Health insurance for students from Ukraine in Germany depends less on the visa than on the residence permit. Many people who arrived after the war began hold a permit for temporary protection. This guide shows which rules apply to all students, how the residence permit fits in, and which offices you should ask first.
Short answer: Students from Ukraine are subject to the same compulsory insurance as all students at state or recognised universities (section 5(1) no. 9 SGB V). Which cover applies to you depends on your residence permit and, where relevant, on benefits you receive. As an example, the statutory student contribution was about 143 euros a month in 2026 (assumption). Last updated: October 2026.
Key points at a glance
- Compulsory insurance depends on enrolment, not on nationality (section 5(1) no. 9 SGB V).
- With a residence permit under section 24 AufenthG, you generally do not need a student visa under section 16b AufenthG. Check the permit on your document.
- How your cover works if you receive benefits is clarified by the immigration office, the job centre or the social welfare office.
- Exemption from statutory insurance must be applied for within three months (section 8 SGB V).
- A Ukrainian policy does not automatically replace the German proof. Have it checked before you rely on it.
Do I need a student visa or is my residence permit enough?
People who received protection in Germany because of the war generally hold a residence permit under section 24 AufenthG, which governs temporary protection. With this permit you generally do not need a student visa under section 16b AufenthG, because your stay rests on a different legal basis. Whether this applies to you is shown on your permit and recorded by the immigration office.
Anyone who entered on a national student visa goes through the usual procedure, with admission, proof of funds and proof of health insurance. The requirements are in the information sheet of the responsible mission. Do not mix up the two routes, because they require different proofs.
How does my residence permit affect health insurance?
The compulsory insurance for students under section 5(1) no. 9 SGB V applies regardless of nationality. Section 5(11) SGB V also sets out separate cases for certain foreign nationals with a time-limited residence permit of more than twelve months, unless they are obliged to secure their own living costs. Whether this rule fits your status is checked by your health insurer using your notice.
If you receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act or under the Social Code, the health cover can run through another office. Section 5(11) third sentence SGB V provides health cover for persons entitled to benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act if they have a basic entitlement under section 4 of that Act. Because the allocation is an individual question, clarify it with the immigration office, the job centre or the social welfare office before you decide.
When does compulsory insurance start at university?
Under section 5(1) no. 9 SGB V, students at state or recognised universities are subject to compulsory insurance. The obligation applies until the age of 30 is reached. Nationality makes no difference, so the same rules apply to every student.
If you already have compulsory cover or family insurance, the student obligation does not apply (section 5(7) SGB V). Membership ends with the semester in which you are de-registered (section 190(9) SGB V). Arrange follow-on cover in good time, so that there is no gap in your health protection.
How can I apply for exemption from compulsory insurance?
Under certain conditions you can apply to be exempt from compulsory insurance (section 8 SGB V). The application must reach the health insurer within three months of the start of the obligation. It takes effect from the start of the obligation if no benefits have been used, otherwise from the following month. The exemption cannot be revoked.
The application only works with proof of another entitlement to cover in case of illness. Whether an entitlement from benefits or a foreign policy counts is decided by the health insurer case by case. Your application must still be filed on time while you clarify the question. A private policy must also meet the requirements of the university. Private tariffs usually include a health check, and benefit limits or waiting periods can apply. An overview of the differences is in our guide Private Health Insurance for International Students.
What does student health insurance cost?
Contributions are calculated from an assessment base. For students living away from their parents, section 236 SGB V sets it at 855 euros a month. The contribution rate for students is 10.22 percent (section 245 SGB V). Your health insurer’s supplementary contribution is added. The Federal Ministry of Health gives an average supplementary rate of 2.9 percent for 2026, but actual rates differ by insurer.
| Item (assumption: 855 euros assessment base, supplementary contribution 2.9 percent, under 23) | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Health insurance without supplementary contribution (10.22 percent) | 87.38 euros |
| Supplementary contribution (average 2.9 percent) | 24.80 euros |
| Long-term care insurance (3.6 percent, without childless surcharge) | 30.78 euros |
| Total | 142.96 euros |
From age 23 without children, the childless surcharge of 0.6 percentage points for long-term care insurance applies, and the total rises to 148.09 euros a month. The figures match the GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet on 2026 calculation values (status 1 January 2026). The notice from your health insurer is the figure that counts.
What do I need to clarify with the university and the authorities?
When you enrol, the university checks whether compulsory insurance applies or whether an exemption is in place. The immigration office, the job centre and the social welfare office decide on your permit and on any benefits. These bodies do not always work from the same information, so write down the answers you get.
- Check your residence permit and its expiry date, and whether it allows study.
- Ask the immigration office whether study is permitted under your permit and which conditions apply.
- Clarify with the job centre or social welfare office whether benefits continue and how health cover is arranged.
- Have your insurer confirm compulsory insurance or exemption, and note the three-month deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Am I automatically insured with statutory insurance when I enrol?
Compulsory insurance begins with enrolment if the conditions of section 5(1) no. 9 SGB V are met and no priority cover exists. Your health insurer confirms whether you are listed as insured. Ask for that confirmation actively.
Is my Ukrainian health insurance enough?
A Ukrainian policy does not automatically replace the German proof. The health insurer checks whether it meets the requirements for an exemption or for proof. Get that answer in writing before you rely on the policy.
Can I be exempt because I receive benefits?
Whether a benefit entitlement counts as other cover is decided by the health insurer in each case, based on your notice. File the application on time even while you clarify the question, and ask for written information.
When does compulsory insurance as a student end?
The student obligation applies until the age of 30 is reached. Membership ends with the end of the semester in which you are de-registered (section 190(9) SGB V). Clarify follow-on cover early to avoid a gap.
What changes if I take up work alongside my studies?
Work alongside your studies can change your insurance, for example if the job is subject to compulsory insurance. Report changes to your health insurer early and clarify the consequences before you sign a contract.
What to do next
- Check your residence permit, its expiry date and whether it allows study.
- Ask the immigration office and, where relevant, the job centre or social welfare office which cover applies to you.
- Have your insurer confirm compulsory insurance or exemption in writing.
- Note the three-month deadline and keep proofs ready for the university and the authorities.
Related reading
- 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 India in Germany
Sources:
- Section 5 SGB V, including subsection 11, compulsory insurance (statute, German text, status October 2026)
- Section 8 SGB V, exemption (statute, German text, status October 2026)
- Section 236 SGB V, assessment base (statute, German text, status October 2026)
- Section 24 AufenthG, temporary protection (statute, German text, status October 2026)
- GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation values (status 1 January 2026, German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
