Health Insurance for International Students in the Netherlands: What You Need and When

TL;DR: Health insurance for international students in the Netherlands depends on one question: do you work? If you only study, a private student health insurance policy is usually enough. The moment you start paid work, even a few hours a week, or a paid internship, Dutch law requires you to take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering). You have four months to arrange it, and it is backdated to the day the work began.

Health insurance is one of the first things to sort out before you travel to the Netherlands, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The Dutch system has two kinds of cover, and which one you need can change during your studies. This guide explains health insurance for international students in the Netherlands, when the rules change, and how to avoid a fine.

Planning a Dutch master's and not sure what to budget for insurance and living costs? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

The two types of cover

Your university and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) expect you to be insured for your whole stay. Most universities point new international students to one or two student policies. Read the cover before you buy: check doctor visits, hospital care, medicines and mental health support, and whether it covers you from the day you arrive.

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When you must switch to Dutch basic insurance

Students from outside the EU may work either up to 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August, if their employer has a work permit for them. Our guide to Netherlands student work hours explains the limits.

Any paid job changes your insurance duty. From the first day of work you are legally required to hold Dutch basic insurance. A private student policy does not count, even if it is more expensive. The same applies to a paid internship.

You must take out the basic policy within four months of starting work. The insurer then backdates it to your start date, so you pay for those months too. If you wait longer, you still pay for the backdated months, and you can also receive a fine.

What happens if you are not insured correctly

The CAK, the Dutch public body that checks health insurance, finds people who should hold basic insurance but do not. It sends a letter, then fines, and can arrange a policy for you and collect the cost directly. A student who starts a part-time job and keeps only a private policy is a common example.

The fix is simple: when you sign a job contract, take out basic insurance the same week, and stop your private policy only once the basic one is in place.

Five steps to get it right

1. Before you travel, buy a student health policy that starts on your arrival date.
2. When you arrive, register at your municipality and with a general practitioner (huisarts), the first point of contact for care.
3. If you get a job or paid internship, take out Dutch basic insurance straight away.
4. Check the healthcare allowance. With basic insurance and a low income, you may qualify for zorgtoeslag from the Dutch tax office.
5. When your job ends, you can switch back to student cover. Tell your insurer and keep proof of the dates.

Insurance is also a cost to include in your budget. See our guide to Netherlands student visa proof of funds, and the student residence permit process your university starts for you.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Travel insurance bought in Sri Lanka for your flight usually covers a short trip, not a full year of study. Do not rely on it as your student cover.
• Keep your policy documents in English and in digital form, since you may be asked for them on arrival or at registration.

FAQ

Is health insurance compulsory for international students in the Netherlands?
You need health cover for your whole stay. Dutch basic insurance is only compulsory by law when you work or do a paid internship.

Can I keep my student insurance if I work part-time?
No. Once you have paid work, you must take out Dutch basic insurance, even for a few hours a week.

How long do I have to take out basic insurance after I start a job?
Four months. The policy is backdated to your first day of work.

What is eigen risico?
The compulsory yearly deductible on Dutch basic insurance. You pay this amount yourself before the insurer covers some types of care.

Can international students get zorgtoeslag?
If you hold Dutch basic insurance and your income is low, you may qualify. You apply through the Dutch tax office.

PS: The insurance question is small, but getting it wrong can mean backdated payments and a fine in your first year. If you want help planning your Dutch master's, including your budget and work during study, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›