Health Insurance for Students in France: Affiliation, CVEC and Mutuelle

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

France does not ask most students to buy a health insurance policy. It asks them to register with the national health insurance, and to pay a separate student contribution called the CVEC before they can enrol. The two are often confused, so this guide separates them. The information comes from the official ameli, Campus France and etudiant.gouv.fr pages consulted in October 2026. For a Europe-wide comparison see health insurance for students in Europe.

Registration with social security

Campus France states that registration with social security is free and mandatory for all students in France, French or international. It applies to:

students who are not European
European students who do not hold a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
European students who hold an S1 form

You register online at etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr, which is available in French, English and Spanish. The ameli page invites you to register in anticipation of your arrival, and the coverage start date you enter is the start of your studies. Campus France advises registering as soon as possible after you enrol at your institution.

What you need

The ameli page lists these items:

name, date and country of birth, email, a French postal address and a phone number
a national ID card or passport
a residence permit, if you are not from the EU, EEA or Switzerland
a certificate of enrolment for the current year
bank details (IBAN or RIB) for reimbursements
a civil status document, such as a full copy of your birth certificate

After you register you receive a provisional certificate of affiliation and a temporary social security number, and you can upload missing documents in your personal space. After validation you can download the final certificate. Once your number is certified, you receive a form to request the Carte Vitale. Using the provisional certificate, you can already declare a regular doctor (médecin traitant), which ameli says gives better follow-up and better reimbursement.

The EHIC exception

EU, EEA and Swiss students with a valid EHIC do not need to register, provided the card is valid at least until the end of the academic year. Their home insurer keeps reimbursing them, and in France they pay only the ticket modérateur, the share left to the patient. Without an EHIC, ameli says you can ask your home body for an S1 form.

The mutuelle

Affiliation does not cover everything. Ameli says you can join a complementary health plan, called a mutuelle or complémentaire santé, to cover costs beyond the national reimbursement and to reduce your out-of-pocket spending. It presents this as optional. Compare offers from student mutuelles and ask your institution which plans it works with.

The CVEC

The CVEC (contribution de vie étudiante et de campus) is not insurance. It funds student life on campus. For the 2026/27 academic year it is EUR 105.

Who pays: students enrolled in initial training at a French higher education institution. The page excludes exchange students who pay no tuition in France, continuing education and some programmes in secondary schools.
How: at cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr, by selecting "Obtenir mon attestation". Since June 2024 you can also pay in cash at a Nirio point of sale with a QR code from the site.
When: before administrative enrolment, but not too early if your programme may not require it. Your institution cannot finalise your enrolment without the certificate.
Exemptions: holders of a Crous need-based scholarship, refugees, students with subsidiary protection and registered asylum seekers with the right to stay. Exempt students must still obtain the certificate. Students with regional or other scholarships may have to pay first and claim a refund once the scholarship is confirmed.
Changing institution: the certificate is valid for all institutions, so you do not pay again.

Practical plan

Before you leave, check the visa conditions in the student visa guide for France.
Enrol at your institution, and pay the CVEC to obtain the certificate it asks for.
Register at etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr with your documents.
Declare a médecin traitant and request your Carte Vitale.
Decide whether you want a mutuelle.

Where to look next

Student housing in France: our catalogue lists 1,659 residences with monthly prices from €345 to €449
How much it costs to study in France

Official sources

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