Health Insurance for Students in Czechia: EHIC and Non-EU Policies
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
In Czechia everyone who stays must have valid health insurance, and the type depends on your citizenship, your residence status and how long you stay. This guide follows the official Study in Czechia portal and the pages of Charles University as read in October 2026. The insurance rules for visas are set by the Ministry of the Interior and change from time to time, so check them before you buy. For a Europe-wide view, see health insurance for students in Europe.
EU, EEA and Swiss students
If you are insured in your home country, you can usually use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). According to Study in Czechia, it covers medically necessary care from public providers under the same conditions as Czech insured people. It is not travel insurance: it usually does not cover private clinics, repatriation or lost luggage, so you may want an extra policy.
Charles University tells EU students to register with a Czech health insurer after arrival, using the EHIC and a confirmation that it is valid in Czechia. The home insurer then reimburses the costs. Ask your university's international office which procedure it expects.
Students from outside the EU
If you stay more than 90 days, you usually need insurance that provides comprehensive health care for the whole stay. Charles University says such insurance must meet the requirements of Act No. 326/1999 Coll. on the residence of foreign nationals. For a long-term visa or a residence permit you normally show proof of insurance before the visa is issued. See student visa for Czechia.
Points the Ministry of the Interior's information portal for foreigners makes about this insurance:
- the cover must be at least EUR 400,000 per insured event, with no cost sharing by the insured person;
- since 20 September 2023 you can buy it from any insurer authorised to provide it in Czechia, not only VZP;
- when you apply at an embassy, you can show travel insurance for the first 90 days plus a contract for comprehensive insurance, or a certificate of comprehensive insurance for the whole period.
Exemptions
Study in Czechia says some students are exempt, for example those covered by public health insurance or by an international agreement. Holders of Czech government scholarships have standard medical care paid by the Ministry of Health for the duration of the scholarship. The Ministry of the Interior also keeps a list of nationalities that may be exempt on the basis of an international treaty, and it exempts participants in some scholarship programmes. Do not assume you are exempt: ask the embassy or the university which rule applies to you.
Policies for students
Charles University lists two products for its degree and exchange students, with an age limit of 35:
| Insurer and product | Length of contract | Student discount |
|---|---|---|
| PVZP, Foreigners Comprehensive Medical Insurance EXCLUSIVE | 4 to 60 months | 20% off standard rates, subject to medical screening in some cases |
| Slavia pojišťovna, Comprehensive Health Insurance for Foreigners, 131 | 1 to 60 months | 10% off standard rates |
Both cover care equivalent to Czech public insurance, with a limit of CZK 10 million, as well as emergency care within the Schengen area, urgent dental care and repatriation. The PVZP policy covers pre-existing conditions if you declare them when you arrange it, but a pre-existing condition may remove the discount and change the premium, and online enrolment is then not possible. Slavia's contract is also open to Charles University graduates under 35 on a long-term residence permit for job seeking or starting a business.
You may choose any provider that complies with Czech law. If you pick another one, the university advises checking that it covers dental care, gynaecological exams, psychological support and diagnostics.
What care costs
Emergency medical services and emergency department visits, including emergency dental care, usually have a standard fee of 90 CZK, according to Study in Czechia. Private clinics may ask you to pay directly, so check whether they accept your insurance before the visit.
Checklist
- Decide which group you belong to before you apply: EHIC, a policy for the visa, or an exemption.
- Check the amount of cover, the length of the contract and the insurer against the embassy's or migration office's list of documents.
- Keep the contract and the certificate: you need them again at every extension of your residence permit.
- Ask your faculty whether it has an agreement with an insurer.
Where to look next
Official sources
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.