Buy Medical Insurance 

Medical insurance is a requirement for an Irish study visa, which must include hospital cover and a minimum of €25,000 for Accident and €25,000 for Disease. Students must buy their own medical insurance as it is not provided by NCI.

Medical Insurance Providers

Students can buy medical insurance from any provider in their *home Country (first year only) or from Ireland.  Students should ensure that it meets all their own needs and in particular for any pre-existing conditions.

*International Students can buy medical Insurance from their home Country for their first year in Ireland only after that they must buy Insurance from an Irish Provider .

There are two types of medical insurance policy that students can buy from Irish providers.

  • Travel Policy: These policies are cheaper than private medical insurance.  From 2nd October 2020 this type of policy is only available to students who are on enrolled a course of 12 months or less duration.  They are designed specifically for International students and meet student visa requirements. The travel policy that students most commonly buy are from:
    1. studyandprotect.com 
  • Private Medical Insurance:  From 2nd October 2020, Students in Ireland enrolled on a course that is more than 12 months duration, must buy private medical insurance.  International students can buy private medical insurance that is specifically designed for international students from the following providers.

NCI Graduates and Medical Insurance

Medical insurance is a requirement for graduates on the Third Level Graduate Scheme (Stamp 1G or 1A) which must include hospital cover and a minimum of €25,000 for Accident and €25,000 for Disease.

Graduates can buy Graduate Medicover from Study & Protect.  This policy is designed specifically for International graduates and currently meets visa requirements.     

If graduates are working and their employer provides medical insurance that meets the visa requirements they can submit this with their visa application.

Graduates can buy private medical insurance specifically designed for international students from the following providers.