Exchange students: Insurances

All students coming to Spain to engage in an exchange programme or a voluntary student internship at the EHU must take out an insurance policy covering travel and medical assistance and civil liability.

If your mobility programme requires a visa application, we recommend checking whether the insurance you take out for the visa covers travel assistance and civil liability, in addition to medical assistance. The insurance offered to its students by the EHU (the IBILI, see below) covers the requirements demanded by Spanish law for obtaining a study visa/permit.

It should cover the entire duration of your stay at the EHU.

All exchange students and voluntary internship students must provide the EHU with proof of the documentation that shows they have the coverage required by the EHU:

• Insurance policies
• European Health Insurance Card
• Etc.

Exchange students must give it to their study center when requested, usually when registering. On the other hand, students coming to do voluntary internships must give it to the person in charge of the unit hosting the internship.

1. Travel assistance

• Medical repatriation of the insured person to their country of origin in the event of accident or illness.
• Repatriation of the insured person’s remains in the event of their death.

2. Medical assistance

Medical, surgical and hospitalisation costs.

Please note that medical assistance will vary depending on the group to which you belong:

• Visitors from the EU, the UK, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

The Basque Public Health System, Osakidetza, covers healthcare for people from these countries who hold a European Health Insurance Card. Remember that you must apply for this card in your country of origin, before travelling.

• People from countries with healthcare agreements with Spain.

Spain has signed healthcare agreements with a number of different countries (Andorra, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Morocco, etc.). Before travelling, check with the Spanish embassy or consulate to see if your country has one of these agreements, and find out what documents you will need to access healthcare coverage.

• Other nationalities.

If your country does not have an agreement with Spain, you will need to take out a policy covering medical, surgical and hospitalisation costs. Make sure your policy is provided by an insurer authorised to operate in Spain.

3. Civil liability

General civil liability insurance is required to study at the EHU.

Furthermore, some activities carried out at the EHU (for example, laboratory work) may require a more comprehensive civil liability cover.

Before taking out specific civil liability insurance, we recommend checking whether your home university provides its students with such insurance valid for stays abroad.

If you will be engaging in other activities at a company or organisation other than the university, check whether said company or organisation provides civil liability insurance.

*** Contingencies may be covered by a single insurance policy or by several complementary policies.

The EHU offers a policy for visiting students at a competitive price. This policy is called IBILI and is also valid for non-EU students who need to obtain a Study Permit.

This insurance is also valid for students who need to get a study visa/permit. You can check what is required by Spanish law on this in section 6 of the criteria and exceptions published in 2025. Specifically, the IBILI insurance offers 'Medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and hospitalization expenses' with unlimited coverage, as long as you go to the medical centers that the insurer makes available to the insured. If you have any problems with the acceptance of your IBILI insurance when processing your residence study visa/permit at the Spanish consular offices, please, get in touch with info.welcomecentre@ehu.eus 

However, as there are many insurance providers offering health cover, we recommend that you compare prices and services before making your decision.

Check the terms of your insurance policy to ensure that it covers your entire stay. Upon arrival, review the procedure you should follow if you fall ill or have an accident, and find out which hospitals or medical centres you can go to should the need arise. Visiting an outpatient’s clinic or health centre not included in your policy may result in you having to pay the full amount of the costs incurred.

Further information on the Basque Country’s healthcare system.