Exemption Eligibility

Non-Korean students who wish to use private insurance(which covers emergency and hospital bills abroad, similar to the NHIS coverage plan, and has to be from a foreign insurance company) as an alternative to national insurance may apply for a waiver of the national health insurance requirement.

Students from France and Japan are eligible for the exemption from NHIS due to provisions between governments and insurance policies.

Application Process for Exemption

To apply for the waiver, we recommend that you contact the NHIS by calling 033-811-2000 (NHIS Call center, Available Languages: English, Chinese) first and prepare the necessary documents. 

You must then visit the local NHIS Office to apply for the health insurance waiver by providing the following documents 

1. Alien Registration Card

2. Application for NHI Waiver(Attached)

3. Insurance Policy Summary(Attached)

4. A photocopy of your insurance policy in English and Korean *

* To receive a Korean version of your insurance policy, please contact your insurance provider. If a Korean version is not available, you may provide an English version with key information translated into Korean, such as the coverage limit, valid dates of your insurance, and the name of the insurance company. Notarization is not required. The NHIS may ask you to provide additional translation if necessary.

Center information: http://www.nhis.or.kr/english/wbheaa02100m01.do

Please note that you cannot apply for this exemption until you have registered with Immigration and have an residence number.

Also, please be advised that even if you submit an application for exemption to the NHIS, it may not be approved.

* Please note that the information provided may be subject to change, so please contact the NHIS to obtain the most accurate information.