Health Insurance for PhD students and researchers

In France, Health Insurance is mandatory for students and people employed in France. It’s also accessible to PhD students and researchers invited to France for stays longer than 6 months.

Also called “Sécurité Sociale”, this public body covers a percentage of your healthcare costs.

HEALTH

INSURANCE

So if you’re a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU) registered at a higher education and research institution in France, you can benefit from French Health Insurance. Procedures for subscribing to French Health Insurance differ depending on your status and situation.

Special cases!

  • PhD students who are citizens of a European Union / European Economic Area State: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) exempts you from registering for French Health Insurance. The EHIC is individual, nominative, free and valid for 1 year. Remember to request it from your health insurance in your country of residence before your departure. Then your healthcare costs in France will continue to be covered by the health insurance in your usual country of residence. More information here
  • PhD students who are citizens of Quebec: you must ask for Form SE 401-Q-102 bis or SE 401-Q-106 in order to be exempted from registration for French Health Insurance. For more information, contact the French Health Insurance in your place of residence in France or click here. For more information about bilateral agreement with Canada, click here.
  • PhD students and researchers with short-term visas: you must take out a private health insurance policy that is valid for France in your country of residence before your departure. You can’t be covered by French Health Insurance for a 3-month period.
  • PhD students and researchers invited for a research stay lasting less than 6 months: you must take out a private health insurance policy that is valid for France in your country of residence before your departure. You can’t benefit from French Health Insurance as you will not be registered in an educational institution in France or employed in France.

Health Insurance Registration

Scroll down the situation that best corresponds to your own case in order to obtain more details. If you have any doubts, feel free to contact your EURAXESS Center : drie-euraxess-contact@univ-lorraine.fr.

PHD STUDENT REGISTERED AT A HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTION IN FRANCE WITHOUT A DOCTORAL CONTRACT

You must register online on the AMELI website with the following supporting douments:

  • Registration Certificate (delivered when you register at the University).
  • Valid passport and entry visa for France.
  • Birth Certificate with filiation (or any civil status document drawn up by a consulate) or family record booklet and, if you are concerned, a marriage certificate if you are coming as a family with your spouse and/or child(ren). Depending on your nationality, this document must be translated into French by a sworn translator.
  • Proof of address in France (lease, gas, electricity or Internet bill, housing insurance certificate, etc.).
  • Your bank details (RIB): Important: we recommend that you open a bank account in France.

PHD STUDENT OR RESEARCHER EMPLOYED BY THE UNIVERSITY OR A RESEARCH LABORATORY WITHOUT A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

The Human Resources Department (DRH) will take care of your subscription, if you have a “Researcher Talent Passport” or “Scientist-Researcher” visa

PHD STUDENT OR RESEARCHER EMPLOYED BY THE UNIVERSITY OR A RESEARCH LABORATORY WITH A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

For PhD students and researchers who subscribed to Health Insurance in France during a previous stay, you have no need to re-subscribe or request another Vitale Card (unless you’ve lost it): your social security number is definitive.

You will have to complete the Cerfa 750 form, accompanied by the following documents:

  • A copy of your visa or residence permit
  • Payslip
  • Work contract
  • RIB/IBAN (bank details)
  • Cerfa 750 form

All the above documents must be sent to the following address by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt:

ASSURANCE MALADIE DE PARIS
SRI / Talents
75948 PARIS CEDEX 19

Frequently Asked Questions Workshop Mutation CPAM Paris January 18th, 2024

PHD STUDENT OR RESEARCHER INVITED FOR A RESEARCH STAY LASTING MORE THAN 6 MONTHS

You must request a subscription by completing a hard-copy application (Cerfa 15763*02 form), which must then be sent to the Health Insurance Fund (Caisse d’Assurance Maladie) in your place of residence, accompanied by the following documents:

  • A copy of the passport
  • A copy of your visa or residence permit
  • A copy of your birth certificate (Depending on your nationality, this document must be translated into French by a sworn translator)
  • Prood of your situation in France
  • Proof of address for more than three months
  • RIB/IBAN (bank details)
  • Cerfa 15763*02 form

Given the long lead times for processing applications, it’s essential to take out a private health/repatriation insurance policy for at least the first 3 months, so as to be sure you’re covered while awaiting your entitlement to Health Insurance in France.

SPOUSE OF A PHD STUDENT OR RESEARCHER WITH STUDENT STATUS STAYING IN FRANCE FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS

You’re entitled to Universal Health Cover (PUMA), which is accessible as from 3 months’ residence in France, provided you’re able to prove your continuous, regular residence during the 3 months following your arrival. As waiting periods are long, it’s essential to subscribe to a private health/repatriation insurance policy for at least the first 6 months, so as to be sure you’re covered while awaiting your entitlement to Health Insurance in France.

You will have to complete the Cerfa 15763*02 form, accompanied by the following documents:

  • A copy of the passport
  • A copy of your visa or residence permit
  • A copy of your birth certificate (Depending on your nationality, this document must be translated into French by a sworn translator)
  • Marriage certificate
  • Proof of address for more than three months
  • Work contract
  • RIB/IBAN (bank details)
  • Cerfa 15763*02 form

If you’ve come to France with your children, you can request their attachment to social security. The form to complete is Cerfa s3705.

To bear in mind!

Within a month, once you have completed your application (online or in paper form), you will receive a letter from the CPAM or MGEN (for European staff) with a provisional number. The procedure for obtaining your Carte vitale will also be explained in this letter.

Making an appointment with a doctor

To make an appointment with a general practitioner, rendezvous on Doctolib (you can select the language spoken by the doctor) or MGEN medical center if you’re in Nancy.

Consult the Campus France tutorials:

Consult Health Insurance tutorials

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