Important notice for students from 3rd countries: health insurance for foreigners - change in Act on the Residence of Foreigner Nationals in the Czech Republic

On 2 August 2021, an amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreigner Nationals in the Czech Republic entered into force. The most important change is the one in health insurance for foreigners.

Any foreigner who enters the territory of the Czech Republic and will stay there for more than 90 days, is obliged to take out travel health insurance in the scope of comprehensive health care within 90 days after entering the territory.

The obligation does not apply to foreigners who are participants in public health insurance, or are reimbursed for health care based on an international agreement or are holders of valid EHIC (EEA countries and Switzerland, „blue card“) and GHIC (United Kingdom) health insurance cards.

For the next five years from the law amendment's effectiveness (i.e., from 2 August 2021 to 2 August 2026), travel medical insurance covering comprehensive health care as required by the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals may be taken out exclusively with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s.

An overview of changes to the Act on the Residence of Foreigners with effect from August 2nd, 2021 can be found here and on the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.

• An_overview_of_changes_introduced_in_the_Foreign_Nationals_Residence_Act_as_of_August_2nd_2021_-_20210729.pdf [.pdf]