Country guide — Asia-Pacific
Expat insurance and health insurance in India
In short
India has no universal social security system for the general population: the public schemes (Ayushman Bharat/PM-JAY, ESIC, CGHS) are reserved for economically vulnerable Indian citizens, employees in the organised sector, or civil servants — never for foreign residents. No quantified health insurance requirement was identified in the official documentation for Indian visas reviewed (tourist e-visa, business, employment), unlike Thailand or Indonesia — but France Diplomatie strongly recommends cover including hospitalisation and medical repatriation, since the French state never covers these costs. The France-India social security agreement, in force since 2011, coordinates only pensions (invalidity, old-age, survivors) and explicitly excludes health cover. Care therefore relies almost entirely on a highly developed private hospital sector in the major cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai), at rates said to be lower than Western standards but highly variable depending on the facility.
Key figures
- 6,893 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (7,030 in 2024, -1.95%) — one of the rare declines among the countries covered by this site.
- Life expectancy at birth: 72.2 years in 2024 (World Bank).
- Health spending: ≈3.3% of GDP in 2023 (World Bank) — one of the lowest shares among the countries covered by this site.
- Out-of-pocket household health spending: ≈42% of total health spending in 2019, among the highest in the world, though declining thanks to expanded public schemes.
Local healthcare system
India has no universal social security scheme covering the whole population. Three public schemes coexist, each with a restricted target group: Ayushman Bharat / PM-JAY (hospital cover up to 500,000 INR per family per year, reserved for economically vulnerable Indian households identified by the SECC 2011 socio-economic census, extended to citizens aged 70 and over since September 2024), ESIC (employees in the organised sector earning up to 21,000 INR/month) and CGHS (federal civil servants). These three schemes are tied to Indian nationality or employment status: none is open to foreign residents.
Care provision is overwhelmingly private: around 63% of hospitals and 81% of doctors belong to the private sector. This sector is concentrated in the major cities (Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad), with internationally accredited (JCI) facilities strongly geared towards medical tourism. Outside these urban hubs, France Diplomatie notes that specialist care is considerably more limited.
Legal and visa obligations
- Tourist e-Visa: no health or travel insurance requirement was identified in the list of documents on the official indianvisaonline.gov.in portal, unlike Thailand (O-A/O-X) or Indonesia (KITAS).
- Business visa, employment visa: no quantified insurance requirement was identified in the official sources reviewed for these categories.
- France Diplomatie recommendation: regardless of any Indian requirement, the site’s Health page is explicit — “it is essential to have an assistance contract or insurance covering all medical costs (including surgery and hospitalisation) and medical repatriation”. The French embassy never covers these costs.
- No working holiday visa between France and India — see the definition of a working holiday visa.
- The exact documents required vary depending on the type and length of stay: direct verification with the Indian consulate or VFS Global remains essential before any application, particularly for FRRO registration beyond 180 days of stay.
No official quantified fine was found for lack of cover; without insurance, medical and repatriation costs remain entirely at the patient’s expense, with no possible help from the French embassy.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation (private sector) | — | Rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| Specialist consultation (private sector) | — | Rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| Emergency room visit | Access possible, rate not publicly disclosed | Rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| Night of hospitalisation (private room) | — | Rate varies by facility and city, not publicly disclosed |
| Delivery with hospitalisation | — | Rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed |
| International medical evacuation | — | Rate varies by distance and severity, not publicly disclosed |
Social security agreements with France
A France-India social security agreement exists and has been in force since 1 July 2011. It coordinates exclusively the invalidity, old-age and survivors (pension) branches: sickness, maternity, occupational accidents and family benefits are expressly excluded from its scope and remain subject solely to the law of the country of residence.
- A seconded employee can remain affiliated to the French scheme for the old-age branch only, for up to 60 months; for sickness, maternity, occupational accidents and family benefits, the host country’s law applies from day one.
- No coordination of health schemes between France and India: no cross-border cover of health costs.
- Voluntary affiliation to the CFE or private international health insurance is therefore needed to have cover recognised by a French system, whatever the status.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa | No France-India agreement: status does not exist | Use another visa (tourist, business, employment) |
| Student | No quantified insurance requirement identified at national level | Check the specific requirements of the Indian host institution |
| Seconded employee / local employment | France-India agreement limited to old-age (60 months max); no health coordination | Health and repatriation cover must be arranged independently from arrival, whatever the status |
| Retiree | No access to Indian public schemes (Ayushman Bharat, ESIC, CGHS reserved for citizens) | Plan for lasting private cover, including for chronic conditions |
| Family with children | No public scheme accessible to foreign family members | Check maternity and paediatric cover in the private policy taken out |
Hospitals and care network
- Apollo Hospitals (national network, including Delhi/Indraprastha, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad) — 71 facilities, the country's second-largest private for-profit network, several JCI- and NABH-accredited sites.
- Fortis Healthcare, including Fortis Memorial Research Institute (Gurugram, Delhi NCR) — leading network in North India.
- Medanta – The Medicity (Gurugram, Delhi NCR) — 1,250-bed facility, a reference particularly in cardiology, with an air ambulance service.
- Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (Mumbai) — 750-bed tertiary care facility, advanced technical platform.
Practical steps
- Before departure: take out health and medical repatriation insurance covering India, regardless of any visa requirement.
- Check with the relevant Indian consulate or VFS Global the exact documents required for the type of visa sought (tourist, business, employment, student), on a case-by-case basis.
- Beyond 180 days of stay: FRRO/FRO registration with the Indian Bureau of Immigration, depending on the type of visa held.
- Register with the roll of French nationals living abroad (embassy in New Delhi or consulates in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pondicherry, Kolkata): free, recommended, valid for 5 years.
- Voluntary affiliation to the CFE recommended, given the lack of health scheme coordination between France and India.
- For a seconded employee wishing to keep their French old-age scheme (60 months max): steps to take with their French pension fund before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance mandatory to obtain an Indian visa?
No quantified requirement was identified in the official documents reviewed for the tourist, business or employment e-visas, unlike Thailand or Indonesia. France Diplomatie nonetheless strongly recommends cover, without this being a legal Indian condition for these categories.
Does French social security continue to cover me in India?
Not for health cover. The France-India agreement, in force since 2011, coordinates only pensions (invalidity, old-age, survivors) and explicitly excludes sickness, maternity and occupational accidents.
Can I access Indian public schemes (Ayushman Bharat, ESIC, CGHS) as a foreigner?
No. These three schemes are reserved for economically vulnerable Indian citizens, employees in the organised sector, or Indian civil servants: none is open to foreign residents.
Are private Indian hospitals accessible without insurance?
Yes, by direct payment, but Indian hospitals generally do not provide care without a prior guarantee of payment or cover agreement. Without cover, costs remain entirely at the patient's expense.
Does a seconded employee in India remain covered by French social security?
Only for the old-age branch, for up to 60 months. For sickness, maternity, occupational accidents and family benefits, Indian law applies from the first day of the secondment.
Moving to India? Get a quote
Written by Expavy
Sources
- France Diplomatie — India, Health
- France Diplomatie — Register of French nationals living abroad (carte-registre, 2025 data)
- CLEISS — Bilateral agreements in force
- CLEISS — France-India social security agreement
- Indian government — Official e-Visa portal, required documents
- World Bank — Life expectancy, India
- World Bank — Health spending (% of GDP), India
- Wikipedia — Healthcare in India (ESIC, CGHS, private sector share, household out-of-pocket spending)
- Wikipedia — Ayushman Bharat / PM-JAY (eligibility, coverage cap)