Student

Your country of residence is where you are registered in the Population Register.

You may be registered in only one Nordic country at a time. It depends on where you have your residence as to whether you are entitled to residence-based social insurance. The national regulations in the Nordic countries determine who is registered in the country in question.

First contact the population register authority in the country to where you move. Then report to the social insurance institution in your new country of residence so that you can start to be covered by the social insurance there. Remember also to notify your move to the social insurance institution in the country from where you are moving.

Study assistance from you old country of residence

It is possible that you could get study assistance from your country of residence when you study in a different Nordic country. The regulations concerning study assistance are different in the different Nordic countries. You should therefore find out in advance whether you are entitled to study assistance.

If you plan to work in parallel with your studies

If you work in parallel with your studies in the country where you are studying it is possible that you will be treated as an employee and you will be subject to the legislation where you work irrespective of where you are registered in the population register.

Nordic citizens do not need residence permit or work permit in another Nordic country.

If you become ill

Even if you do not have social insurance in the country where you are studying you have the right to health care on the same terms as the country’s own citizens.

Denmark

In Denmark you receive health care services from the municipality. Dental care can be obtained from private dentists.

Finland

Students at universities, university colleges of science and art have their own health care foundation, that has receptions at different university towns. Health care for pupils/students at compulsory school, students at vocational colleges and at upper secondary school as well as at vocational university colleges is arranged through the municipality. Students receive dental care in the same way as other health care.

NOTE! Your entitlement to sickness daily benefit from Finland depends on whether you are covered by the social insurance in Finland while you are studying abroad. If, according to the population register, you life in another country, you are not entitled to daily sickness benefit from Finland. If you have been gainfully employed in the country where you are studying, you are entitled to employment-based sickness daily benefit there.

Faroe Islands

On the Faroe Islands you will receive health care services from the local health insurance office. Dental care can be obtained from private dentists.

Greenland

If you are a Nordic citizen and become ill or injured while you are living or working in Greenland, you are entitled to free medical visits to a doctor and hospital treatment. Get in contact with your local Health Centre / Hospital.

You need to get in contact with your local dental practice for dental care. In some towns you are able to get in contact with a private dentist and will need to pay the dentist’s bill directly yourself.

Iceland

On Iceland you can use the public health care services. If you move to Iceland from another Nordic country, and you are registered in that country you must bring with you a Form E104 from the social insurance authority in the country from where you are moving. You will then be included directly in Iceland’s health insurance and avoid a wait of six months. The form shall be submitted to the Social Insurance Administration, Tryggingastofnun.

Norway

In Norway you may use the public health care services. Dental care can be obtained from private dentists. Students at university colleges in Oslo have their own health care services. There is no special service in Norway for other colleges or educational establishments.

Sweden

If you are a student at a university or university college in Sweden you should initially get in contact with the student health care. You may also use public health care.
You are also covered by dental care insurance from the age of 20. Dental care in Sweden is free up to and including the age of 19. Dental care insurance means that you do not have to pay the entire cost of your dental health care. You pay a patient charge and Försäkringskassan, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency will compensate the rest. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency will pay compensation directly to the dentist.  

If you have a family

If you have a family and the family members move with you, they are covered by social insurance in the country where they are registered if they are not working or studying themselves. The registration principles that apply to you as a student also apply to the family members.

If your family members do not move with you, they receive social security in the country where they live just as before.

Back to portal start page