Health insurance and doctors after moving abroad: what a residence permit requires

In brief

As of 6 November 2026, most residence permits in the six countries below need proof of health cover before or at the application, and the public system usually opens only after the permit is issued. Three numbers shape the choice: a basic private policy in Cyprus is reported at €40–80 a month, Poland's voluntary public contribution was PLN 835.04 a month in the second quarter of 2026, and Spain's public buy-in is €60 a month under 65 and €157 from 65. Most of this comes from law-firm and broker pages, not from official texts, so confirm with the authority that issues your permit. This is general information, not medical or legal advice.

What a residence permit usually asks for

Moving abroad creates a gap that few people plan for. The permit often requires insurance, but the public health system usually accepts you only once the permit exists. So the first months are covered by a private policy that you buy before you have any local doctor, address history or tax number. Think of cover in three layers.

• Before the application: a policy valid in the country, often with a minimum limit and no large exclusions, attached to the application.
• Between permit and public registration: the same private policy keeps running until the public system confirms your registration.
• After registration: public cover, a top-up private policy, or both, depending on what you can afford and what you want (faster appointments, private rooms, dental).

The most common mistake is buying a cheap travel policy because it is quick. Many authorities reject travel cover for a residence application, and even when they accept it, it often excludes pre-existing conditions, routine care and pregnancy. If you bought property abroad and already spend months there, read the separate guide on healthcare when you own a home abroad and, for retirees, on S1, EHIC and age limits.

Public system or private policy: how to decide

The public system is cheaper per year in most countries, but it usually needs a permit, a registered address and sometimes a waiting period. Private cover is faster and gives you choice of doctors, but it costs more and can exclude exactly what you need. For a family with a chronic condition, pregnancy or dental needs, the policy wording matters more than the price.

• Choose private first if the permit needs it, you need care in the first weeks, or you want English or Russian-speaking doctors.
• Choose public when you are settled, have the permit and the address, and your needs are covered by the system's lists.
• Combine both when the public system has long queues for your specialty, which is common for specialists and imaging.

Country by country

Facts below come mostly from law firms, brokers and portals. Check each point with the authority named.

• Cyprus. Law-firm sources say private cover valid in Cyprus is required for most non-EU residence applications, and that a missing or non-compliant policy is a ground for rejection. Public GESY registration follows the permit for non-EU holders who are habitually resident; non-EU students are not covered by GESY. One expat forum quotes a GESY call-centre agent saying only permanent residents qualify, which contradicts the statutory wording quoted in the same thread, so check with gesy.org.cy or the Migration Department. One source puts a basic Cyprus policy at €40–80 a month.
• Georgia. From 1 January 2026, visa-free and tourist-visa entrants must hold health and accident insurance of at least GEL 30,000 for the whole stay, with a fine of GEL 300–1,000 or refusal of entry reported for those without it. Holders of a Georgian residence permit are reported as exempt, and guides say Georgia has no mandatory insurance for residents. Whether a foreign permit holder can join the Universal Healthcare Program is described differently by two guides, and neither cites an official document, so ask the Ministry of Health or the Public Service Hall.
• Turkey. Brokers cite Article 34 of Law No. 6458 for a rule that valid health cover is a precondition for a residence permit, and a university form says the same. Sources disagree whether the rule covers ages 18–65 only. After one year of residence on a permit, a foreigner with no cover from another country may apply to the public SGK system voluntarily; one guide adds that the person must not be covered by a social security agreement with the home country. Sources also note a timing problem, because the permit needs insurance while SGK needs a permit. Check on the official e-ikamet portal.
• UAE. Employer-paid health insurance is mandatory for employees, and one source says this applies in all seven emirates since 1 January 2025. In Abu Dhabi, the employer covers one spouse and up to three children under 18; in Dubai, sources disagree on whether the sponsor or employer must insure dependants. Proof of cover is needed for visa issue or renewal, and renewal can be delayed until cover is restored. A low-cost Essential Benefits Plan exists for those earning under AED 4,000 a month. Confirm with DHA in Dubai and DoH in Abu Dhabi.
• Poland. An NFZ Łódź branch sheet gives a voluntary monthly contribution of PLN 835.04 for the second quarter of 2026 (premium base PLN 9,278.19), and says the amount changes quarterly. An older expat page gives PLN 786.28 for 2025. University pages quote a much lower student rate, but they are undated. Only some foreigners can sign the voluntary agreement, so ask your NFZ branch before assuming you qualify.
• Spain. The special agreement for people with no public cover (convenio especial) is €60 a month under 65 and €157 a month from 65, according to the 2014 BOE order, two regional pages and 2026 guides; the fee updates automatically when you turn 65. The main condition in official texts is that you have no public health cover by any other route. Whether municipal registration is also required is stated only by a commercial blog, so ask your regional health service.

How to choose a policy: limits, pre-existing conditions, waiting periods

A policy should be read as a list of exclusions. Go through these points before paying.

• Annual and per-event limits. The residence authority may set a minimum. Check that your policy states the limit per person and per year.
• Pre-existing conditions. Many policies exclude them for the first 12 months or permanently. Declare everything honestly, because a rejected claim for an undeclared condition costs more than a higher premium.
• Waiting periods. Pregnancy, dental, optical and planned surgery often have waiting periods of several months.
• Network and direct billing. A policy that makes you pay and reclaim is hard to use with a new bank account.
• Repatriation, medicines and outpatient cover. Some low-cost plans cover only hospital stays.
• Renewal and age limits. Premiums may rise sharply at 60 or 65, and some insurers refuse new customers above a certain age.

The first months: what happens before cover starts

Plan a bridge. In many countries the sequence is: policy, permit, address registration, public enrolment. Each step can take weeks, so budget for at least one full quarter without public cover. Keep your travel policy until the new one starts, never cancel before confirmation. Bring a copy of your vaccination record and the last 12 months of medical records, translated if the language is not local, because a new doctor will not see your history. If you use regular prescription medicines, ask your doctor for the active ingredient name, not the brand, since brands differ between countries.

Dentistry, medicines and prescriptions

Dental care is the largest hidden gap. Public systems rarely cover adult dental work beyond emergencies, and private plans often add a waiting period. Do routine dental work before you move if you can, and keep X-rays. Medicines sold without a prescription in one country may need one in another. Controlled medicines, including some ADHD and sleep medicines, are restricted in some countries, and carrying them across a border may need a doctor's letter. Never assume you can import a three-month supply without checking the rules of the destination country.

Children and family

Children usually need cover from the first day, even if the parent's policy includes them only after an extra step. Schools may ask for vaccination records and sometimes proof of cover. In the UAE the rule for dependants depends on the emirate and the sponsor, so ask HR in writing. In Spain and Poland, check whether dependants are included or must be registered separately. Pregnancy deserves special care: a policy bought after conception rarely covers childbirth, and a waiting period of ten months or more is common.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying travel insurance for a residence application without checking that the authority accepts it.
• Cancelling the old policy before the new one is confirmed in writing.
• Hiding a pre-existing condition to get a lower premium.
• Assuming that public registration starts on the day of the permit.
• Forgetting that cover often ends with the permit, which matters at renewal.
• Choosing by price alone and skipping the exclusions list.
• Not keeping receipts and reports for a claim, especially in a different language.

Checklist before you apply

• The authority's written insurance requirement, copied from its site.
• A policy that names the country, the dates and the limits.
• Medical records and vaccination history, translated where needed.
• The public registration steps and expected waiting time.
• A plan for the months before public cover starts.
• Your regular medicines, active ingredient names and a doctor's letter.
• A written answer on dependants from your sponsor or insurer.

Health rules and prices change several times a year. This article reports what law-firm, broker and portal pages said in November 2026; it is not an official source and not medical advice. Confirm with the permit authority and the insurer before you pay.

FAQ

Can I use travel insurance for a residence permit? It depends on the authority. Many reject travel policies because they exclude routine care and pre-existing conditions, and some ask for a minimum limit and a stated period. Read the written requirement before you buy anything.

How long after the permit can I join the public system? There is no single answer. In Cyprus the public system follows the permit, in Turkey sources mention a year of residence before voluntary SGK, in Poland the voluntary contribution was PLN 835.04 a month in the second quarter of 2026, and in Spain the public buy-in is €60 or €157 a month depending on age. Ask the authority for your case.

Do I need health insurance as a resident of Georgia? Guides say Georgia has no mandatory insurance for residence-permit holders, but tourists and visa-free visitors must hold at least GEL 30,000 cover from 1 January 2026. Check the current rule with the Ministry of Health.

Is employer insurance in the UAE enough for my family? Not always. Abu Dhabi employers cover one spouse and up to three children under 18, while sources disagree about Dubai dependants. Ask HR or the sponsor in writing and confirm with the emirate's health authority.

What should I do about my existing illness before moving? Declare it, ask the insurer in writing what is excluded and for how long, and bring translated medical records. Do not buy a cheaper policy by omitting it, because a rejected claim costs more than the premium difference.