Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες
Καναδάς
Αυστραλία
Κάτω Χώρες
Ιρλανδία
Ιαπωνία
ΚύπροςStudent visas, 2026/27
Health insurance for international students, by country
In short: every main study destination expects you to be insured. The UK charges an Immigration Health Surcharge of GBP 776 a year (about EUR 930) with the visa; Australia makes Overseas Student Health Cover a visa condition; Germany asks for cover for your first three months and then usually statutory insurance at about EUR 120 to 130 a month under age 30; Ireland requires private medical insurance to register; and US universities usually require their own plan.
5 countries: what the visa or university requires
| Χώρα | Required? | Cost | Τι πρέπει να γνωρίζετε | Πηγή |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ηνωμένο ΒασίλειοΚόστος ενός έτους | Yes: the Immigration Health Surcharge, paid with the visa application | GBP 776 a year for students | Gives access to the National Health Service on the same basis as residents, for the length of the visa. | GOV.UK Διαβάστε 7 Νοεμβρίου 2026 |
| ΑυστραλίαΚόστος ενός έτους | Yes: Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a condition of the visa | Set by each insurer | Covers medical and hospital care and ambulance; pharmaceuticals are capped. Dental, optical and physiotherapy need extra cover. Keep it for the whole visa. | privatehealth.gov.au (Australian Government) Διαβάστε 7 Νοεμβρίου 2026 |
| ΓερμανίαΚόστος ενός έτους | Yes: proof of health insurance for the visa, then statutory or private cover while you study | Statutory student rate about EUR 120 to 130 a month, under age 30 (Hochschule Bochum) | The embassy asks for cover valid for your first three months from entry; after enrolling, students under 30 usually join statutory insurance at the student rate. | Hochschule Bochum, German Embassy Nairobi Διαβάστε 7 Νοεμβρίου 2026 |
| ΙρλανδίαΚόστος ενός έτους | Yes: private medical insurance to register with immigration (non-EU/EEA students) | Set by each insurer | Full cover for accidents and illness including hospital stays, in English, for 12 months or your whole stay; a home-country policy must include repatriation. | TU Dublin Διαβάστε 7 Νοεμβρίου 2026 |
| Ηνωμένες ΠολιτείεςΚόστος ενός έτους | Usually: universities require it of F-1 students; the State Department requires it of J-1 exchange visitors | Set by each university plan | Most universities enrol you in their plan and charge it with your fees unless you show equivalent cover (a waiver). | Penn State Global Διαβάστε 7 Νοεμβρίου 2026 |
Last checked: 7 Nov 2026. Requirements come from government pages where they publish them, and from university pages where the rule is the university's. Prices from private insurers change: compare what is covered, not only the price. We do not sell or recommend insurers.
Τι να κάνετε στη συνέχεια
- Add insurance to the year's budget with the cost calculator: the figures there leave it out unless the guide includes it.
- Check what the visa asks: money to show, fees and work hoursκαι how long the visa takes.
- Read your university's page: some require their own plan whatever you buy elsewhere.
Ερωτήσεις
Do international students need health insurance?
every main study destination expects you to be insured. The UK charges an Immigration Health Surcharge of GBP 776 a year (about EUR 930) with the visa; Australia makes Overseas Student Health Cover a visa condition; Germany asks for cover for your first three months and then usually statutory insurance at about EUR 120 to 130 a month under age 30; Ireland requires private medical insurance to register; and US universities usually require their own plan.
How much is the UK Immigration Health Surcharge for students?
GBP 776 a year for students and their dependants, paid when you apply for the visa, according to GOV.UK.
Is OSHC compulsory in Australia?
Yes. Keeping Overseas Student Health Cover for the whole visa is a condition of the student visa, according to the Australian Government’s private health insurance site.