Health insurance for international students
Health insurance for international students
Last modified on 24-07-2025 08:25
By law you must have health insurance covering all health costs for the duration of your stay in the Netherlands. Before arriving, check your current health insurance and buy extra coverage if needed.
Show information for your study programmeor
What is your study programme?
What your health insurance should cover
- Pre-existing conditions
- Basic medical costs (like the General Practitioner)
- Coverage for psychological help
- Repatriation
- Third-party liability insurance
- Home furnishing insurance
- HIV/AIDS medication
- Emergency health care
Dutch health insurance explained. (40 secs.)
- Health insurance for EU studentsStudents from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The card allows you to receive medical care in the Netherlands.
- Health insurance for students from outside the EUIf you are in the Netherlands solely to study (you’re unemployed) and are not eligible for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), then you must arrange private health insurance.
- Work and health insurance (international students)If you’re working alongside your studies, or doing volunteer work, or participating in a paid internship, you must take out Dutch health insurance even if you're already insured elsewhere.
- What happens if you don’t have health insuranceIf you don’t have the right health insurance for your situation, you risk paying a fine and even risk losing your residence permit if you have one. If you need medical care while uninsured, you must pay the costs yourself.
Contact
Don't have a UvA-account yet? You can find the right contact information on uva.nl.
Central Student Service Desk (CSSD)
Do you have general questions about studying at the UvA, for instance, about your enrolment or tuition fee? Contact the CSSD.