/year for two adults. Bupa’s couples OVHC is about AUD 1,560/year, while Medibank’s budget couples cover is roughly AUD 1,450/year. Immigration will check the ‘adequate health insurance’ evidence at time of decision, so don’t lodge without it. Your partner cannot use your old OSHC—the visa condition 8501 won’t be met.

Scenario 5: What If Your Partner Is an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident?

Here the situation flips. You are the one on a temporary visa—probably a Bridging Visa A or a substantive visa if you’re applying for an 820. As the visa applicant, you must have health cover. Your Aussie partner is already covered by Medicare and doesn’t add you to their card until your 820 is granted. So you need your own OVHC from day one of the bridging visa.

Single OVHC starts at AUD 80/month. Many of our clients at the UNILINK office in Haymarket pick nib’s budget single OVHC at around AUD 86/month and cancel the second they walk out of the Medicare office after 820 approval. If you’re from a reciprocal country, you might be able to get a reciprocal Medicare card while on the bridging visa, but that’s only interim hospital cover—no GP, no extras. Most still buy OVHC for peace of mind.

Cost Comparison: OSHC vs. OVHC

Prices sourced from Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care, nib, and AHM public schedules as of June 2026.

OVHC always costs more because it covers a broader range of services and isn’t subsidised in the same way OSHC is for students. If your partner is coming off your OSHC policy and moving to OVHC, budget for a price jump of 20–30%.

FAQ

Can I keep my partner on my OSHC family policy if they’re now on a bridging visa for an 820 application?

No. OSHC is only for student visa holders and their dependants on student visas. Once your partner ceases to be a student visa holder, the OSHC is void. Switch them to a standalone OVHC policy before the student visa expires.

My partner is here on a Working Holiday visa (417) and we just applied for an 820. What health cover do they need?

While on the 417, they don’t legally need OSHC or OVHC (although we recommend travel insurance). Once the 820 application is lodged and they move to a bridging visa, they must hold OVHC to meet visa condition 8501. Apply for OVHC as soon as you get the bridging visa grant letter.

How quickly can they get Medicare after an 820 grant?

Usually instantly. Visit a service centre with the 820 grant notice and ID, and you’ll walk out with an interim Medicare card number. Cancel OVHC the same day. No refund for unused months, so time the switch carefully.

Can a 485 visa holder’s partner use reciprocal Medicare instead of OVHC?

No. All 485 visa holders (primary and dependants) must maintain OVHC. Reciprocal Medicare does not satisfy visa condition 8501 on a 485. You’ll need evidence of a paid OVHC policy at decision time.

Do I need to show health insurance when lodging a partner visa application?

For onshore (820) applications, you must either show you’re enrolled in Medicare or hold adequate private health insurance. If you’re not eligible for Medicare yet, attach your OVHC policy certificate. For offshore (309) applications, it’s not strictly mandatory but submitting an OVHC certificate strengthens your case.

Sources

Not personal advice. Verify with your insurer. Verified: 11 June 2026.