“Extending” a 600 visa usually means a new application (and that affects your cover dates)

Many people say “extend my 600 visa,” but in practice, you may be:

• applying for another visitor visa while in Australia (only if your current visa conditions allow it), or
• applying offshore later and leaving on time, or
• moving onto a different visa pathway (in limited cases)

Why this matters for OVHC: your insurance needs to match your real stay in Australia - not just your original travel itinerary.

Check the biggest blocker first: the “No Further Stay” condition (8503)

Some Visitor visa holders have Condition 8503, which can restrict onshore applications for further visas (unless a waiver is granted in limited circumstances).

If you’re unsure, check your visa conditions before assuming you can stay longer — because insurance decisions often depend on whether you’ll be:

• staying on the current visa only, or
• applying onshore and moving onto a bridging visa while your new application is processed

What an “OVHC extension” actually means (3 common scenarios)

An OVHC extension is usually one of these:

1) Extend your existing policy end date

You keep the same membership and simply extend the paid-to date.

2) Renew your OVHC for another term

Same insurer, ongoing cover, usually paid in a new period.

3) Switch to a different OVHC product for a longer stay

This is common when:

• the visitor is older and age-based pricing changes at certain age points, or
• you want a different benefits balance for a longer stay (more outpatient value, different excess options, etc.)

No matter which option you choose, the goal is the same:

• continuous cover
• correct cover type
• dates aligned to your updated stay

The number-one mistake: letting cover lapse “just for a few weeks”

Gaps in cover can create bigger problems than most visitors expect - especially when you later try to:

• rejoin the same insurer,
• transfer to another insurer, or
• claim for something that starts during the gap period

Fund rules commonly include provisions that treat longer lapses as a new start, which can trigger fresh application requirements and/or waiting periods being applied again. Even shorter breaks can cause complications when you increase your level of cover or move providers.

Best practice: extend/renew before the end date, even if you later adjust the policy once travel is final.

Extending OVHC while you’re on a bridging visa (very common)

If you apply for another visa onshore (where permitted), you may receive a bridging visa that becomes active when your current visa ends.

In that case, your OVHC should typically cover:

• the remainder of your current 600 visa validity plus
• the time you’ll be waiting for the next visa decision (or until you depart)

Because processing time is unpredictable, many people extend in sensible blocks (example: 3 months, 6 months, 12 months), then adjust again if needed.

“Visiting Cover” vs “Working Cover”: why it matters even on a Visitor visa

Some insurers structure Overseas Visitors products under different rule sets - commonly separated into Visiting and Working style products.

Even if you’re on a Visitor visa, what you choose should align with:

• your visa conditions,
• your permitted activities, and
• any changes in visa status while you’re in Australia

Choosing the wrong product type can create avoidable issues later (especially if your circumstances change).

Refunds, cancellations, and “unused months” when plans change

Subclass 600 travel plans often change suddenly:

• early departure
• visa application withdrawn or refused
• policy no longer needed
• change in visa status

Most insurers have refund rules for unused premium (often calculated pro-rata), but the exact handling can vary - including how refunds are calculated and whether any administrative deductions apply.

Practical tip: It’s usually easier to adjust a policy while it’s active than to fix it after it lapses or is cancelled.

OVHC options commonly chosen for Visitor visa 600 extensions (available on getmypolicy.online)

When people extend a subclass 600 stay, these are commonly compared:

• nib Overseas Visitors Health Cover (multiple visitor cover tiers)
• Bupa Overseas Visitors Cover (visitor cover options under its OVHC rules)
• AIA Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC)
• Allianz Care Australia OVHC
• Medibank Overseas Visitor Health Cover
• Other OVHC options available on getmypolicy.one depending on age, visa details, and cover preferences

Because premiums can change sharply by age bracket, and benefits vary by tier, comparing a few strong options is often the difference between “cheap but painful” and “right fit for a longer stay.”