Health Insurance for Students in Austria

How much does student health insurance cost in Austria?

For most international students in Austria, health insurance costs €78.84 per month in 2026 — the flat rate for the ÖGK Studierendenselbstversicherung (student self-insurance). EU/EEA students pay nothing because their EHIC covers public care. Non-EU students who need private cover for the visa before they can join ÖGK pay roughly €51–€80/month.

ÖGK is the default and the cheapest sustainable option. On top of the premium you pay a small €14.65/year e-card fee and €7.55 per prescribed medicine. Not sure which applies to you? Use our Insurance Finder quiz or compare student plans for Austria.

Is health insurance mandatory for international students in Austria?

Yes — health insurance covering all risks is mandatory for every student in Austria, and non-EU students must prove it to obtain a residence permit. How you meet the rule depends on your nationality:

• EU/EEA/Swiss students: Your EHIC is sufficient for healthcare and for the residence registration (Anmeldebescheinigung).
• Non-EU students: You need proof of insurance for the Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierende before you can join ÖGK. The standard route is visa-grade private cover for the application, then switching to ÖGK after enrolment.
• Enrolled degree students: Taking the ÖGK student self-insurance after arriving and enrolling satisfies the “all-risk” requirement for residence-permit renewals.
• Working students: If you earn above the marginal threshold, your employer’s compulsory insurance replaces the self-insurance.

Public vs private insurance in Austria: which should students choose?

For students who can join ÖGK, public self-insurance is almost always the right choice — it is cheap, comprehensive and accepted everywhere in the public system. Private insurance is mainly a bridge for the visa (before you can enrol) or an upgrade for private rooms and faster access.

A common pattern: buy Care Austria or FeelSafe for the visa, then move to ÖGK once you are enrolled. See our how to choose health insurance guide for the trade-offs.

What is covered by Austria’s public system for students?

The Austrian public system (administered by the ÖGK) covers a comprehensive set of services. With the e-card, contracted-doctor visits are free at the point of care:

• Kassenarzt (contracted doctors): GPs and specialists, free with the e-card
• Hospital care: Public hospitals, surgery, maternity
• Emergency care: Always available — call 144 for an ambulance
• Prescriptions: Subsidised; you pay only the €7.55 Rezeptgebühr per item
• Preventive and maternity care: Check-ups, screenings, pregnancy
• Mental health: Psychiatry and some psychotherapy (waitlists can be long)

Not fully covered: Routine adult dental (only partly subsidised), private hospital rooms, non-contracted (Wahlarzt) doctors — who reimburse roughly 80% of the contracted rate — and glasses for adults.

How do EU students use EHIC in Austria?

EU/EEA/Swiss students use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) exactly as at home. Present it at any contracted doctor, public hospital or pharmacy and you pay the same as Austrian residents — effectively free care, plus the €7.55 prescription fee.

Tips for EHIC holders:

• Always carry both your EHIC and your passport or ID.
• Go to contracted (Kassenarzt) providers — Wahlärzte (private doctors) bill you and only partially reimburse.
• EHIC is accepted for the EU residence registration (Anmeldebescheinigung) within 3 months of arrival.
• If you start working in Austria, you become compulsorily insured locally — your employer registers you.
• EHIC does not cover repatriation; a cheap travel supplement can add it.

How do non-EU students get health insurance in Austria?

Non-EU students need a residence permit, and Austrian immigration (MA35) requires proof of all-risk insurance before issuing it — yet you cannot join ÖGK until you have arrived and enrolled. The standard two-step route:

Step 1 — Visa-grade private cover for the application

1. Buy a plan approved for Austrian residence permits — Care Austria (from €51/month) or FeelSafe (from €77.75/month, partnered with UNIQA).
2. Upload the insurance certificate with your residence-permit application at the embassy or MA35.
3. Pay the €160 permit fee; processing takes about 6–12 weeks.

Step 2 — Switch to ÖGK after enrolment

1. Register your address (Meldezettel) within 3 working days of arrival.
2. Enrol at your university and collect the enrolment certificate.
3. Apply for the ÖGK Studierendenselbstversicherung (€78.84/month) with your certificate, passport and Meldezettel.
4. Your e-card arrives within 2–3 weeks; cancel the private policy once ÖGK is active (unless you want it as an upgrade).

Top universities in Austria and their insurance requirements

Austria hosts more than 70,000 international students. Public universities charge non-EU students about €726.72 per semester; EU/EEA students usually pay only the ~€24 ÖH fee within the standard study period.

No Austrian public university arranges your health insurance for you — you join ÖGK yourself after enrolment. Private universities (€5,000–€25,000/year) follow the same insurance rules. Always confirm details with the university’s international office.

Cost of living for students in Austria (2026)

Austria is moderately priced for Europe; Vienna is the most expensive city, while Graz, Linz and Innsbruck are cheaper. A realistic monthly budget, based on WU Vienna’s official estimates:

For the residence permit, non-EU students must prove €722.58/month (under 24) or €1,308.39/month (24+) for 12 months. Estimate your own total with our cost calculator.

Visa and residence-permit requirements for non-EU students

To apply for the Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierende (student residence permit):

• Valid passport for the full study period
• University admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid)
• Health insurance covering all risks — visa-grade private cover, or a declaration to join ÖGK
• Proof of funds: €722.58/month (under 24) or €1,308.39/month (24+), usually for 12 months
• Proof of accommodation in Austria
• Residence-permit fee: €160
• Biometrics at the Austrian embassy or MA35 office

Processing time: about 6–12 weeks. Apply as soon as you have your admission letter. In Vienna, residence matters are handled by MA35; elsewhere, by the relevant Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat. Note that the 2026 income thresholds rose with the new “secure-livelihood” reference rate, so budget for the higher figures.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

1. Letting the visa insurance lapse before ÖGK starts. You need cover for the permit and for the gap until you can join ÖGK. Keep your private policy active until your ÖGK self-insurance is confirmed — don’t cancel the day you land.

2. Assuming EHIC is enough for a non-EU permit. EHIC works for EU students, but for non-EU nationals it does not satisfy the residence-permit insurance requirement. Use an MA35-approved private plan (Care Austria, FeelSafe) instead.

3. Earning over the income limit. Marginal work up to €551.10/month is fine, but exceed the €15,000/year ceiling and you lose eligibility for the cheap student self-insurance — your status flips to employee insurance.

4. Visiting a Wahlarzt by mistake. Non-contracted private doctors (Wahlärzte) bill you upfront and only reimburse ~80% of the contracted rate. Choose a Kassenarzt to keep visits free with the e-card.

5. Forgetting the Meldezettel. You must register your address within 3 working days of arrival. ÖGK registration, banking and many services depend on it — do it first.

6. Missing the e-card and prescription fees. Beyond the €78.84/month premium, budget the €14.65/year e-card fee and €7.55 per prescribed medicine so the small extras don’t surprise you.

Next steps: Use our Insurance Finder quiz to see whether ÖGK or a private plan fits your situation, or compare all student plans for Austria. Weighing up neighbours? Read our Germany guide, Switzerland guide or Italy guide. Related reading: health insurance for exchange students and how to choose health insurance abroad.