Choosing the right health coverage

Please note: If you are a resident but not a national of one of the above-mentioned countries and are travelling to Denmark or the United Kingdom, you will not be able to benefit from the provisions listed below. The same applies vice-versa.

Prior to your arrival, you must gather certain documents that will be requested at the time of your affiliation to the French social security:

• Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the S1 form. Contact your local health insurance fund to obtain these two documents.
• A proof of income for the last 12 months specifying your name or your parents’: it may be a tax assessment (avis d’imposition) or a declaration on your honour– or your parents’, if you are economically dependent on them – (attestation sur l’honneur) stating you have sufficient funds to live in France (at least € 615 monthly). 

Once in France, you will have to register with the French social security through the website etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr (available from September 1st 2018). You will have to provide several supporting documents, including those mentioned above. For more information on supporting documents and the step-by-step procedure, download the To-do list for international students enrolling for the first time in a higher education institution for the academic year (in French):

You can also refer to the social security website (in French).

Please note: you will only be able to register with the social security once you have paid the CVEC administrative fee and have completed your academic registration with your institution.  

In any case, don't forget to take out a supplementary health insurance to access full reimbursement.

You are a national of a country that has signed a bilateral Social Security Convention with France

To find out if your country of origin has signed a Social Security Convention with France, please visit the website of the Centre of European and International Liaisons for Social Security (Cleiss). If a convention has been signed, check the conditions that allow you to remain affiliated to your current health insurance scheme. 

In any case, don't forget to take out a supplementary health insurance to access full reimbursement. 

You are a national of a country that has not signed a Social Security Convention with France

• You must register with the French social security through the website etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr (available from September 1st 2018). You will have to provide several supporting documents. For more information on supporting documents and the step-by-step procedure, download the To-do list for international students enrolling for the first time in a higher education institution for the academic year (in French):

• You can also refer to the social security website (in French).
• Please note: you will only be able to register with the social security once you have paid the CVEC administrative fee and have completed your academic registration with your institution.  Therefore, if you are coming to France before the start of the academic year (i.e. in the framework of optional language courses), you will have to take out a private health insurance that will cover the period between your arrival and your academic registration. ACS Assurances offers different health coverage schemes that can meet your needs. If you take out an insurance in your country of residence, make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the different offers before signing up to anything. Your insurance must guarantee repatriation and you must be covered by a civil liability insurance. Do not forget to ask for a health insurance certificate (in English or in French) to prove that you are covered during this period. 

In any case, don't forget to take out a supplementary health insurance to access full reimbursement. 

Please note: If you are a resident but not a national of one of the above-mentioned countries and are travelling to Denmark or the United Kingdom, you will not be able to benefit from the provisions listed below. The same applies vice-versa. 

Prior to your arrival, you must gather certain documents that will be requested at the time of your affiliation to the French social security:

• Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the S1 form. Contact your local health insurance fund to obtain these two documents.
• A proof of income for the last 12 months specifying your name or your parents’: it may be a tax assessment (avis d’imposition) or a declaration on your honour– or your parents’, if you are economically dependent on them – (attestation sur l’honneur) stating you have sufficient funds to live in France (at least € 615 monthly). 

Once in France, you will have to register with the French social security through the website etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr (available from September 1st 2018). You will have to provide several supporting documents, including those mentioned above. For more information on supporting documents and the step-by-step procedure, download the To-do list for international doctoral students enrolling for the first time in a higher education institution for the academic year (in French):

You can also refer to the social security website (in French).

Please note: you will only be able to register with the social security once you have paid the CVEC administrative fee and have completed your academic registration with your institution.  

In any case, don't forget to take out a supplementary health insurance to access full reimbursement.

You are a national of a country that has signed a bilateral Social Security Convention with France

To find out if your country of origin has signed a Social Security Convention with France, please visit the website of the Centre of European and International Liaisons for Social Security (Cleiss). If a convention has been signed, check the conditions that allow you to remain affiliated to your current health insurance scheme. 

In any case, don't forget to take out a supplementary health insurance to access full reimbursement. 

You are a national of a country that has not signed a bilateral Social Security Convention with France

• You must register with the French social security through the website etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr (available from September 1st 2018). You will have to provide several supporting documents. For more information on supporting documents and the step-by-step procedure, download the To-do list for international doctoral students enrolling for the first time in a higher education institution for the 2018-2019 academic year (in French):

• You can also refer to the social security website (in French).
• Please note: you will only be able to register with the social security once you have paid the CVEC administrative fee and have completed your academic registration with your institution.  Therefore, if you are coming to France before the start of the academic year (i.e. in the framework of optional language courses), you will have to take out a private health insurance that will cover the period between your arrival and your academic registration. ACS Assurances offers different health coverage schemes that can meet your needs. If you take out an insurance in your country of residence, make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the different offers before signing up to anything. Your insurance must guarantee repatriation and you must be covered by a civil liability insurance. Do not forget to ask for a health insurance certificate (in English or in French) to prove that you are covered during this period. 

In any case, don't forget to take out a supplementary health insurance to access full reimbursement.

Please note: If you are a resident but not a national of one of the above-mentioned countries and are travelling to Denmark or the United Kingdom, you will not be able to benefit from the provisions listed below. The same applies vice-versa.

• Prior to your arrival, you must request your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or the S1 form from your local health insurance fund. 
• Always have them with you when going to a medical consultation, buying medicine at the pharmacy or in the event of hospitalization. Always ask for an invoice.
• Keep all originals of invoices and prescriptions as you will need them when seeking reimbursement of your medical expenses. Wait until you have returned to your country of habitual residence to seek reimbursement from your health insurance fund.

• If you do not have the EHIC or the S1 form, you will have to take out a private health insurance in France or in your country of habitual residence. In France, ACS Assurances offers different health coverage schemes. If you take out an insurance in your country of residence, make sure you understands the terms and conditions of the different offers before signing up to anything. Your insurance must guarantee repatriation and you must be covered by a civil liability insurance. Do not forget to ask for a health insurance certificate (in English or in French) to prove that you are covered during this period. 

You are a national of a country that has signed a bilateral Social Security Convention with France

To find out if your country of origin has signed a Social Security Convention with France, please visit the website of the Centre of European and International Liaisons for Social Security (Cleiss). If a convention has been signed, check the conditions that allow you to remain affiliated to your current health insurance scheme. 

You are a national of a country that has not signed a bilateral Social Security convention with France

Check with the social security system of your country of residence or your health insurance company to find out if your medical expenses and repatriation will be covered during the period of your stay in France. Make sure you have a civil liability insurance. If it is not the case, you will have to take out a private health insurance in France or in your home country that will cover your health expenses during your entire stay in France. ACS Assurances offers different health coverage schemes. Do not forget to ask for a health insurance certificate (in English or in French) to prove that you are covered during your stay in France.

Please note: If you are a resident but not a national of one of the above-mentioned countries and are travelling to Denmark or the United Kingdom, you will not be able to benefit from the provisions listed below. The same applies vice-versa.

• Prior to your arrival, you must request your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and/or the S1 form from your local health insurance fund. 
• Once in France, your medical expenses will be covered under the same terms and conditions as those insured under the French social security system. Should you require any further information or seek reimbursement, please contact the International relations department of the CPAM (Caisse Primaire Assurance Maladie) of your place of residence.

• Please note: if you will be staying in France for 3 months or less, you are strongly advised to wait until you return to your country of habitual residence to seek reimbursement of your medical expenses. Remember to keep the originals of all invoices and prescriptions.
• If you do not have the EHIC or the S1 form, please read the paragraph "Non-EEA or Swiss nationals" below in order to know what your best option regarding health coverage is. 

In any case, don't forget to take out a supplementary health insurance to access full reimbursement.

Your options are the following:

1st option:

Your spouse and adult children, provided they are unemployed, as well as your minor children, can join the Protection Universelle Maladie (PUMa) scheme of the social security system. They will have to request an affiliation to the health insurance fund (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie – CPAM) of your place of residence.

Please note that the registration process may take several months. We strongly advise you to take out a private health insurance which will cover the waiting period between the arrival until the end of 4th month in France. The Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler, and ACS Assurances offer different health coverage schemes to all PhD students and their families.

In any case, don't forget to take out a supplementary health insurance to access full reimbursement. 

2nd option:

Your spouse as well as your minor and/or adult children remain affiliated to the social security system of their previous country of residence (nationals of a country that has signed a social security convention with France). Make sure it will cover their medical expenses, guarantee repatriation and that they are covered by a civil liability insurance.

3rd option:

Your spouse as well as your minor and/or adult children take out a health insurance in France. The Fondation nationale Alfred Kastler, and ACS Assurances offer different health coverage schemes to all PhD students or researchers and their families.

4th option:

Your spouse as well as your minor and/or adult children take out a health insurance in your country of residence that will cover their health expenses and repatriation. Make sure that they are covered by a civil liability insurance. Do not forget to ask for a health insurance certificate (in English or French) to prove that they are insured.