Health Insurance for Students in Finland

How much does student health insurance cost in Finland?

For most students in Finland, healthcare is cheap or free. EU/EEA students pay nothing — their EHIC covers public care and exempts them from the student healthcare fee. Non-EU degree students pay the FSHS healthcare fee of €70.70/year (€35.35/term) to Kela, plus a private insurance policy (≈€30–€70/month) that Migri requires for the residence permit.

The €70.70 FSHS fee and a private policy are two different things: the fee funds student healthcare, the private policy satisfies the visa rule. Use our Insurance Finder quiz to find a Migri-compliant policy, or compare student plans.

Is health insurance mandatory for international students in Finland?

Yes for non-EU/EEA students — no exceptions. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will not grant a study residence permit without proof of valid health insurance.

• Non-EU/EEA students: A private policy is mandatory. Coverage depends on stay length (see below).
• EU/EEA/Swiss students: An EHIC satisfies both the insurance rule and gives public-healthcare access. No permit is needed at all — you simply register your right of residence after arrival.
• UK students: A GHIC is accepted in place of private insurance.
• Working students: Once you hold a work-entitling permit and an employment contract, you may qualify for Kela coverage, which removes the private-insurance need.

The FSHS healthcare fee is separate and does not count as the required insurance.

How much insurance coverage do non-EU students need?

Counter-intuitively, shorter studies require more coverage. Migri sets two thresholds:

The logic: students staying 2+ years are expected to gain access to Finnish public healthcare (through work or long-term residence), so they only need pharmaceutical cover. In both cases the policy’s excess (deductible) may not exceed €300, and coverage must run for the entire stay with no breaks. Buy the policy before you apply and upload the certificate to your Enter Finland application.

What does the FSHS student health service cover?

The Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS, or YTHS) is the dedicated healthcare provider for degree students in higher education. For your €70.70/year fee (paid to Kela in two €35.35 instalments) you get:

• GP consultations and general medical care
• Mental-health services — counselling, psychology, psychiatry
• Basic dental care
• Sexual-health and contraception services
• Physiotherapy and health-promotion services

Book via the FSHS Self online service or by phone. A missed, un-cancelled appointment incurs a €56.70 no-show fee. FSHS covers university and university-of-applied-sciences degree students — it does not cover exchange students from EU/EEA countries (who use their EHIC) or replace residence-permit insurance.

How do EU students use EHIC in Finland?

EU/EEA/Swiss students use the European Health Insurance Card exactly as at home. Present it at any public wellbeing-county health station, hospital or pharmacy to receive medically necessary care at resident fees (up to €30.20 per doctor visit).

Tips for EHIC holders:

• Carry the EHIC together with your passport at every appointment.
• The EHIC also exempts EU/EEA degree students from the €70.70 FSHS fee — show it to your university.
• EHIC covers only public care; private clinics charge full price.
• For exchange semesters, EHIC plus a small travel supplement (repatriation, lost luggage) is usually all you need.
• If you plan to stay long term or work, registering with Kela can be worthwhile for residence-based benefits.

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

Non-EU students follow a clear sequence, because Migri checks insurance before issuing the permit.

Before you apply:

1. Buy a Migri-compliant policy — €120,000 medical (stays <2 years) or €40,000 pharmaceutical (stays ≥2 years), max €300 excess.
2. Submit your application in Enter Finland, pay the €600 fee, and upload your acceptance letter, insurance certificate and proof of €800/month.
3. Give biometrics at a Finnish mission or VFS centre. Processing takes 1–3 months.

After you arrive: 4. Register your address with DVV to get a Finnish personal identity code. 5. Pay the FSHS healthcare fee to Kela to activate student healthcare. 6. If you start working with a valid contract, apply to Kela for residence-based coverage — it can replace your private policy.

Keep the private policy active until Kela coverage is confirmed; never let coverage lapse while your permit is valid.

Top universities in Finland and their insurance requirements

Insurance requirements are national, set by Migri — they do not vary by university. What differs is tuition: non-EU bachelor’s/master’s fees range from roughly €8,000 to €18,000/year, and every Finnish university must offer scholarships covering 50–100% of tuition. EU/EEA students study free of tuition everywhere.

Cost of living for students in Finland (2026)

Finland is moderately expensive — cheaper than Sweden or Switzerland, pricier than Spain. Helsinki and Espoo cost the most. A realistic monthly budget:

Migri requires proof of €800/month (€9,600 for a one-year permit). Accepted proof includes a bank statement, scholarship letter or sponsor documentation. Students may work up to an average of 30 hours/week, typically earning €10–€14/hour. Estimate your own budget with our cost calculator.

Visa and residence-permit requirements for non-EU students

To apply for a Finnish student residence permit (stays over 90 days):

• Valid passport covering the full study period
• Certificate of Acceptance from a Finnish higher-education institution
• Health insurance: private policy (€120,000 medical <2 yr, or €40,000 pharmaceutical ≥2 yr, max €300 excess) — or EHIC/GHIC/Kela card
• Proof of funds: €800/month, i.e. €9,600 for a one-year permit
• Processing fee: €600 for online applications via Enter Finland (2026)
• Biometrics at a Finnish mission or VFS centre abroad
• Standard processing: 1–3 months, counted from your biometrics visit

EU/EEA/Swiss students need no permit — they register their right of residence with Migri after arrival and use an EHIC for healthcare.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

1. Treating the FSHS fee as your insurance. The €70.70 FSHS fee funds student healthcare but is not the comprehensive policy Migri requires. Non-EU students need both.

2. Buying the wrong coverage amount. Remember the inverse rule: stays under 2 years need €120,000 medical cover, stays 2+ years need €40,000 pharmaceutical cover. Check your permit length before you buy.

3. A policy with too high an excess. Migri rejects policies with an excess above €300. Confirm the deductible before purchasing — many generic travel policies exceed this.

4. Letting coverage lapse. The policy must be valid for the entire stay with no gaps. Don’t cancel a private policy until Kela coverage (if you become eligible through work) is confirmed in writing.

5. Assuming non-EU students get free public care. Unless you hold a work-entitling permit and an employment contract, you are generally not entitled to Kela or municipal care at resident rates — pay-and-claim through your private insurer instead.

6. EU students paying the FSHS fee unnecessarily. EU/EEA degree students with an EHIC are exempt from the FSHS fee — show your card to your university so you are not charged.

Next steps: Use our Insurance Finder quiz to find a Migri-compliant policy for your stay length, or compare all student plans. Considering alternatives? Read our Sweden guide, Germany guide, or Netherlands guide. Related reading: health insurance for exchange students and how to choose health insurance abroad.