Guide
Health Insurance for International Students in the UK & Canada
Last updated: September 2026
The UK and Canada handle student healthcare very differently, and neither works like the US system. The UK bundles healthcare access into your visa fee through the NHS. Canada has no single national answer — coverage depends on which province you study in, and whether that province extends its public health plan to international students.
UK: covered through the NHS via the IHS
When you apply for a Student Route visa, you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of the application — not a separate insurance product, but a fee that gives you access to the NHS on largely the same basis as a UK resident for the duration of your visa. See the UK student visa cost guide for how the IHS is calculated per year of your course.
The main gap: dental and optical care are only partially covered, or charged at a standard rate, even for UK residents. Some students take out a low-cost supplementary plan to cover those specific gaps, but it's optional — it has no bearing on your visa or your ability to register with a GP (general practitioner) once you arrive.
Canada: it depends entirely on your province
Canada doesn't have one rule for international students — healthcare is administered provincially, and provinces differ on whether international students qualify for public coverage. Some provinces extend their provincial health plan to international students, sometimes after a waiting period; others exclude international students from the public plan entirely, in which case your university or college will require you to enrol in its own mandatory health insurance plan as a condition of registration.
Because this varies by province — and occasionally changes — the only reliable way to know what applies to you is to check your specific university's international student services page (they'll tell you directly whether you're provincially covered or need their plan) and the relevant provincial ministry of health site. See the Canadian study permit guide for the other paperwork that comes with your permit.
Budget for it either way
Whether it's the UK's IHS or a Canadian university's mandatory health plan, this is a real, recurring cost that belongs in your overall budget alongside tuition and living expenses — not an afterthought once you've already committed to a university. See the UK cost of living guide and Canada cost of living guide for the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need separate health insurance for a UK student visa?
No separate insurance purchase is required to get the visa itself — you pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your visa application, and that gives you access to the NHS on largely the same basis as a UK resident. See the visa cost guide for how the IHS is calculated.
Does the NHS cover everything for international students in the UK?
The NHS covers most medical care, but some services — dental and optical care in particular — are only partially covered or charged at a standard rate even for residents. Some students choose supplementary private cover for those gaps, but it isn't required to study or to hold your visa.
Is healthcare free for international students in Canada?
It depends entirely on the province — there's no single national answer. Some provinces extend provincial health coverage to international students after a waiting period or under specific conditions; others don't cover international students at all, in which case your university or college will require you to enrol in a mandatory health insurance plan instead.
How do I find out what applies to my specific situation?
Check your university or college's international student services page — they administer or point to whatever plan applies in that province, and can tell you whether you're covered provincially or need their mandatory plan. Provincial ministry of health websites are the authoritative source for public coverage rules, since they vary and change by province.
Does this work the same way as US student health insurance?
No — US concepts like OPT-linked insurance or ACA marketplace plans don't apply in the UK or Canada. The UK runs entirely through the NHS/IHS system, and Canada runs through a mix of provincial public health plans and university-administered private plans, depending on the province.
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