Guide

Thailand – Health Insurance

Health insurance in Thailand is not a universal requirement for all expatriates, but it is legally mandated for holders of specific long-stay visas, most notably the Non-Immigrant O-A (retirement) and O-X visas. Thailand does operate a public healthcare system —

Switzerland – Health Insurance

Every person living in Switzerland — expats included — is legally required to hold health insurance, irrespective of their nationality or whether they are employed. The framework is established by the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG/LAMal) and administered through roughly

Taiwan – Health Insurance

For most expats living in Taiwan on a long-term basis, health insurance is not optional — it is a legal obligation. The country’s National Health Insurance (NHI) programme delivers wide-ranging, affordable medical coverage to eligible foreign residents, though those who

Spain – Health Insurance

Spain’s universal public healthcare system — the Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS) — is financed through taxation and social security contributions. Whether you are legally required to hold health insurance depends on your visa category and how you have established

Sweden – Health Insurance

Sweden’s healthcare system is built on a universal, tax-funded model that extends to all legal residents — including expats who have registered with the Swedish Tax Agency and been issued a personal identity number (personnummer). While long-term residents are not

South Africa – Health Insurance

Private health insurance is not a blanket legal obligation for expats living in South Africa, yet taking out cover is very strongly advised. South Africa runs a two-tier healthcare system combining a state-funded public sector and a fee-based private sector.

South Korea – Health Insurance

For the majority of long-term residents in South Korea — expats included — health insurance is not optional. The state-run National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) subsidises a wide range of medical treatments, and foreign nationals who remain in the country

Slovakia – Health Insurance

Slovakia requires all residents and workers — expats included — to hold health insurance. The public healthcare system is financed through mandatory income-linked contributions split between employees and their employers. Although the public system offers wide access to medical care,

Singapore – Health Insurance

Whether health insurance is legally required for expats in Singapore depends largely on the type of visa they hold. Work Permit and S Pass holders must be covered under insurance arranged by their employer, while Employment Pass holders face no