Compare student health insurance

If you’re in the Netherlands purely for study purposes and have a student visa (residence permit for study), you’re not required to take out Dutch public health insurance (basisverzekering). Your international (travel) insurance or a student plan usually does the job, and often for less money.

Heads up: Always check that your current insurance meets the requirements of your Dutch university and your visa conditions.

As soon as you start working, even a part-time job, paid internship, or zero-hour contract, you’re legally required to get Dutch public health insurance. At that point, you’re covered under the Long-Term Care Act (Wlz), which means you must have a basic health insurance (basisverzekering). Rear more about working while studying as an international student in the Netherlands.

So, as an international student, you can work in the Netherlands (with some restrictions, like a limit on hours). Once you start working, you must take out Dutch health insurance within four months. If you don’t, and you are required to have one, the CAK (Central Administration Office) can issue you a fine.

Not sure if you’re required to have Dutch insurance? You can request a “verzekeringsplicht” (insurance obligation) check from the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB).