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Exemption

Within three months after arrival in Switzerland you need to apply for an exemption from compulsory health insurance.

First steps

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

  • Confirmation letter ("Meldebestätigung") 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. Download sample letters (PDF, 1.4 MB))

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

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 ("Meldebestätigung")
    2. Your European Health Insurance Card
    3. Confirmation of matriculation from ETH as proof of education
  2. Complete and submit the external page online 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
  3. After registering online, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from SVA Zurich that you have submitted the exemption application. Forward this email including your details (first name and surname, date of birth, current address) to the City of Zurich () or the residence registration office of your municipality. 

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 ("Meldebestätigung")
    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 page online 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
  3. After registering online, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from SVA Zurich that you have submitted the exemption application. Forward this email including your details (first name and surname, date of birth, current address) to the City of Zurich () or the residence registration office of your municipality.  

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 ("Meldebestätigung")
    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 page online 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
  3. After registering online, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from SVA Zurich that you have submitted the exemption application. Forward this email including your details (first name and surname, date of birth, current address) to the City of Zurich () or the residence registration office of your municipality.  

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 page form 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 ("Meldebestätigung")
    2. Your currently valid insurance policy
    3. external page Form A, signed and stamped by your insurance company
    4. Confirmation of matriculation from ETH as proof of education
  2. Complete and submit the external page online 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
  3. After registering online, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from SVA Zurich that you have submitted the exemption application. Forward this email including your details (first name and surname, date of birth, current address) to the City of Zurich () or the residence registration office of your municipality.  

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 page website 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 page website of SVA for an update on the current waiting time (website in German only).

  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 Download sample 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.

Duration of the exemption

The exemption is usually granted for 3 years, see the exact date on your decree attached to the email from the SVA Zurich.

Please note the date in your calendar and make sure to apply for an extension of your exemption before it expires. The procedure will be the same.

The max. duration cycle of the exemption is 6 years. After 6 years you would need to take a "normal" KVG insurance.

Contacts

SVA Zurich

external page Online contact form (webpage only in German)

For BSc, MSc, Joint Master and MAS students

Contact International Student Office

For exchange students

Student Exchange Office

ETH Zurich
Raemistr. 101
HG F 23.1
8092 Zurich
Switzerland

Consultation hours

By email appointment

The International Student Office will be closed from 23 December 2024 to 3 January 2025.

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