Students who come to Germany from Vietnam to study usually need to be health insured here. This guide explains which rules apply to students from Vietnam, why there is no social security agreement with Vietnam, and which proofs and deadlines matter. The German term studentische Krankenversicherung (KVdS) refers to the student health insurance.
Short answer: Students from Vietnam at a state or recognised university are in most cases compulsorily insured in the student health insurance until the age of 30 (§ 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V). Private cover is only possible through an exemption under § 8 SGB V, applied for within three months. According to the TK, there is no social security agreement between Germany and Vietnam. Last updated: October 2026.
The Most Important Points in Brief
- Compulsory student insurance depends on the university and your age, not on your nationality (§ 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V).
- A country page of the TK (status 2 February 2026) states that there is no social security agreement between Germany and Vietnam. That page concerns posted workers, not students.
- Without an agreement, a Vietnamese insurance cannot be recognised under an agreement. Whether proof is sufficient for enrolment or a visa is decided by the university and the diplomatic mission.
- An exemption under § 8 SGB V must be applied for within three months and cannot be revoked.
- With a residence permit for study, part-time work is limited to up to 140 working days per year (§ 16b para. 3 AufenthG).
Do Students From Vietnam Have to Be Insured in the Student Health Insurance?
Compulsory insurance for students at a state or recognised university depends on enrolment and age (§ 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V). Nationality plays no role. According to Barmer, most students from non-EU countries are obliged to have health insurance in Germany, and proof is part of enrolment.
The obligation ends when you turn 30 and the semester ends (§ 190 para. 9 SGB V). What follows afterwards is explained in the German guide Studentische KV nach dem 30. Geburtstag: Was sich ändert (in German).
No Social Security Agreement With Vietnam: What It Means
A country page of the TK (status 2 February 2026) states that no social security agreement exists between Germany and Vietnam. The page addresses companies that send employees abroad. It says nothing about students or about student health cover.
For you, this means that recognition under an agreement, which is possible for some other countries of origin, is not available for Vietnam on this status. The university and your statutory health insurer will therefore check on the basis of your documents which cover applies in your case. Do not rely on forum posts. Ask directly.
| Question | What you should clarify | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Is there an agreement that recognises home insurance? | According to the TK country page (status 2 February 2026), there is no social security agreement with Vietnam | Statutory health insurer |
| Which proof is required at enrolment? | Form and content of the proof of health cover | Student administration of the university |
| Is the cover sufficient for the visa? | Requirements for health cover during your stay | German diplomatic mission in Vietnam |
Exemption or Student Health Insurance?
For most students, the student health insurance is the standard solution. Private cover is only possible through an exemption under § 8 SGB V. You apply to a statutory health insurer within three months of the start of compulsory insurance (§ 8 para. 2 SGB V). The exemption cannot be revoked and only takes effect if you prove other protection against illness.
If you consider an exemption, check the tariff carefully: term, scope of benefits and the certificates the authorities require. More on the conditions is in the German guide PKV für Studierende aus Nicht-EU-Ländern: Wann sie zulässig ist.
What Does the Student Health Insurance Cost?
Contributions do not depend on nationality. They are based on one thirtieth of the BAföG requirement for students who do not live with their parents (§ 236 SGB V). For 2026 this gives a contribution base of 855 euros per month. At 10.22 percent, the health insurance contribution without the supplementary contribution is 87.38 euros (§ 245 SGB V, GKV-Spitzenverband, status 1 January 2026). The supplementary contribution comes on top, and the average for 2026 is 2.9 percent.
| Component (2026, assumption) | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Health insurance without supplementary contribution | 87.38 euros |
| Supplementary contribution at the average rate (2.9 percent) | 24.80 euros |
| Long-term care insurance without childless surcharge | 30.78 euros |
| Total without childless surcharge | 142.96 euros |
The figures apply only if you do not live with your parents and the compulsory insurance applies. The GKV-Spitzenverband publishes the calculation figures, and your health insurer tells you your own supplementary contribution.
Working With a Residence Permit for Study
A residence permit for study allows employment of up to 140 working days in total per year (§ 16b para. 3 AufenthG). Student part-time work is not counted under the law. Part-time work is counted at the most favourable rate, for example as half a working day where it does not exceed four hours a day (§ 16b para. 3 sentence 3 AufenthG).
Working also affects your contributions. According to Barmer, the working student privilege can apply in many cases up to 20 hours per week during the lecture period, with no health, long-term care or unemployment contributions due. Pension insurance is usually compulsory. Check any job with your health insurer in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enrol with insurance from Vietnam?
The university and the responsible German diplomatic mission decide this. Because no social security agreement exists, a Vietnamese policy cannot be recognised through an agreement. Clarify the requirements before you leave.
Do I have to apply for an exemption from student insurance?
No, the exemption is optional. If you want it, you must apply within three months (§ 8 para. 2 SGB V). If you miss the deadline, you stay in the student health insurance.
Do the rules also apply to my family?
Family members need their own cover. Family insurance through you follows § 10 SGB V and requires that the conditions are met. Your health insurer checks this using the documents.
Where can I get a binding answer?
Binding information comes from your statutory health insurer, the university and the responsible immigration office. For questions about the visa, contact the German diplomatic mission in Vietnam.
What You Should Do Now
- Ask the university which proof of health cover it requires at enrolment.
- Ask the German diplomatic mission which cover applies to your visa.
- Check whether an exemption under § 8 SGB V is an option for you and note the three-month deadline.
- Clarify the limits on part-time work with your residence permit before you start a job.
- Arrange your cover so that no gap arises when your studies begin.
Related Guides
- Health Insurance for International Students in Germany
- Public or Private Health Insurance for International Students
- Health Insurance Enrolment: Proof, Procedure and Exemption
- Health insurance for students from Turkey
Sources: § 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance (gesetze-im-internet.de, October 2026); § 8 SGB V, exemption (gesetze-im-internet.de, October 2026); § 16b AufenthG, study (gesetze-im-internet.de, October 2026); TK, country overview Vietnam (status 2 February 2026); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on contribution calculation (status 1 January 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
