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Health insurance is separate from the social insurance system in Slovakia. Healthcare falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.
Health insurance coverage is mandatory for anyone residing in Slovakia. Proof of health insurance is also required as part of the procedure for obtaining temporary residence. Before leaving your home country, make sure that your current health insurance provides coverage in Slovakia, or arrange appropriate health insurance before or after your arrival. The applicable procedures depend on your personal situation, the length of your stay, and the conditions of your current health insurance. Depending on these circumstances, you will either remain covered by the health insurance system of your home country or become subject to the Slovak health insurance system. In either case, appropriate arrangements must be made to ensure continuous health insurance coverage.
You cannot choose the country responsible for your health insurance coverage. The country responsible for your healthcare depends primarily on your employment status or place of residence, not on your nationality.
Major applicable legislation:
- Act No. 580/2004 Coll. on Health Insurance
- Act No. 577/2004 Coll. on the Scope of Health Care Covered by Public Health Insurance and on Reimbursement for Services Related to the Provision of Health Care
Every insured person receives a health insurance card issued by their health insurance provider as proof of their health insurance coverage.
An insured person may be asked to present the health insurance card when visiting a doctor. If they change their health insurance provider, they must return the health insurance card to the issuing provider within 8 days.
However, entitlement to healthcare is not dependent on presenting the health insurance card, but on the existence of valid health insurance coverage. Therefore, if you are a foreign national and need medical treatment before your health insurance card has been issued, it is sufficient to present a confirmation of health insurance issued by your health insurance provider.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to medically necessary healthcare provided through the public healthcare system during a temporary stay (e.g. while studying, conducting research or travelling on a business trip) in another EU Member State, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Healthcare is provided under the same conditions and at the same cost (free of charge in some countries) as for persons insured in the country you are visiting. The EHIC is issued by your national health insurance provider upon request.
In Slovakia, holders of a valid EHIC are entitled to medically necessary healthcare under the same conditions as persons insured in the Slovak public health insurance system. To receive treatment covered by the EHIC, you should visit a healthcare provider that has a contract with at least one Slovak public health insurance company. The EHIC covers healthcare that becomes medically necessary during your temporary stay, including treatment related to chronic or pre-existing medical conditions where necessary, so that you can continue your stay without having to return to your home country for treatment.
The EHIC does not cover:
- private healthcare;
- planned medical treatment abroad;
- routine preventive health check-ups and screening examinations;
- healthcare that can reasonably be postponed until you return to your home country;
- repatriation costs (e.g. the cost of returning to your home country for medical reasons); or
- other services that are not covered by the public healthcare system of the country where you receive treatment.
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national who is employed in Slovakia but resides in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland, you may be entitled to comprehensive healthcare (unlike the limited coverage provided by the EHIC) both in your country of residence and in Slovakia. This entitlement may also extend to your dependent family members, depending on the applicable legislation.
To access healthcare in your country of residence, you should obtain a Portable Document S1 (PD S1) from your Slovak public health insurance company. The required documents may vary depending on your circumstances but typically include proof of residence abroad and proof of employment in Slovakia. Once the PD S1 has been issued, it must be registered with the competent health insurance institution in your country of residence. After registration, you and, where applicable, your eligible dependent family members will be entitled to comprehensive healthcare there in accordance with the legislation of that country.
If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss national insured in the Slovak public health insurance system and your dependent family members reside in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland, they may also be entitled to healthcare in their country of residence through, the already-mentioned, PD S1. The document is issued by your Slovak public health insurance company and must be registered with the competent health insurance institution in the country where your family members reside. Following registration, your eligible family members will receive healthcare in accordance with the legislation of their country of residence, while the costs are settled between the competent institutions under the EU social security coordination rules. Their health insurance institution will also issue them with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles them to medically necessary healthcare during temporary stays in other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland.
Dependent family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who reside in Slovakia should normally register with a Slovak public health insurance company and obtain a Slovak health insurance card. However, entitlement to healthcare depends on the individual circumstances of each case, including the employment status and country of insurance of the insured person. It is therefore advisable to contact your home health insurance institution or the relevant Slovak health insurance company before moving to Slovakia to determine the applicable rules.
There are 3 health insurance companies providing public health insurance in Slovakia:
Important: On July 14 2026, Dôvera Health Insurance and Union Health insurance announced plans to merge into a single health insurance provider operating under the Dôvera brand. For more info, please proceed here
Information on health insurance for foreigners in English can be found here:
- Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa, a.s. (public health insurance)
- Dôvera zdravotná poisťovňa, a.s.
- Union zdravotná poisťovňa, a. s. (commercial health insurance)
Information about commercial health insurance providers in Slovakia is available on the following websites:
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There are two types of health insurance in Slovakia:
Persons covered by mandatory public health insurance are entitled to healthcare and related services in accordance with the Act on Health Insurance. Depending on the type of healthcare or service, public health insurance covers the costs either in full or partially.
As a general rule, mandatory public health insurance applies to every person who has permanent residence in Slovakia.
However, a person with permanent residence in Slovakia is not subject to mandatory public health insurance if they:
- are employed abroad and are covered by the public health insurance system of the country of employment;
- are self-employed abroad and are covered by the public health insurance system of that country;
- reside abroad for a long period (more than six consecutive months) and are covered by health insurance in the country of residence; or
- are a dependent family member of a person who is subject to the health insurance legislation of another country.
Mandatory public health insurance may also apply to persons without permanent residence in Slovakia, provided they are not subject to the public health insurance legislation of another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland. This includes, in particular, persons who:
- are employed by an employer established or having a registered office or permanent establishment in Slovakia (with certain exceptions, such as some agreements on work performed outside an employment relationship), provided that the statutory conditions are met;
- are students from another EU/EEA Member State or from a third country studying at a school in Slovakia under an international treaty binding on the Slovak Republic;
- are dependent children with temporary residence in Slovakia, provided that at least one parent is covered by the Slovak public health insurance system; or
- are recipients of scholarships under eligible scholarship programmes for a period exceeding one month (see the Public Health Insurance for Scholarship Holders section). A list of eligible scholarship programmes is available on the website of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of SR.
Mandatory public health insurance begins on the day the relevant legal conditions are fulfilled (for example, the commencement of employment or the acquisition of permanent residence in Slovakia). The insured person is required to register with a Slovak public health insurance company within 8 days from the date on which the insurance arises.
Commercial health insurance entitles you to healthcare services within the scope specified in your insurance contract. Depending on the provider and the chosen policy, it may cover basic healthcare for persons who are not eligible for public health insurance, supplementary healthcare beyond the standard public coverage, or a combination of both.
Foreign nationals who are not covered by the Slovak public health insurance system are generally required to obtain commercial health insurance for the duration of their stay in Slovakia.
This typically applies to:
- researchers who carry out their activities on the basis of a grant or fellowship and are not covered by public health insurance through employment or another legal basis; and
- third-country students who are not eligible for Slovak public health insurance (for example, because they are not covered under an applicable international agreement or scholarship programme).
Proof of health insurance is also required in many procedures related to obtaining temporary residence in Slovakia.
Commercial health insurance may be purchased from a Slovak or foreign insurance provider, provided that the insurance is valid in the territory of the Slovak Republic and meets the applicable legal requirements. If requested by the competent authorities, documents issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by an official translation into Slovak, by an official sworn translator.
Information on commercial health insurance providers operating in Slovakia is available on the Insurance agencies portal.
Health Insurance of Students/PhD Students
Health Insurance is mandatory for all international students staying in Slovakia. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be covered by the Slovak public health insurance system, public health insurance in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland, or private health insurance.
Slovak Nationals
Who is covered?
- Slovak nationals enrolled in a full-time higher education programme in Slovakia.
What applies?
- The Slovak state pays the public health insurance contributions.
- For full-time PhD students, the state covers the insurance for the standard duration of the PhD programme, provided that the student:
- has not previously obtained a PhD degree, and
- is under 30 years of age.
EU/EEA/Swiss students
If you are insured in your home country:
- You may access medically necessary healthcare during your temporary stay in Slovakia by presenting your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). See more info here: EHIC
If you are not insured in your home country:
- You are covered by the Slovak public health insurance system, with the Slovak Republic acting as the payer of the insurance.
What do you need to do?
- Choose a Slovak health insurance company.
- Submit:
- proof of enrolment at a Slovak higher education institution, and
- any other required documents,
- within 8 days of the beginning of your studies.
Students from third countries
If you study under an international agreement binding on the Slovak Republic:
- You are covered by the Slovak public health insurance system, with the Slovak Republic acting as the payer.
- You must register with a Slovak health insurance company within 8 days of the beginning of your studies by submitting:
- proof of enrolment, and
- confirmation of your international status issued by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic.
If you do not study under such an international agreement:
- You are not covered by the Slovak public health insurance system.
- You are required to obtain private health insurance for the duration of your stay.
Temporary residence
If you apply for temporary residence in Slovakia, proof of valid health insurance must be submitted to the Foreign Police in accordance with the applicable residence regulations.
Health insurance of Employees with a regular or irregular income
Employees and self-employed persons
Who is covered?
- Foreign nationals employed under an employment contract in Slovakia
- Self-employed persons carrying out their activities in Slovakia
What applies?
- You are generally subject to mandatory public health insurance in Slovakia
- Health insurance contributions are paid in accordance with Slovak legislation and are deducted automatically
Before employment starts
If you are not yet covered by the Slovak public health insurance system-f.e., during the period between your arrival in Slovakia and the commencement of your employment-you are required to have private health insurance.
Temporary residence
Third-country nationals applying for temporary residence must provide proof of valid health insurance to the Foreign Police as part of the residence application process.
Health insurance of Researchers/University Teachers without an employment contract
This section applies to researchers and university teachers who come to Slovakia without entering into an employment relationship, for example while receiving a scholarship, mobility grant or other external funding.
EU/EEA/Swiss nationals
If you are insured in another EU/EEA Member State or Switzerland:
- Check before travelling whether your health insurance covers your stay in Slovakia.
- During your temporary stay, you may access medically necessary healthcare by presenting your EHIC
Third-country nationals
If you are not covered by the Slovak public health insurance system, you are required to obtain private health insurance for the duration of your stay.
Before travelling
Before coming to Slovakia, verify whether your existing health insurance provides sufficient coverage. If it does not, arrange appropriate health insurance before or immediately after your arrival.
Temporary residence
Proof of valid health insurance is required when applying for temporary residence in Slovakia.
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Certain international scholarship holders are entitled to Slovak public health insurance free of charge, with the Slovak Republic acting as the payer of the insurance.
This entitlement is based on Act No. 580/2004 Coll. on Health Insurance, according to which a foreign national who:
- resides in Slovakia,
- is not otherwise covered by public health insurance, and
- has been awarded a scholarship for more than one month under:
- a scholarship programme approved by the Government of the Slovak Republic,
- a programme arising from an international agreement, or
- a European Union programme,
is covered by the Slovak mandatory public health insurance system.
Who is eligible?
The provision applies to scholarship holders participating in eligible scholarship programmes, including, for example:
- National Scholarship Programme (NSP)
- CEEPUS
- Erasmus+
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (where applicable)
- other eligible scholarship programmes
The official list of eligible scholarship programmes is published and regularly updated by the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of SR.Applicants are advised to verify that their scholarship programme is included in the current list before applying for public health insurance.
How to register
Although the insurance is free of charge, registration with a Slovak public health insurance company is required. You may choose one of the following public health insurance providers:
- Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (VšZP)
- Either download the PDF - https://www.vszp.sk/poistenci/tlaciva/ - print it, complete and sign the form, and submit it at the health insurance office. (You can also download an English translation with explanatory notes) OR check the online application form here: https://www.vszp.sk/poistenci/chcem-poistit/
- Dôvera zdravotná poisťovňa
- application available only in Slovak language OR directly at the insurance office
- Union zdravotná poisťovňa
- application available online in English - https://www.union.sk/online-registration-uzp/#/selection-of-insured-person, OR directly at the insurance office
Nevertheless, as the registration procedure and the required supporting documents may vary slightly between insurers, we recommend contacting your chosen health insurance company in advance to confirm:
- the documents you need to submit,
- the registration procedure, and
- whether an appointment is required.
Important
- Public health insurance coverage does not start automatically upon receiving a scholarship. Registration with a Slovak health insurance company is required.
- Register as soon as possible after becoming eligible to avoid any gap in health insurance coverage.