Health Insurance
Students coming to Czechia are obligated to have medical insurance. The conditions differ for EU citizens and non-EU citizens.
Health Insurance for EU nationals
EU citizens can temporarily use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC); registration after arrival is adviseable.
As a citizen of one of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland you have access to state-provided health care all across Europe. You receive full medical care in the country, where you are insured (usually the one, where you work). During a temporary stay in other EU countries and Switzerland you are entitled to medically necessary healthcare, provided you are a holder of the EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card).
PhD candidates from the EU/EEA and Switzerland funded by scholarship only
If you do not have an employment contract in the Czech Republic and your studies are funded only by a scholarship, you need to register with a Czech health insurance company (we recommend VZP for public health insurance in the Czech Republic. You might be entitled to necessary healthcare within the public healthcare system.
For registration, please bring: confirmation of enrolment in a PhD programme, an identity card (ID card or passport), your national health insurance card from your home country.
PhD candidates with an employment contract
Once you sign an employment contract with a workload higher than 0.2 FTE, you become an insured employee in the Czech Republic. VŠE, as your employer, pays your health and social insurance contributions. In this case, you are entitled to full healthcare within the Czech public healthcare system.
Health Insurance for Non-EU Nationals
Citizens of other than EU countries (with some exceptions) are required to have health insurance from an authorized insurance company as a part of the visa process.
There are several Czech insurance companies that provide the right type of insurance that is specifically designed for the needs of international students. Usually, you can purchase the insurance online. For more information, see here: Health Insurance – Study in Prague
Note that for non-EU nationals, changing from full-time to part-time study has other administrative consequences as well. For part-time candidates it is more complicated to obtain a student residence permit from the Ministry of the Interior – the assessment is more thorough, depends on the individual situation, and additional documentation from the university should be submitted to the Ministry. Part-time candidates also lose free access to the labour market.
Candidates from non-EU countries who exceed the 4-year study period and switch to part-time study are advised to plan in advance with regard to their residence status and work permit.