Student Health Insurance in Poland: NFZ Contract and Fee Exemption
Short answer: Non-EU students in Poland are exempt from the NFZ additional fee when they sign a voluntary contract. The contribution was 845.67 zl a month for July to September 2026.
Most foreigners who study in Poland ask the same question first: how do I get health cover, and do I pay the extra fee that other people pay after a gap in insurance? The NFZ (National Health Fund) answers both on its regional information pages. This guide follows the Mazowsze branch page for the voluntary insurance contract, checked on 19 October 2026. For the general rules for all foreigners, see the guide to voluntary NFZ insurance.
Who this is about
A voluntary NFZ contract is for people who live in Poland and are not insured through work, business or a family member. Students from outside the EU and EFTA often fall into this group. The NFZ page names a separate rule for them: students and doctoral students who study in Poland, and graduates doing a compulsory internship in Poland, are exempt from the additional fee. This applies when the person does not hold citizenship of an EU or EFTA state that is a party to the EEA agreement, and does not have a legal right of residence in another EU or EFTA state.
If you are an EU citizen studying in Poland, this exemption does not apply to you, and different insurance routes may fit. Check with your university and the NFZ branch.
What the extra fee is, and who skips it
When you apply after a break in insurance, the NFZ charges an additional fee that depends on the length of the gap. For July to September 2026 the Mazowsze page lists:
* Gap of 3 months to 1 year: 1,879.27 zl * 1 to 2 years: 4,698.17 zl * 2 to 5 years: 9,396.33 zl * 5 to 10 years: 14,094.50 zl * Over 10 years: 18,792.66 zl
The page also lists others who are exempt: members of religious orders and seminary students who are not EU or EFTA citizens, people doing an adaptation internship, and people attending Polish language courses or preparatory courses for studies in Polish, again if they are not EU or EFTA citizens. The NFZ can also waive or split the fee in justified cases on request.
The monthly contribution
The contribution is 9% of the contribution base. The base is a declared monthly income that cannot be lower than the average monthly wage in the enterprise sector. For July to September 2026 the NFZ page gives 845.67 zl a month, calculated from an average wage of 9,396.33 zl in the second quarter of 2026 (GUS announcement of 20 July 2026). The figure changes each quarter, so the amount for October to December 2026 will be different. Check the NFZ page before you budget.
The contribution is monthly and cannot be split. You pay the full amount for any month you are insured, even a part month, by the 20th of the following month.
How to sign the contract
1. Fill in the application in two copies. The NFZ branch offers a template. 2. Bring ID and a document showing your last period of insurance. For a person registered by a school or university, that is a certificate from the university or a ZUS ZWUA deregistration. 3. If you are from outside the EU, add proof that you live in Poland, such as a rental contract, a registration of residence or a landlord's statement. 4. Go to the voluntary insurance desk of your regional NFZ branch or one of its offices. 5. Sign the contract. If you owe the additional fee, it is a condition of cover. 6. Within 7 days of signing, file form ZUS ZZA with insurance title code 24 10 XX at your local ZUS office. Each month after that you must file a ZUS DRA settlement.
For students and doctoral students of Polish origin, the NFZ page says the university or the body running the studies files these forms and pays the contributions. For others, you handle ZUS yourself.
* Photos: Warsaw University Library roof garden, by Radek from Warsaw, Poland, CC BY-SA 2.0; Warsaw University of Technology Main Building, by Lopcio, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl, via Wikimedia Commons.
Frequently asked questions
Do non-EU students pay the NFZ additional fee?
According to the NFZ Mazowsze page, students and doctoral students studying in Poland who are not citizens of an EU or EFTA state, and have no right of residence in another such state, are exempt from the additional fee.
How much is the monthly contribution?
For July to September 2026 the NFZ page gives 845.67 zl. It is 9% of the base and the base is reviewed every quarter.
When do I file the ZUS form?
Within 7 days of signing the NFZ contract, file ZUS ZZA at the ZUS office for your place of residence, according to the same page.
