Health Insurance for International Students in Europe: Rules in Seven Countries

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Health insurance is a condition of enrolment or of the visa in every country in our catalogue. What counts as valid cover differs sharply: in some countries you join the public system for little or nothing, in others you must buy a private policy that meets exact rules. This guide describes the situation as of October 2026.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

If you are insured in the public system of your home country, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you necessary treatment in the public system of the country where you study, on the same terms as local people. Get the card before you leave and check its expiry date.

• The card covers necessary care, not planned treatment and not repatriation.
• It stops applying if you take a job in the host country: you then join that country's system.
• Some countries expect long-term students to register with the local system in any case.

Germany

Students cannot enrol without proof of insurance. Those under 30 are normally insured with a statutory health insurer at the student rate, which is set by law and almost identical across insurers: in 2026 about €141 to €146 a month including long-term care insurance, depending on age and whether you have children. EU students with an EHIC can ask a statutory insurer to confirm their cover instead. Students aged 30 or over, and those in preparatory courses, usually need private insurance. See also student visa for Germany.

France

Registration with the French social security system is free for students. Non-EU students register online at the health insurance site for foreign students after arriving and enrolling. EU students covered at home use their EHIC and do not register. The public system reimburses part of each cost; a top-up policy (mutuelle) for the rest is optional and inexpensive.

Italy

Non-EU students have two options: a private policy accepted for the residence permit, or voluntary registration with the national health service (SSN). Registration costs €700 for students and is valid for the calendar year, from 1 January to 31 December, with no reduction for part of a year; it gives you a family doctor and public care like a resident. For the visa itself the consulate asks for cover of at least €30,000. See student visa for Italy.

Spain

For the visa you need public or private insurance from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain, covering what the public system covers, with no co-payments and no waiting periods. Travel insurance is not enough. EU students use the EHIC. See student visa for Spain.

Portugal

Non-EU students need health insurance for the visa. After they obtain a residence permit they can register at the local health centre for a user number of the national health service. EU students use the EHIC.

Czechia

Non-EU students need comprehensive health insurance for the whole stay, bought from an insurer authorised in Czechia, with a limit of at least €400,000 per insured event and no co-payments. The policy must be presented in Czech or with an official translation. Since 2023 several insurers sell such policies. See student visa for Czechia.

Switzerland

Everyone who lives in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance within three months of arrival, with effect from the day of arrival. Two groups can avoid the cost of a Swiss policy:

• EU, EFTA and UK students who do not work and stay insured at home are not required to take out Swiss insurance and use their EHIC.
• Other students can ask the canton for an exemption if they hold a private policy with cover equivalent to Swiss basic insurance. The exemption is granted for a limited number of years.

If you do nothing, the canton assigns you to a Swiss insurer, which costs considerably more than a student policy.

Before you buy a private policy

1. Read the wording the consulate or university requires: minimum sum insured, no co-payments, no waiting periods, validity in all Schengen states, repatriation.
2. Make sure the policy covers the whole period of the visa or permit, from the day you enter.
3. Ask for the certificate in the language the authority requires.
4. Keep travel insurance for the journey and the first weeks if the main cover starts at enrolment.

Official sources

• European Commission: European Health Insurance Card
• France: health insurance registration for foreign students
• Switzerland: Federal Office of Public Health, foreign students
• University of Bologna: health care for international students
• Czechia: Ministry of the Interior, information for foreigners

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.