International students, academic and administrative staff, who enter the territory of Latvia with the purpose to study, must have a valid Health insurance policy, which guarantees that the costs of healthcare services in the Republic of Latvia are covered. The Health insurance policy shall be presented in order to receive a temporary residence permit or visa.
The minimum limit of the responsibility of an insurer:
- When requiring the visa or a residence permit, the minimum limit of the responsibility of an insurer indicated for the period of insurance cannot be less than EUR 42 600.
- The term of validity of the insurance policy cannot be shorter than the planned period of stay in the Republic of Latvia and in the area of one or several Schengen Agreement member states.
The Health insurance policy has to guarantee at least the following medical services:
- Medical service in case of emergency.
- The treatment in in-patient clinic in case of the condition that is critical or dangerous for life.
- The transportation to the nearest medical establishment in both above mentioned cases.
- The transportation back to the home country in case of severe disease or death.
For incoming international students, academic and administrative staff there are four ways to have a Health insurance:
- Citizens of the European Union Member States, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Switzerland may use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
- You can make insurance in a private insurance company in your country before coming to Latvia. Before purchasing the Health insurance policy, ask the information from the insurance company regarding what medical services are covered by it and how to apply the policy when it is needed.
- Before receiving visa or a residence permit, you can make general Health insurance for the period of your stay in Latvia in insurance companies, which work in Latvian Embassies and Consulates. Before purchasing such a policy, always make sure what kind of health care services and to what extent it covers. Also, make sure of how the policy will pay for your visit to a doctor.
- You can make additional Health insurance in several insurance companies in Latvia, for example, Balta, Baltijas Apdrošināšanas Nams, ERGO and BTA, offer a Health insurance policy that covers just the services required according to The Regulation of Health Insurance for the Foreigners. This policy DOES NOT cover in-patient and out-patient health care services.
If you want a Health insurance policy that also covers out-patient and in-patient health care services, you need a private Health insurance. Currently in Latvia three insurance companies - IF, ERGO and Compensa Life - offer a private insurance policy covering also in-patient and out-patient health care services to foreigners who already have a temporary residence permit. Before purchasing such a policy, always make sure what kind of health care services and to what extent it covers. Also, make sure of how the policy will pay for your visit to a doctor.
For full information concerning Health insurance, please visit: http://www.studyinlatvia.lv/health-insurance
International students, academic and administrative staff, who leave the territory of Latvia with the purpose to study in foreign universities under different exchange programmes, must have a valid Health insurance policy, which guarantees that the costs of healthcare services in the host country are covered.
The minimum limit of the responsibility of an insurer may differ from country to country, so you should specify:
- the necessary minimum limits
- the terms of validity of the insurance policy
- the minimal list of the medical services
- information that a health insurance policy must contain
- list of insurance companies where you can make insurance
- other related information about necessary health insurance
in the nearest Consular Department or Embassy of the host country before entering.
Please, take into account that insurance policies not containing necessary information or not fulfilling the indicated requirements of the Consular Department or Embassy of the host country may not be considered, but the absence of a health policy may serve as ground for the denying an entry into the host country.
