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Exemption from compulsory health insurance

First steps

When you register at the residents' registration office, you receive the following:

  • Confirmation letter ("Meldebest?tigung") that you have registered for the residence permit (this is not your definite residence permit)
  • Letter with information and details about health insurance. The letter requires you to inform the authorities about your health insurance plan (cf. Downloadsample letters (PDF, 1.4 MB))

Ask about the process to obtain the exemption at the city/village when you apply for your residence permit.

Process

Exemption process within the Canton of Zurich

A. Apply for the exemption from compulsory health insurance

  1. Prepare scans of the following documents:
    1. Your residence permit (front and back page) or if not yet available: confirmation of registration ("Meldebest?tigung")
    2. Your European Health Insurance Card
    3. Confirmation of matriculation from ETH as proof of education
  2. Complete and submit the external pageonline form of SVA Zurich -> Online form: Application for exemption from compulsory health insurance -> change the language from DE to EN on the upper right corner -> Start 
    1. Select you residence permit type (international students usually "B"; exchange students usually "L" (scroll down))
    2. No need to enter an "AHV (OASI) number"
    3. Employment details: "not employed"
    4. Health insurance details: enter "European Health Insurance Card" -> choose "Statutory insurance"
    5. Click "Inclusion in a family insurance policy" if applicable
    6. Education and training: choose "In an educational programme in Switzerland without gainful employment"
    7. Type of Education: "Student"
    8. Residence and employment: "Resident in Switzerland, but not employed".
      Don't choose       "Persons in the registration procedure"! 
    9. Support benefits: "None" (if applicable)
    10. Additional questions: choose none of them
    11. Upload the required documents

Note: The exemption is only approved if you do not have any income. As soon as you receive a salary (even if it is very low), your insurance coverage is no longer guaranteed and you must get a student insurance package (like non-EU students) or a Swiss KVG insurance.

For further information see Employment with the European Health Insurance Card.

A. Choose and purchase your health insurance plan

  1. Consult our website and find out more about the student insurance packages for international students that most suits your needs.
  2. Purchase your insurance package according to the instructions on the website.
  3. Wait for the insurance policy to arrive.

B. Apply for the exemption from compulsory health insurance

  1. Prepare scans of the following documents:
    1. Your residence permit (front and back page) or if not yet available: confirmation of registration ("Meldebest?tigung")
    2. Your NEW health insurance policy with terms and conditions (if applicable)
    3. Confirmation of matriculation from ETH as proof of education
  2. Complete and submit the external pageonline form of SVA Zurich -> Online form: Application for exemption from compulsory health insurance -> change the language from DE to EN on the upper right corner -> Start 
    1. Select you residence permit type (international students usually "B"; exchange students usually "L" (scroll down))
    2. No need to enter an "AHV (OASI) number"
    3. Employment details: "not employed"
    4. Health insurance details: enter the name of your new Swiss student health insurance -> choose "other"
    5. Education and training: choose "In an educational programme in Switzerland without gainful employment"
    6. Type of Education: "Student"
    7. Residence and employment: "Resident in Switzerland, but not employed".
      Don't choose       "Persons in the registration procedure"! 
    8. Support benefits: "None" (if applicable)
    9. Additional questions: choose none of them
    10. Upload the required documents

A. Choose and purchase your health insurance plan

  1. Consult our website and find out more about the student insurance packages for international students that most suits your needs.
  2. Purchase your insurance package according to the instructions on the website.
  3. Wait for the insurance policy to arrive.

B. Apply for the exemption from compulsory health insurance

  1. Prepare scans of the following documents:
    1. Your residence permit (front and back page) or if not yet available: confirmation of registration ("Meldebest?tigung")
    2. Your NEW health insurance policy with terms and conditions (if applicable)
    3. Confirmation of matriculation at ETH as proof of education
    4. Work contract
  2. Complete and submit the external pageonline form of SVA Zurich -> Online form: Application for exemption from compulsory health insurance -> change the language from DE to EN on the upper right corner -> Start 
    1. Select you residence permit type (international students usually "B"; exchange students usually "L" (scroll down))
    2. No need to enter an "AHV (OASI) number"
    3. Employment details: "employed" -> enter your place of work and your employer
    4. Health insurance details: enter the name of your new Swiss student health insurance -> choose "other"
    5. Education and training: choose "In an educational programme in Switzerland and gainfully employed"
    6. Type of Education: "Student"
    7. Residence and employment: choose the option applicable to your case.
      Don't choose       "Persons in the registration procedure"! 
    8. Support benefits: "None" (if applicable)
    9. Additional questions: choose none of them
    10. Upload the required documents

We do not recommend applying for an exemption with a private insurance from your home country. It is highly unlikely that the exemption will be granted (in our experience).
Your health insurance would need to:

1) Meet the Swiss legal requirements
2) Have the same coverage as a Swiss basic insurance (KVG)
3) Be willing to sign and stamp external pageform A

A. Apply for the exemption with a private insurance

  1. Prepare scans of the following documents:
    1. Your residence permit (front and back page) or if not yet available: confirmation of registration ("Meldebest?tigung")
    2. Your currently valid insurance policy
    3. external pageForm A, signed and stamped by your insurance company
    4. Confirmation of matriculation from ETH as proof of education
  2. Complete and submit the external pageonline form of SVA Zurich -> Online form: Application for exemption from compulsory health insurance -> change the language from DE to EN on the upper right corner -> Start 
    1. Select you residence permit type (international students usually "B"; exchange students usually "L" (scroll down))
    2. No need to enter an "AHV (OASI) number"
    3. Employment details: "not employed"
    4. Health insurance details: enter the name of your private insurance company -> choose "Private insurance"
    5. Education and training: choose "In an educational programme in Switzerland without gainful employment"
    6. Type of Education: "Student"
    7. Residence and employment: "Resident in Switzerland, but not employed".
      Don't choose       "Persons in the registration procedure"! 
    8. Support benefits: "None" (if applicable)
    9. Additional questions: choose none of them
    10. Upload the required documents

Please note that it is not possible to predict how the authorities will decide. 

In case of Rejection

You must act immediately and purchase a health insurance for international students.

The exemption only applies in the canton in which it was originally requested (and granted). If you change canton, you must apply for a new exemption with a new application.

This applies to both the EU card (UK GHIC card) and your current or a new Swiss health insurance for international students.

To request an exemption in the canton of Zurich, follow the instructions listed above.

Exemption process for other Cantons (not Zurich)

For other cantons, you find the responsible insitution on the external pagewebsite of the FOPH under "Documents > Cantonal institutions authorised to grant exemption from compulsory health-insurance". Please be aware of the deadlines and processes.

After submission of the exemption request

Coverage during the waiting period

You are covered by the insurance of your choice, even though you have not yet received the final decision on the exemption.

Therefore you must pay the insurance premiums (in case of a Swiss insurance for international students) during this period.

Note: It can take well over 3 months to receive the outcome of your request for exemption. Consult the external pagewebsite of SVA for an update on the current waiting time (website in German only).

After registering online, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from SVA Zurich that you have submitted the exemption application.

You live in the city of Zurich

and have:

  1. submitted your application for exemption to SVA Zurich from September 27 onwards; but still/or
  2. have received a Downloadreminder (letter 2/3) (PDF, 1.4 MB) although you have submitted your application for exemption

Forward the complete confirmation email from SVA Zurich (which states that you have applied for exemption) to the City of Zurich, . Include the following details:

  • First name and family name
  • Date of birth
  • Address in the city of Zurich

No further information is required.

Afterwards, you should not receive any further Downloadreminder letters (PDF, 1.4 MB).

  1. SVA Zurich will inform you about the decision by email (download link). Enter your application number and date of birth to access the letter. Download and save (!) the decision letter. The link might be valid just for a specific time period.
  2. The procedure is complete once you have received the final decree of your exemption request from SVA Zurich. This can take some time (longer than the 90 day deadline to submitt an exemption request). 
  3. Read the Downloadsample letters (PDF, 1.4 MB) if you are unsure about the content of a letter!
  4. Check your email spam folder regularly! It happens that students miss important emails from SVA Zurich or the Residence Registration Office of the city of Zurich because they landed in their spam folder.
  5. In case of rejection: you have to react immediately. Please contact us if the authorities want to assign you to compulsory insurance.

SVA Zurich

external pageOnline contact form (webpage only in German)

Contact International Student Office

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