Health Insurance for Students in Romania

How much does student health insurance cost in Romania?

For most international students in Romania, health insurance is free or remarkably cheap. Enrolled students under 26 with no income are covered free under CNAS, the national public health fund. Students aged 26 and over pay a voluntary CNAS contribution of about €15/month. EU/EEA students use their EHIC at no cost, and non-EU students add a private policy of roughly €10–€25/month to satisfy the residence permit.

This makes Romania one of the cheapest places in Europe to study and stay insured. If you need a compliant private policy for the residence permit, use our Insurance Finder quiz or compare student plans.

Is health insurance mandatory for international students in Romania?

Yes — proof of cover is required, and the exact form depends on your nationality and age:

• EU/EEA/Swiss students: a valid EHIC is sufficient for public healthcare and for the EU registration certificate.
• Non-EU students: you must show private medical insurance with at least €30,000 cover (emergency, hospitalisation and repatriation) for both the long-stay visa and the IGI residence permit.
• Students under 26: once enrolled, you are insured free under CNAS — but you should still register with a family doctor.
• Students 26 and over: the free student exemption ends, so you register the voluntary CNAS contribution to keep public access.

Insurance must be valid from your arrival date and for the entire stay. Letting cover lapse can lead to a residence permit being refused or revoked.

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

For most students, CNAS public cover is the foundation — it’s free under 26, cheap over 26, and gives full access to the public system. Private insurance is either a legal requirement for the non-EU permit or a convenience top-up for faster, English-language care.

The practical answer for most non-EU students: CNAS for everyday care plus a low-cost private policy for the permit and speed. EU students rely on EHIC and optionally add a private subscription.

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

Romania’s public system is run by CNAS (Casa Națională de Asigurări de Sănătate) through county health houses (CAS). For insured students it covers:

• Family doctor (medic de familie): free GP consultations and referrals
• Specialist care with a GP referral
• Hospital treatment at public hospitals
• Emergency care (provided to everyone, insured or not)
• Maternity and basic mental-health support
• Prescriptions, subsidised by reference-price sub-list: A 90%, B 50%, C 100%, D 20%

Not fully covered: most adult dental beyond basics, cosmetic procedures, and private-clinic visits — though all are inexpensive by EU standards. Emergency treatment is always available, even before your CNAS registration is complete.

How do EU students use EHIC in Romania?

EU/EEA/Swiss students use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) exactly as at home. Present it at any CNAS-contracted family doctor, public hospital or emergency department and you receive medically necessary care on the same terms as insured Romanians.

Tips for EHIC holders:

• Always go to a public / CNAS-contracted provider — private clinics won’t accept EHIC.
• EHIC covers emergency and necessary care, not routine private treatment or repatriation — a small travel supplement closes that gap.
• Carry your EHIC and passport together.
• EHIC is enough for the EU registration certificate; you don’t need a visa.
• For long stays, you can also register with a Romanian family doctor for continuity of care.

EU students moving on to another destination can compare rules in our Spain guide or Italy guide.

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

Non-EU students need a long-stay study visa (D/SD) and then an IGI residence permit — and both require proof of medical insurance.

Step by step:

1. Buy a private travel/medical policy valid in Romania with at least €30,000 cover, including emergency treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation. International providers (MAWISTA, Swisscare, DR-WALTER, Mondassur) and Romanian insurers offer plans from €10–€25/month.
2. Submit the certificate with your visa application (visa fee €120).
3. Within 60 days of arrival, apply for the residence permit at the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) in your county; the permit card costs about 259 RON (~€50).
4. Once enrolled, if you’re under 26 you are also insured free under CNAS — register with a family doctor to use it.
5. If you’re 26+, register the voluntary CNAS contribution at your local CAS.

Keep the private policy active for the whole permit period, since it underpins your immigration status.

Top universities in Romania and their insurance requirements

Romania hosts roughly 32,000+ international students, with medicine in English a major draw. Insurance rules are the same everywhere — EHIC for EU students, free CNAS for under-26s, private cover for the non-EU permit — but international offices help with the paperwork.

Medical degrees in English typically cost €5,000–€10,000/year; other programmes are cheaper (around €2,000–€5,000/year). Always confirm the exact insurance documents with your international office.

Cost of living for students in Romania (2026)

Romania is one of the EU’s most affordable study destinations. A realistic monthly budget for a student:

For the visa, you must prove means of support of at least the minimum gross wage for 6+ months. Compare against another budget destination in our Poland guide, or use the cost calculator to plan your own numbers.

Visa and residence-permit requirements for non-EU students

To study in Romania as a non-EU national:

• Letter of Acceptance to Studies from the Ministry of Education
• Long-stay study visa (D/SD) — apply at a Romanian embassy/consulate, fee €120
• Proof of tuition paid for at least the first year
• Means of support: at least the minimum gross wage for 6+ months
• Medical insurance with min €30,000 cover (emergency, hospital, repatriation)
• Residence permit at IGI within 60 days of arrival (card ~259 RON)
• Permit is issued for the duration of studies; a 9-month post-study extension allows job searching

Processing: apply for the visa well ahead of your start date, and lodge the IGI permit application at least 30 days before your visa-stay expires. Romanian state-scholarship holders are exempt from consular fees.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

1. Assuming “free under 26” needs no action. The exemption is automatic in law, but you must enrol and register with a family doctor to actually use CNAS for non-emergency care. Do this in your first weeks.

2. Forgetting that CNAS doesn’t cover the non-EU permit on its own. IGI requires a private €30,000 policy for the residence permit. Free CNAS cover under 26 is a bonus, not a substitute — keep both.

3. Letting private insurance lapse. Your residence permit relies on continuous cover. A gap can lead to revocation and complicate future applications. Renew before expiry.

4. Missing the 60-day IGI window. Apply for the residence permit at IGI within 60 days of arrival. Late applications risk fines and status problems.

5. Turning 26 without re-registering. Once you turn 26 (or start earning), the free exemption ends. Register the voluntary CNAS contribution at your local CAS so your public cover doesn’t quietly stop.

6. Skipping the family-doctor step. Without a registered medic de familie, you can still get emergency care but everyday GP visits, prescriptions and referrals are slower. Register early.

Next steps: Use our Insurance Finder quiz to find a compliant private policy, or compare student plans for Romania. Weighing other affordable destinations? See our Poland guide, Spain guide and Italy guide. Related reading: how to choose health insurance abroad and the cheapest student health insurance in 2026.