Complete comparison of health insurance by visa
What is different between Skilled Worker and Non-professional Worker? If it is Marriage, is the insurance premium 0 KRW? Compare 15 visas at a glance.
Only the enrollment timing and premiums differ by visa type; if you are an NHIS subscriber, outpatient care, hospitalization, surgery, health checkups, and the out-of-pocket cap system are all covered the same.
At a glance: compare health insurance by visa
Find your visa and check your enrollment type, timing, and insurance premium.
| Visa | Enrollment type | Enrollment period | Premium features | Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker / English Teacher / ProfessorIntra-company Transfer / Corporate Investor | Workplace subscriber | First day at work | Salary × 3.6%(Company pays half) | Eligible to enroll |
| Non-professional Worker | Workplace subscriber | First day at work | Salary × 3.6%Long-term care exemption possible | Workplace subscriber only |
| Working Visit | Employee / Local | As soon as you get a jobAfter 6 months of unemployment | Long-term care exemption possible | Workplace subscriber only |
| Working Holiday | Resident subscriber | After 6 months | Starting from about 158,000 KRW/month | Not eligible to enroll |
| Student / Language Training | Region (Student) | Immediately upon entry | 50% discount! | Enrollment not available |
| Residence / Family Visit / Dependent Family | Resident subscriber | after 6 months | Starting from about 153,000 KRW/month | Eligible to enroll |
| Overseas Korean | Employee / Local | Immediately upon getting a jobAfter 6 months of unemployment | Minimum insurance premium applied | Eligible to enroll |
| Permanent Residence | Employee / Local | Immediately upon entry | same as Koreans | Eligible to enroll |
| Marriage | Eligible as a Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja) | Immediately upon entry | Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja) 0 KRW! | Available to enroll |
| Job Seeking | Resident subscriber | After 6 months | Income and property criteria | Not eligible to enroll |
Detailed comparison of work visas
| Skilled Worker / English Teacher / Professor / Intra-company Transfer / Corporate Investor | Non-professional Worker (Non-professional Worker) | Working Visit (Working Visit) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment type | Workplace subscriber | Workplace subscriber | If employed: workplaceIf unemployed: local |
| Enrollment period | First day of work | First day at work | Immediately upon getting a jobAfter 6 months of being unemployed |
| Insurance premium | Salary × 7.19%The company pays halfYou pay about 3.6% | SameThe company pays half | Same when employedIncome-based when unemployed |
| Notes | Switch to local coverage when leaving a job(report within 14 days) | Separate enrollment in industrial accident insuranceUp to 3 months of gap when changing workplaceLong-term care exemption possiblePension refund possible | Long-term care exemption possiblePension refund possible |
Detailed comparison of residence visas
| Residence / Family Visit / Dependent Family (Residence · Family Visit · Dependent Family) | Overseas Korean | Permanent Residence (Permanent Residence) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment type | Resident subscriber | When employed: workplaceWhen unemployed: local | Workplace or local |
| Enrollment period | After 6 months of entry | Immediately upon employmentAfter 6 months of unemployment | Immediately upon entry |
| Insurance premium | Income and asset criteriaAt least about 153,000 KRW/month | Minimum insurance premium applies | Same as Koreans |
| Special notes | If you get a job, you switch to employee coverage | Minimum insurance premium applied | 6-month waiting period waivedDependent under NHI (pibuyangja) registration availableThe same also applies to pension |
Student visa and marriage immigrant visa
| Student / Language Training (Student · Language Training) | Marriage (Marriage) | |
|---|---|---|
| Enrollment type | Region (Student) | Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja) eligible |
| Enrollment period | Immediately upon entry (6-month waiting period exempt) | Immediately upon entry (6-month waiting period exempt) |
| Insurance premium | 50% discount! | When registering as a Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja)Additional insurance fee 0 KRW! |
| Special notes | Separate from school group insuranceNHIS requiredIf part-time work exceeds 20 hours per week, switch to workplace coverage | If your spouse is a Workplace subscriber, register as a Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja)When giving birth, 국민행복카드 1000K KRWYour own payment for childbirth is almost 0 KRW |
When changing workplaces on an Non-professional Worker Non-professional Worker visa, there may be an insurance gap of up to 3 months. If you get sick during this time, you have to pay the full cost yourself.
Everything covered in this series
This ends Health Insurance Series Part 23. Here is the full list.
EP.13 Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance)
EP.14 International insurance vs NHIS
EP.15 Bilateral agreement
EP.16 Visa expiration
EP.17 Family insurance
EP.18 Health checkup
EP.19 App guide
EP.20 Civil complaint · Objection application
EP.21 2025-26 changes
EP.22 Chronic disease
EP.23 Comparison by visa (this article)
Be sure to pay your NHIS insurance premium on time.
If you have unpaid bills of 500,000 KRW or more, your visa extension may be denied. Check whether you have unpaid bills in the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app) app.
Don’t miss your Out-of-Pocket Cap refund.
If your hospital costs go over the limit in 1 year, you can get the difference back. Check in the The건강보험 (official NHIS app) (official NHIS app) app or at National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).
If you’re not sure, call 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center.
1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center supports 20 languages. You can get help with insurance, visas, and daily life questions.
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Check my visa type
Check which category applies to you: employment (E), residence (F), or student (D).
Check when you enrolled
Work visa = first day, study = immediately, residence = after 6 months. Permanent Residence/Marriage = immediately.
Check the premium structure
Employee insured = company pays half, local subscriber = you pay the full amount, Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja) = 0 KRW, Student = 50% discount.
Review additional insurance
Check which visas can enroll in Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance). F visas have no restrictions, and E/D/H visas are only for workplace insurance subscribers.
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Marriage most advantageous
Register as a Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja) and your insurance premium is 0 KRW. You can also get the maximum childbirth benefits.
Student 50% discount
50% discount on insurance premiums for international students. Enroll immediately upon entry.
Permanent Residence same as a Korean citizen
Permanent resident visa: exactly the same conditions as Korean nationals. Join immediately.
The coverage details are the same
Regardless of visa, the same rules apply to medical treatment, hospitalization, surgery, checkups, and the spending cap system.
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Foreigners cannot get a reduction of the minimum insurance premium
For foreign Resident subscriber, the minimum is up to 150,000 KRW/month. You still have to pay even if you have no income.
Gap when changing workplace for Non-professional Worker Non-professional Worker
When changing an Non-professional Worker workplace, there can be an insurance gap of up to 3 months. If you get sick during this time, you pay the full cost yourself.
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Marriage (Marriage) is the most favorable. Dependent under NHI (pibuyangja) 0 KRW. Next is Student (Student) with a 50% discount. Permanent Residence (Permanent Residence) is the same as Korean nationals.
No! If you are an NHIS subscriber, outpatient care, hospitalization, surgery, checkups, and the out-of-pocket ceiling system are all the same regardless of visa.
For Resident subscriber. If you have stayed for more than 6 months, you can enroll. Medical expense reimbursement insurance (silson insurance) is not allowed for Job Seeking.
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This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.