Does your home country have a health insurance agreement with your study destination?
A direct answer for 40+ origin countries across 7 top destinations: Germany, Australia, USA, UK, France, Spain, Japan. Covers EU EHIC, Post-Brexit GHIC, Australian RHCA, Germany's bilateral conventions, and more.
Quick Check: Your Origin × Destination
Select your home country and study destination to see the exact reciprocal agreement status.
Pick your origin and destination above to see the agreement details.
All 62 origins × 7 destinations
Sorted by region: European Union → EEA → Schengen → RHCA partners → Germany's bilateral partners → Other countries.
| Origin country | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇫🇷 France | 🇪🇸 Spain | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇯🇵 Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | |||||||
| 🇦🇹 Austria | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇫🇷 France | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory | |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | UK GHIC covers emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory | |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | Common Travel Area (CTA) — NHS access | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | RHCA (Medicare for emergencies) — OSHC still required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | RHCA (Medicare for emergencies) — OSHC still required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | RHCA (Medicare for emergencies) — OSHC still required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | RHCA (Medicare for emergencies) — OSHC still required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | RHCA (Medicare for emergencies) — OSHC still required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory | |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| EEA (non-EU) | |||||||
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies (post-Brexit) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment mandatory |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted for emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | RHCA (Medicare for emergencies) — OSHC still required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| Schengen (non-EU) | |||||||
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | EHIC accepted | CH-UK convention on social security | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| RHCA Partners (non-EU) | |||||||
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | No bilateral health agreement | No bilateral health agreement | No bilateral health agreement | UK-NZ reciprocal healthcare (emergency only) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | RHCA (Medicare for emergencies) — OSHC still required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | UK GHIC covers emergencies | UK GHIC covers emergencies | UK GHIC covers emergencies | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | RHCA (Medicare for emergencies) — OSHC still required | NHI enrollment mandatory | |
| Germany Bilateral Agreements | |||||||
| 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bilateral social security agreement (DVKA) | Consult embassy | No bilateral health agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | Bilateral social security agreement (DVKA) | Consult embassy | No bilateral health agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇽🇰 Kosovo | Bilateral social security agreement (DVKA) | Consult embassy | No bilateral health agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | Bilateral social security agreement (DVKA) | France-Morocco social security agreement (1965) | Spain-Morocco social security convention (1979) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇲🇰 North Macedonia | Bilateral social security agreement (DVKA) | Consult embassy | No bilateral health agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇷🇸 Serbia | Bilateral social security agreement (DVKA) | Consult embassy | No bilateral health agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇹🇳 Tunisia | Bilateral social security agreement (DVKA) | France-Tunisia social security agreement | No bilateral health agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | Bilateral social security agreement (DVKA) | France-Turkey social security agreement | No bilateral health agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| Other Countries | |||||||
| 🇦🇺 Australia | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No UK-AU reciprocal healthcare | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | NHI enrollment mandatory | |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | Ibero-American Multilateral Social Security Agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | No bilateral health agreement (social security pact exists for pensions) | No bilateral health agreement | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory | |
| 🇨🇳 China | No healthcare agreement (social security pact covers pensions only) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇮🇳 India | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | No healthcare agreement (pensions only) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | |
| 🇲🇾 Malaysia | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | Spain-Mexico bilateral social security convention | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | Spain-Philippines social security convention (1988) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | No healthcare agreement (pensions only) | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | Temporary Protection Directive (EU) & special rules | EU Temporary Protection Directive | EU Temporary Protection Directive | Ukraine Schemes grant NHS access | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
| 🇺🇸 United States | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory | |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No reciprocal agreement — private/local insurance required | No RHCA — OSHC required | NHI enrollment mandatory |
Five things every international student should know
EU/EEA/Switzerland
EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is accepted for emergencies across 30+ countries. For stays longer than 3 months, local registration is typically still required.
UK (post-Brexit)
The UK issues the GHIC for EU travel. EU-issued EHICs are reciprocally accepted in the UK under the EU-UK TCA. Non-EU students pay the NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (£776/year).
Australia (RHCA)
11 countries have Medicare access via RHCA (UK, Ireland, NZ, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, Malta, Slovenia). OSHC is still mandatory for all student visa holders.
USA
Effectively zero reciprocal healthcare agreements. All international students must obtain private insurance or enroll in a university SHIP plan that meets F-1/J-1 requirements.
Germany's non-EU partners
Turkey, Bosnia, Kosovo, N. Macedonia, Serbia, Israel, Tunisia, Morocco — all have bilateral DVKA conventions. Certificates (e.g., A/T 11) can cover emergencies, but university students usually still enroll in GKV.
Japan
No bilateral health agreements. All foreign residents staying more than 3 months must enroll in the National Health Insurance (NHI) — no exceptions, but rates are student-friendly.
Health insurance agreements — FAQ
What is the EHIC and which countries issue it?
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is issued by all 27 EU member states plus EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland. It covers medically-necessary treatment during a temporary stay in another issuing country. For students staying longer than 3 months, long-stay registration with a local insurer is typically required.
Does the UK's GHIC replace the EHIC after Brexit?
Yes. Since 2021 the UK issues the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which works like the EHIC across the EU, Norway, and Switzerland under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Old UK-issued EHICs remain valid until they expire. GHIC covers emergencies and chronic-condition care but does not replace full student health insurance for long stays.
Which countries have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia?
Australia has RHCAs with 11 countries: Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Citizens of these countries can access Medicare for medically-essential treatment. Critically: RHCA does NOT replace OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover), which remains mandatory for student visa subclass 500 holders from ALL countries.
Which non-EU countries have bilateral health insurance agreements with Germany?
Germany has bilateral social security agreements covering healthcare benefits with several non-EU countries: Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Israel, Tunisia, and Morocco. Certificates of entitlement (e.g., A/T 11 for Turkey, BH 6 for Bosnia) may cover medically-necessary treatment, but university-enrolled students are still typically required to join German statutory health insurance (GKV).
Does the USA have any reciprocal healthcare agreements with other countries?
No — the United States does not have bilateral healthcare agreements with any major country for student exchange. International students in the US must enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) offered by their university, or purchase a private plan that meets school requirements and (for J-1 visas) U.S. Department of State minimums.
If my country has an agreement, am I fully exempt from the destination's insurance?
Rarely. Most reciprocal agreements only cover emergencies or medically-necessary treatment. Student visa rules often require additional insurance regardless. For example: (1) Irish citizens in the UK get full NHS access via the Common Travel Area — this is a true exemption. (2) EU students in another EU country use EHIC for emergencies but usually must register locally for long stays. (3) UK/Italian/Dutch students in Australia get Medicare via RHCA but OSHC is still required by visa law.
Japan — is there any exemption for international students?
No. Japan has no bilateral health insurance agreements for student exchange. All foreign residents staying longer than 3 months, including students, must enroll in the National Health Insurance (NHI) or Employees' Health Insurance system. The good news: NHI is affordable (often ¥1,000–2,000 per month for students) and covers 70% of medical costs.
Are Ukrainian students treated differently due to the war?
Yes. Since March 2022, Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war have access to healthcare in EU countries under the EU Temporary Protection Directive (via Bürgergeld/SGB II in Germany, PUMA in France, SNS in Spain). The UK provides NHS access via the Ukraine Schemes. These are emergency humanitarian arrangements — regular visa-based Ukrainian students without Temporary Protection status must enroll as normal.
How accurate is this matrix, and when was it last updated?
This matrix was compiled in April 2026 from official government sources (EU Commission, UK NHS/GHIC, Services Australia, Germany's DVKA, cleiss.fr for France). Bilateral agreements can change, and exceptions apply — especially for working students, scholarship holders, and refugees. Always verify with the relevant embassy or insurance liaison body before relying on an agreement for visa applications.
Ready to compare student insurance plans?
No agreement or only partial coverage? Compare plans for your destination — transparent pricing, no spam, apply directly with providers.