How to oranise Health Insurance for a Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

Summary

• You must keep adequate health insurance for your entire stay in Australia if your Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) has condition 8501.
• Most visa holders meet this by using Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC), while some travellers from Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCA) countries can use Medicare after enrolment.
• Start your cover on or before arrival, keep it continuous, and keep proof of insurance to avoid visa breaches.

If your Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) carries condition 8501, you must keep adequate health insurance for your entire stay in Australia, this applies to you and every family member on your visa. The simplest way to comply is OVHC from an Australian-registered insurer. Some travellers from RHCA countries can meet 8501 with Medicare (after enrolment), but scope is limited and many choose OVHC for broader cover.

What to do:

1. Check VEVO / your grant letter for condition 8501.
2. Choose your pathway, OVHC (most common) or RHCA + Medicare (if eligible).
3. Start cover on or before arrival and keep it continuous (including when changing employers under condition 8607).
4. Keep your evidence (OVHC certificate or Medicare enrolment).

Want the full checklist, policy features and switching rules?

Download our free 482 Health Insurance Fact Sheet (includes tips for dependants, pregnancy waiting periods, and keeping dates aligned to avoid gaps).

Need a quote? Regional Migration Australia partners with Medibank, Allianz, Bupa, nib and AIA and can provide tailored OVHC options for your circumstances.

Disclaimer – Content in these articles does not constitute immigration or legal advice, it is not intended as a substitute for such advice and must not be relied upon as such. This material is intended to offer general guidelines for informational purposes only. The information provided is accurate as of the time of publication. Please consult with our Australian MARN registered agents via our content forms on our website or call on 1800 567 663 to make an appointment.

MARN – 2217877 / 1068715