You need health cover from the day you arrive in Austria. If you have no other insurance, students can join the public student self-insurance with the Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) for EUR 78.84 a month in 2026. Students from outside the EU/EEA also have to show proof of cover when they apply for a residence permit.
Who needs what
Your situation decides your route. There are three broad groups.
- Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland: the permit application asks for proof of health insurance covering all risks in Austria, plus funds to pay the premium. A private policy can serve as proof, or you can register for the public student insurance after you arrive.
- Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland: you do not need a residence permit. Keep your insurance at home in force and check what your European health insurance card covers while you study. If you have no other cover, the student self-insurance is an option.
- Scholarship holders: if you are enrolled as a regular degree student, you can take out insurance with the Gesundheitskasse. The OeAD lists the documents you need, including your scholarship award letter.
The public student self-insurance
This is the standard option for students with no other cover. You insure yourself with the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse at a reduced rate: EUR 78.84 per month (value for 2026).
According to oesterreich.gv.at, you can use it if you are enrolled as a regular student at a university, a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), a conservatory or one of the other listed institutions, or if you are on a university preparation course (Vorstudienlehrgang), admitted to a study qualification exam, or hold a completion scholarship. You must not be compulsorily insured in any statutory health insurance and you must have your usual residence in Austria.
There are three conditions on top of that:
- Your total income stays under EUR 15,000 per calendar year.
- You stay within the intended study time plus four semesters.
- You have changed field of study at most twice.
Your legal partner and children can also be covered by this insurance, according to the OeAD page.
What it costs and when cover starts
Budget for the premium alongside your other costs. The average student spends around EUR 1,300 a month in Austria, so the insurance is a small but fixed line in your budget. Our guide to the cost of living breaks down rent, food and everything else.
Two timing points matter. Cover starts the day after your application. And illnesses that began before you took out the insurance are not covered. So do not wait until you feel unwell.
Pay the monthly fee on time and regularly. If you do not, the OeAD warns that your cover expires. Amounts change, so check the current figure on the official Gesundheitskasse page before you budget.
Documents and paperwork
For the Gesundheitskasse route, the OeAD lists these documents:
- The registration form, available from the Gesundheitskasse.
- Your confirmation of enrolment (Studienbestätigung).
- The current sheet of your Studienbuchblatt, proving current enrolment.
- Your confirmation of registration with the Municipal District Office (Meldebestätigung).
- Your scholarship award letter from the OeAD.
- Only for the University Preparation Programme: enrolment confirmation from the Vorstudienlehrgang and your admission letter from the university.
Every winter semester, send a copy of your confirmation of enrolment to the Gesundheitskasse, at the latest by 31 December. Keep the registration and cancellation papers. If you ever need to re-apply, you will be asked for the previous cancellation.
The e-card and seeing a doctor
The e-card is a chip card with your name, degree, insurance number, card number and photo on the front. It is sent to you automatically and free of charge, and it has no expiry limit in Austria. There is an annual service fee of EUR 14.65 (as of January 2025).
You can only see doctors free of charge who have a contract with the Gesundheitskasse. Show the card to your chosen general practitioner each quarter. If your doctor wants you to see a specialist, they issue a referral (Überweisungsschein) which you hand to the specialist together with your e-card.
The back of the card carries the European health insurance card (EHIC), valid in all EU, EEA and Switzerland countries. That means no extra health insurance voucher for travel in those countries. Check the expiry date: as a rule the card needs a real expiry date for the EHIC to work, and stars in that field are not enough. If you plan a longer stay abroad, contact your Gesundheitskasse branch in time for a substitute confirmation (Ersatzbescheinigung).
Lost or stolen card? Report it straight away to the Gesundheitskasse or the e-card Serviceline on +43 050 124 33 11, a number valid in Austria at local rates.
Comparing your options
Here is the short version of how the two main routes differ.
| Public student self-insurance (ÖGK) | Private policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | EUR 78.84 (2026) | Set by the insurer, check the quote |
| Who can join | Regular students with no statutory cover, income under EUR 15,000 a year, within study time plus four semesters, at most two changes of field | Anyone the insurer accepts |
| Proof for the permit | Can register after arrival | Can serve as proof in the application |
| Doctors | Only those with a Gesundheitskasse contract | Depends on the policy |
| Travel in the EU/EEA | EHIC on the back of the e-card | Depends on the policy |
If you are unsure which fits your case, ask the institution you are applying to and read the official Gesundheitskasse pages. The authority decides on permits and on insurance questions, not this guide.
When you leave and what the student union fee covers
At the end of your stay, cancel the insurance before the end of your last month in Austria. Do it in person or in writing, and submit your insurance number, your insurance account number and a photocopy of your cancelled registration with the Municipal District Office.
One last thing people mix up: the student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) of EUR 26.20 a semester includes student accident insurance. It is not health insurance. Do not count it as your cover.
Frequently asked questions
How much does student health insurance cost in Austria?
The public student self-insurance with the Gesundheitskasse costs EUR 78.84 a month in 2026. On top of that there is an annual e-card service fee of EUR 14.65 as of January 2025. Private policies are priced by the insurer, so ask for a quote.
Can I get health insurance as a non-EU student in Austria?
Yes. Your residence permit application needs proof of health insurance covering all risks in Austria, plus funds for the premium. You can use a private policy as proof, or register for the public student insurance after you arrive. Cover starts the day after your application.
Who is eligible for the ÖGK student self-insurance?
You must be enrolled as a regular student (or on a preparation course or similar), have no statutory health insurance, live in Austria, earn under EUR 15,000 a year, stay within the intended study time plus four semesters and have changed field at most twice.
What is the e-card and where does it work?
The e-card is your Gesundheitskasse chip card, sent free of charge with no expiry limit in Austria. The European health insurance card is printed on the back and is valid in all EU, EEA and Switzerland countries. Check that the card has a real expiry date for the EHIC to work.
Sources
- oesterreich.gv.at: Studentische Selbstversicherung, EUR 78.84 a month in 2026; conditions
- OeAD: National health insurance (ÖGK), E-card, EHIC on the back, annual proof of enrolment
- OeAD: Residence Permit, Student (checklist), Proof of health insurance covering all risks
- OeAD Study in Austria: Tuition fees, Student union fee includes accident insurance
Last checked: 29 October 2026. Rules and amounts change; confirm them on the official page before you act on them. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
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