The healthcare system in Norway is good.
However the right to it, as a foreign student, is conditional upon a set of very certain regulations.
Majority of the work is done by three factors.
Your citizenship, your duration of residence, and whether or not you will join the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) of Norway are what dictate whether you will be subjected to the public healthcare in a similar manner as the residents or whether you will be required to confine most (or all) of your stay to private coverage.
In case you are alone coming, then you can make do sometimes with the lowest cover in case of emergencies.
When you are taking a spouse or children, that method can easily get costly and straining in a matter of seconds.
This tutorial is addressed to individuals that desire to make a single clean choice and get on with life.
It pays attention to what to do, what to inquire and what to avoid, with the official immigration and health advice of Norway taken as the foundation.
Start here: the simplest decision map
You can usually find your correct pathway by answering three questions.
1) Are you EU/EEA/Swiss, or non-EU/EEA?
EU/EEA students often use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for “necessary” public healthcare while temporarily staying in Norway.
Non-EU/EEA students generally need private insurance unless they qualify for NIS membership based on their legal residence and length of stay.
2) Is your stay more than 12 months, or not?
Many Norwegian universities explain the practical rule like this: if you will stay more than 12 months, you will typically become insured under the National Insurance Scheme once you are registered properly, but you still need your own coverage until registration is complete.
3) Will your spouse/children live in Norway with you?
If yes, your “good plan” should cover more than emergency hospital bills.
You want outpatient visits, paediatrics, prescriptions, maternity rules (if relevant), and clear wording for dependants.
Norway’s public system in plain terms: what NIS membership changes
Membership in NIS is the key that transforms your life in Norway.
It influences your ability to access publicly provided healthcare and what rights you have the right to NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration).
This is the practical section that students are concerned about.
Assuming that you are covered by NIS and living in Norway on a legal basis, you will tend to act more like a local patient, and not some one who is visiting with a travel insurance.
Voluntary membership exists, but it is not a shortcut for everyone
According to NAV, voluntary membership does have exceptions, such as individuals who are not employed and are in Norway between 3 and 12 months and have close ties to Norway (the information can be in Norwegian).
That is good to know, not something to expect to get.
When you are considering voluntary membership then do it as though it were an application.
You strategize on the first one (private insurance) and then consider voluntary membership as a way of upgrading in case NAV proves it.
The EHIC route: good for basics, not a full family solution
EHIC can be a good basis, especially in the case of EU/EEA nations and Switzerland.
It records your entitlement to the needed healthcare in the circumstances of a temporary residence in a different country of the EU/EEA (and some related arrangements) and on the same terms as the locals of the country.
However, EHIC does not imply that all things are free.
Helsenorge writes that you are treated as a citizen and can be charged user fees as residents, not paid back by Helfo.
Students are exposed to a second catch.
UDI cautiously advises that you should verify with authorities in your home country because in this case an EHIC might be adequate, but once authorities determine that you have transferred your habitual residence, you may no longer be under EHIC, in which case you might require some form of individual health insurance (UDI explicitly points out this risk in this case with students).
And there is one more fact that is important to some families.
Helsenorge also describes that not all the people that possess an EHIC are allowed to use it in Norway, especially basing on the citizenship and eligibility regulations.
Action step: In case you intend to use EHIC, make sure that you confirm in writing (at least, according to the official instructions of your home authority) that it will be valid during your particular study period in Norway.
Then add personal cover to the gaps that EHIC fails so effectively such as repatriation, personal care option and viable family extensions.
Non-EU/EEA students: the “first year” issue you must plan for
The most frequent error is time on the part of non-EU/EEA students.
Individuals purchase the appropriate insurance but at the wrong time, too soon or simply not including the period when registration and system access is being initiated.
Some Norwegian universities formulate the working rule in a clearer way: students who remain longer than a year are by default covered under the National Insurance Scheme upon the registration as residents, but must cover themselves until the registration process is achieved.
So you plan in two layers.
An intermediate strategy to the arrival/ registration process, and a longer term plan in the event that you do not join (or the family will require more benefits than the public scheme will provide you with easily).
In case of a shorter course or stay, even the private insurance becomes more central.
And when it is a short stay Schengen case, the official visa documentation checklist in Norway points to Schengen stays on travel medical insurance requirements, such as medical repatriation and minimum coverage requirements.
Your first admin milestone: national identity number and practical access
Paperwork opens up the services in Norway.
No criticism there; it is the way the system operates.
According to UDI, the national identity number is assigned to people who have been living in Norway at least half a year, and they apply to most of the services and necessities, such as obtaining a GP (fastlege).
You should consider the identity number timeline as health plan, therefore, should you be long-term enough to be considered resident.
In case you are not EU/non-EEA, some universities cannot stop to explain that the issue of ID numbers is issued when registration procedures are fulfilled, and it can be long lasting.
This is the reason why families cannot afford to do without a bridge policy.
Students with children: what day-to-day care can look like
Acute emergencies get the attention.
Day-to-day access is what breaks families.
Helsenorge notes that GPs associated with health services at universities and colleges can be used by students who have paid semester fees, and also by their children under 16.
That is a very practical detail when you are settling in and need a quick appointment.
But it is not a complete substitute for proper insurance.
You still need a coverage structure that protects your family financially if something larger happens.
Top 10 family-friendly coverage options usable in Norway
These are not “official rankings.”
They are common, workable routes students use, mixing public eligibility pathways with reputable international insurers.
| Option | Best for | What to double-check |
| 1) Norwegian National Insurance Scheme (NIS) membership | Stays >12 months and lawful residence; students who will register as residents | When coverage starts, and what you need until registration is complete Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge+2nmbu.no+2 |
| 2) EHIC (EU/EEA/Swiss) | Necessary public care during temporary stays | Whether your EHIC remains valid for your study stay; user fees still apply UDI+2Helsenorge+2 |
| 3) Swisscare (Norway student plan) | Students who need a visa-friendly private plan, especially for shorter stays or bridging | Whether dependants are included on your chosen tariff; exact area of cover Swisscare ® | Official website |
| 4) Allianz Care | Families wanting structured international health insurance while living abroad | Family tier inclusions (outpatient, maternity), and claims process in Norway allianzcare.com+1 |
| 5) Cigna Global | Families wanting configurable long-term international health coverage | What is included by default vs optional add-ons (maternity, outpatient, mental health) Cigna Global+2Cigna Global+2 |
| 6) AXA Global Healthcare | Families who want international cover with flexible regions | Benefit limits and whether your chosen region fully includes Norway-based treatment AXA – Global Healthcare+1 |
| 7) Bupa Global | Families prioritising premium private access and broad networks | Cost vs benefits for children; any waiting periods for maternity/fertility-related care Bupa Global+2Bupa Global+2 |
| 8) IMG Student Health Advantage | Students who want a student-focused international medical plan (and may bring dependants via IMG options) | Dependant structure and whether it fits Norway residence expectations IMG Global+1 |
| 9) APRIL International (student plan) | Students who want student cover designed for studies abroad with extendable periods | Whether dependants can be added under your contract type; outpatient and pharmacy cover rules APRIL International+2APRIL International+2 |
| 10) SafetyWing (travel medical style cover) | Shorter stays or “bridge” cover for unexpected medical costs while settling in | It is travel medical, not a full substitute for comprehensive family healthcare; check maternity/pre-existing limits SafetyWing+2SafetyWing+2 |
What family policies should include in Norway (the non-negotiables)
1) Clear dependant eligibility
Don’t accept vague language like “family coverage available.”
You want the certificate to list spouse and each child by name, with dates that match your stay.
2) Outpatient care that matches real life
Kids get sick.
Parents need prescriptions, follow-ups, and sometimes specialist referrals.
If your plan only shines in hospital emergencies, you may still pay a lot out of pocket.
That can be fine for some budgets, but it should be a deliberate choice.
3) Maternity and newborn rules (if relevant)
If pregnancy is possible during your stay, read the waiting period rules before you buy.
Even strong insurers often treat maternity as an add-on or apply waiting periods, so it should be priced and planned early.
4) Repatriation and cross-border travel
EHIC is limited to necessary care and does not cover everything, and travel medical requirements for short stays include repatriation language.
If your family will travel outside Norway (even briefly), make sure the policy’s travel and emergency assistance rules are not an afterthought.
A step-by-step plan you can follow this week
Step 1: Confirm your legal “category” with UDI + your university
For EU/EEA students, UDI explicitly states you must have EHIC or private insurance, and that EHIC may be sufficient—but you must verify it stays valid for your student situation.
For longer stays, your university’s international office often provides practical instructions about insurance and registration expectations.
Step 2: Decide whether your plan is “bridge” or “full solution”
If you are staying more than 12 months and will register as a resident, a bridge plan can cover the setup period.
If your stay is shorter, private insurance is your main solution.
Step 3: Build your family checklist before you request quotes
Send insurers one clean message:
- Arrival date, end date, and expected travel outside Norway
- Ages of spouse/children
- Any known ongoing healthcare needs
- Whether you need proof for immigration/university registration
- Whether you need outpatient, dental, mental health, maternity cover
You will get better quotes.
And you will waste less time.
Step 4: Don’t delay the identity-number pathway (if you need it)
UDI ties the national identity number to living in Norway six months or more, and explains that services like getting a GP often require a Norwegian ID number.
Plan your registration steps early, especially if you have children.
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Mistake 1: Assuming EHIC = complete coverage.
EHIC supports necessary public care under local terms, but user fees can still apply, and eligibility can change depending on how your “residence” is assessed.
Mistake 2: Arriving uninsured because “NIS will cover me.”
Universities explicitly warn that you may need your own insurance until the registration process is complete.
Mistake 3: Buying a plan that covers only the student.
If your spouse and children are coming, the plan must explicitly allow dependants and issue a certificate that matches your family situation.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the admin timeline.
Identity numbers, GP access, and registration steps take time, and families feel that delay more sharply than solo students.
Sources:
- Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). (2025, May 15). Membership of the National Insurance Scheme. nav.no
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). (n.d.). Students who are EU/EEA nationals. UDI
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). (n.d.). National identity number. UDI
- Helsenorge. (2025, July 1). European Health Insurance Card. Helsenorge
- University of South-Eastern Norway (USN). (n.d.). Insurance for students coming from outside the EU/EEA. Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). (n.d.). Insurance for students (health insurance under the National Insurance Scheme for stays over 12 months). nmbu.no
