Health insurance

Who is required to have health insurance?

You are required to have health insurance, if:

• You are a citizen of a third-country, i.e. you are not a citizen of one of the EU countries or a citizen of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland,
• you arrive in Finland for the purpose of studying, and
• the period of study lasts for more than three months.

The requirement is the same for degree-seeking and for visiting/exchange students.

Exeptions:

• Students from Quebec (Canada) are exempted from the health insurance requirement.
• For UK citizens it is enough to have UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

Important information about health insurance

Third-country nationals studying in Finland for less than two years:

• You must have private health insurance.
• The insurance needs to cover the cost of medical treatment up to 120,000 euros.
  • The reason for this is that a student who studies less than two years is usually not granted the right of domicile, i.e. a home municipality in Finland. Therefore these students are not entitled to municipal health care services.
• The insurance deductible must not exceed 300 euros.

Third-country nationals studying in Finland for two years or more: 

• You must have private health insurance.
• The insurance needs to cover the cost of medical treatment up to 40,000 euros (primarily medication costs).
  • A student who studies for at least two years is usually granted the right to domicile, i.e. a home municipality in Finland. Therefore these students are entitled to municipal health care services.
• The insurance deductible must not exceed 300 euros.

Choosing the insurance company

It is recommended to take out insurance from a known international insurance company. This will shorten the processing time of your residence permit application.

Please find more information, including a list of recommended insurance providers, on the website of MIGRI. 

If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, you must have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC), provided you are covered by the social security of one of these countries. Having this card simplifies the procedures for any medical assistance needed during your temporary stay in Finland.

In addition, degree students holding an EHIC or GHIC do not need to pay the otherwise compulsory healthcare fee to Kela.

Important about the European Health Insurance Card

• It is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property.
• It does not guarantee free services. As each country's healthcare system is different, services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another country.  

If you are covered by health insurance in another Nordic country, you are entitled to health care in Finland. You will receive care under the same terms and pay the same amount for the services as Finns do.

Bring along an official identity card when using health services.

Degree students:

All degree students in higher education are entitled to use the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS). Students need to be registered as attending students and pay the healthcare fee to KELA. Students who have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by another country than Finland or a Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) do not need to pay the healthcare fee. Please note that the right to use the services of FSHS does not exempt you from having to take out health insurance.

Doctoral students or incoming exchange students:

Doctoral students and incoming exchange students are not entitled to use FSHS services. Read Instructions for Students page Healthcare for exchange students.

The Finnish National Sickness Insurance (NSI), administered by the organisation KELA, does not cover international students.

If you are not insured by a corresponding insurance system from your home country, you should obtain insurance from a private insurance company. You are required to purchase good medical and accident insurance before your arrival at the University of Helsinki and Finland.