Travel insurance guide
Travel Insurance for Australia Visitors
The Department of Home Affairs does not mandate travel insurance for Visitor visa (Subclass 600) or eVisitor (Subclass 651) holders, but it is strongly recommended. Most visitors are not covered by Medicare.
What your policy needs to cover
- Recommended: medical coverage of at least AUD 200,000 given Australia's high private healthcare costs.
- Emergency hospitalisation, doctor visits, prescriptions, and repatriation.
- Optional: adventure-activity cover (snorkelling, diving, hiking) and trip interruption.
Protect Your Trip with Travel Insurance
Travel insurance may help cover medical emergencies, trip interruptions, lost baggage, and other unexpected travel expenses while abroad.
- Medical emergencies
- Trip interruption
- Lost baggage
Real-world examples
3-week tour from Indonesia
Subclass 600 tourist stream. Recommended: AUD 200,000 single-trip plan with adventure cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for an Australian visitor visa?
No, but it is strongly recommended given hospital costs for non-residents.
Do Reciprocal Health Care Agreement countries get free care?
Limited Medicare access exists for 11 RHCA-partner countries (UK, NZ, Italy, etc.) for medically necessary treatment only — not full coverage.
More travel insurance guides
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