Health insurance in India.
We found no official rule that ties health insurance to an Indian work visa. We also could not confirm a public scheme for foreign residents. So the plan is yours to choose. Here is what to check.
The rules
What India asks of you.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Rules change, so the broker confirms them again before you apply.
- Employment visa: salary floor
The Bureau of Immigration says a foreigner employed in any sector should draw a gross salary above Rs. 16.25 lakhs a year. The government exempts some sectors from this floor.
Source: boi.gov.in - Register within 14 days
If you plan to stay continuously for more than 180 days, register with the FRO or FRRO within 14 days of first arrival. Children under 16 are exempt.
Source: mea.gov.in - Have cover for local treatment
The UK government tells travellers to have insurance for local treatment and for unexpected medical evacuation.
Source: gov.uk - Care is uneven
Medical facilities differ from those in the UK, especially in remote areas. Specialised treatment may not be available outside major cities.
Source: gov.uk - Hospitals ask for an attendant
Hospitals in India usually ask for a guardian or an attendant to stay with the patient. Plan for who that would be.
Source: gov.uk
We could not confirm any way for a foreign resident to join an Indian public health scheme, so do not count on one. Plan for private care, and check where the best hospitals are compared with where you will live.
Source: gov.ukLocal or international
We compare both. You keep the one that fits.
Good care in India is mostly private and mostly in big cities. A plan that works in India, and can move you if you need care elsewhere, matters more than a low price.
- Local plans
Plans sold in India. Often cheaper, sometimes required for your visa. Filed by a broker licensed in India.
- International plans
Plans that cover you in India and beyond, and stay with you if you move again. Filed by our international broker partner.
What to look for
Choosing a plan in India.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- Hospitals in your city
Check which hospitals the plan covers near where you will live. Specialised care may be in another city.
- Evacuation
Check the plan covers medical evacuation, not only treatment in India.
- Hospitals with English-speaking staff
The UK government keeps a list of medical providers in India where some staff speak English. Check those near you are in the plan’s network.
- Lung and heart care
Air pollution is a major health hazard, especially from October to February. If you have a breathing or heart condition, check the plan covers it.
Step by step
Getting covered in India.
- 01Check the salary floor for your visa. An employment visa expects a gross salary above Rs. 16.25 lakhs a year, unless your sector is exempt. Insurance is not on the official list, so it is your call.
- 02Buy cover before you land. The UK government says to have insurance for local treatment and medical evacuation. Specialised care can be far from smaller cities.
- 03Register with the FRO or FRRO. Do it within 14 days of arrival if you will stay more than 180 days in a row. Children under 16 are exempt.
- 04Choose your hospital attendant. Hospitals usually ask a guardian or attendant to stay with the patient. Agree with a friend or relative who would do it.
- 05Save the emergency number. Dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. The line takes calls in English and Hindi.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Assuming the visa rules make your employer provide cover. We found no official rule that says so.
- 02Choosing a plan that only covers emergencies, then needing routine specialist care.
- 03Living outside a major city without checking if the plan will move you for treatment.
Real published prices, and the 6 things that move yours.
Questions
People also ask.
Do I need health insurance for an Indian employment visa?+
We found no official rule that makes it a condition. The Bureau of Immigration page on working in India lists a salary floor and legal duties, not insurance.
Can foreigners use public healthcare in India?+
We could not confirm a public scheme open to foreign residents. Plan for private care.
Do I have to register when I move to India?+
If you plan to stay continuously for more than 180 days, register with the FRO or FRRO within 14 days of first arrival. Children under 16 are exempt.
What should an India health plan include?+
Cover for local treatment, medical evacuation and hospitals near you. Hospitals usually ask for an attendant, so plan for that too.
Other countries
Going somewhere else?
Most UK visas don’t ask for private insurance. You pay a yearly surcharge instead, and it opens the NHS. Here is what the surcharge buys, and what you still pay for.
02AustraliaMost visitors can’t use Medicare, and many visas carry condition 8501. Here is what each visa asks for, who gets Medicare, and what to check.
03Dubai and the UAEIn Dubai, no insurance means no visa. Your employer covers you, but not always your family. Here are the rules, and what the basic plan leaves out.
04PhilippinesThe retiree visa asks for a medical certificate, not a policy. The new nomad visa does ask for cover. Here is what each visa needs, and how PhilHealth works for foreigners.
05NetherlandsIf you live or work in the Netherlands, Dutch basic insurance is the law. A few people are exempt. Here is who must sign up, by when, and what it costs in 2026.
06CanadaEach province runs its own health plan, and some make you wait. The super visa has strict insurance rules. Here is how Ontario and BC differ, and what the super visa needs.
07Saudi ArabiaIn Saudi Arabia, no insurance means no iqama. Your employer pays for you and your family, and visitors need a policy too. Here is who pays, and what each policy covers.
08JapanIf you live in Japan, joining public insurance is the law. A private plan can only sit on top. Digital nomads are the exception.
09GermanyEveryone in Germany must be insured, and a residence permit needs cover equal to the public system. Here is how to choose, and what gets rejected.
10SingaporeThe national plan is for citizens and PRs. Hospital bills for foreigners are high, and families are often left out. Here is what to check.
11ThailandRetirement visas have hard minimums, the DTV has none, and public care is not free for foreigners. Here are the rules, and what to check.
12SpainSpain has the strictest visa insurance rules in Europe: a Spanish-authorised insurer, no co-pays, no waiting periods. Here is what passes.
13MalaysiaPublic hospitals charge foreigners full price, and work schemes only cover injuries at work. Here is what each pass asks for, and what to check.
14QatarMost visitors need a QAR 50 a month policy before Qatar issues a visa. The law covers expats too, but that part is still rolling out. Here are the rules.
15FranceThe public system is open to residents, but not on day 1 if you don’t work, and it only pays part of each bill. Here is how to cover the gaps.
16PortugalThe visa asks for travel medical cover. The public system opens once you are a resident. In between, and after, here is what to check.
17MexicoNo visa asks for it, so many expats skip it. Then a private hospital asks for payment first. Here is how cover really works in Mexico.
18ItalyWorkers join the public system for free. Retirees and nomads need private cover for the visa, then pay at least €2,000 a year to join. Here are the rules.
19South KoreaStay more than 6 months and you must join the national plan. Before that, and for your share of each bill, you need your own cover.
20VietnamOnly long local contracts come with public cover, and most expats use private hospitals anyway. Here is what the rules say, and what to check.
21Bali and IndonesiaMost Indonesian visas don’t ask for insurance. But hospitals ask for payment first, and serious cases fly to Singapore. Here is what to check.
22GreeceThe consulate takes travel cover for the visa. The residence permit then asks for full health cover. If you don’t work for a Greek employer, that means a private plan.
23ColombiaNomads and retirees need a private policy with exact wording. Residents who work must join the public EPS system. Here are the rules.
24Costa RicaResidents must pay into the Caja, whatever private plan they have. Nomads need their own cover for the visa. Here is how it fits together.
25USAThe US has no public plan you can simply join. Some visas set minimum cover. Others leave it to you. Here is what a J-1 needs, who can use the Marketplace, and what plans cost.
26SwitzerlandBasic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. You have 3 months to sign up. Here is how it works, and what to check.
27IrelandNon-EEA students must hold private medical insurance. Everyone else gets public care once they count as living in Ireland for 1 year. Here is what to check.
28Dominican RepublicThe residence visas for retirees and rentistas ask for a medical certificate, not an insurance policy. Public care is limited. Private care is good but costly.
29New ZealandStudent visas require insurance. A work visa of 2 years or more may open public health care. ACC covers accident injuries. Here is what to check.
30IsraelIn Israel, the public system is for residents. If your life is centred there, you join a health fund (kupat holim). If not, you need private cover.
31Hong KongPublic hospitals in Hong Kong are cheap for eligible persons. Many foreigners are not on that list. Here is who is, what the rest pay, and what to check in a plan.
32ChinaIf you work in China on an employment permit, your employer must enrol you in social insurance. That includes basic medical cover. Here is how it works, and what to check on top.
33ArgentinaEmergency care is open to everyone. For other care at national hospitals, foreigners without permanent residence must show insurance or pay first. The rules are new, so check them.
35TurkeyA residence permit application needs valid health insurance for the whole permit. Most new expats buy a private policy. The public SGK system opens later, after 1 year of residence.
36BrazilThe digital nomad visa needs health insurance valid in Brazil. The public system is open to migrants by law. Many expats add a private plan for speed.
37PanamaThe Pensionado visa asks for a health certificate, not an insurance policy. The public system is tied to the Caja. Private care is the main option for most expats.
38South AfricaStudy and exchange visas ask for proof of cover from a registered medical scheme. Public clinics offer free primary care. Here is what to check.
39KenyaKenya’s public fund is run by the Social Health Authority (SHA). A foreigner who lives in Kenya for more than 12 months pays into it. Shorter stays need travel health insurance instead.
40TaiwanTaiwan has one national health insurance. Foreigners with a residence certificate can join. If you have a job, you join through your employer. If not, there is a wait.