Insurance for international students

Register for the European Health Insurance card (EHIC)

As an EU/EEA, UK, or Swiss citizen you should register with the social insurance office in your home country to obtain the European Health Insurance card (EHIC) (or GHIC for the UK). Be sure to bring your EHIC card to Sweden, and check that it's valid throughout your stay in Sweden. If you are from Finland, Denmark, Norway or Iceland, a valid ID and home address will suffice.

With the European Health Insurance Card, you are entitled to emergency and medically necessary, state-provided healthcare on the same financial terms as Swedish residents. Medically necessary care includes medical and dental care that cannot wait until you return to your home country and can therefore vary depending on the length of your stay. The benefits covered include, for example, benefits provided in conjunction with chronic or existing illnesses.

If you are admitted to a study programme lasting longer than 12 months, you should also apply for a Swedish personal number to be entitled to regular healthcare at the same subsidised patient fees as Swedes. 

• Apply for a  European Health Insurance card on the European Commissions website
• Apply for a Swedish personal number

If you are a student with dual citizenship

If you have dual citizenship from EU/EES and another country, check if you are entitled to the EHIC card and obtain it before your arrival in Sweden. If you are not entitled to the EHIC card, you must get your own private health insurance in your home country, before arriving to Sweden.

FAS plus for emergency medical and dental care

Karolinska Institutet has subscribed to health insurance with property cover, also called FAS plus, for all fee-paying students through Kammarkollegiet, Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency.

FAS plus applies 24-hours a day in Sweden starting from two weeks prior to your studies until two weeks after, including summer holidays if you are continuing your studies at KI in the fall. You are not covered by FAS plus on your journey to Sweden.

FAS plus covers the following*:

• Emergency health and dental care**
• Home transport in case of serious illness
• Damage or loss of property
• Liability
• Legal expenses

Please note that FAS plus only cover emergency medical and dental care. Be sure to read the FAS plus Terms and Conditions to know precisely how you are covered and if this is sufficient. 

If you need to seek emergency medical and dental care you will need to pay for the treatment yourself and later fill out a claim form to be reimbursed by Kammarkollegiet. 

Students who have paid the first instalment of their tuition fee will automatically be covered by the FAS plus insurance.

*The insurance conditions stated in the agreements between Kammarkollegiet and Karolinska Institutet take precedence over the information on this page.

**The dental insurance only covers up to 3000 SEK.

Insurance for students who pay tuition fees on Kammarkollegiet's website

If you are studying on a 1-year programme

If you are admitted to study programme lasting less than 12 months you need to take out your own private health insurance before arriving to Sweden, to avoid high patient fees for regular healthcare. This applies especially to students who are traveling with pre-existing medical conditions or ongoing medical treatment.

If you are studying on a 2-year programme

If you are admitted to a 2-year long study programme, you should also apply for a Swedish personal number to be entitled to regular healthcare at the same subsidised patient fees as Swedes. 

Apply for a Swedish personal number

As an exchange student you are covered through the Student IN insurance. The Student IN insurance covers emergency medical and dental care, personal liability, legal assistance, and personal property.

Please note that Student IN only cover emergency medical and dental care. Be sure to read the the Student IN Terms and Conditions to know precisely how you are covered and if this is sufficient. This applies especially to students who are traveling with preexisting medical conditions or ongoing medical treatment.

Sweden has reciprocal agreements on public medical benefits with the following countries:

• Algeria – emergency health care (not dental care).
• Australia – emergency and medically necessary health and dental care.
• Quebec –health care access on the same terms as Swedish citizens. Applicable only during the first 12 months of stay.

If this applies to you, make sure you have all documentation needed before your arrival in Sweden.