Study abroad in Slovakia: As an EU country, Slovakia recognises your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and with a German passport you do not need a visa. The Comenius University Bratislava gives guide values of 250 to 300 euros for accommodation and 150 euros for food. Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition, registration and examination fees at the host institution.
Study abroad in Slovakia at a glance
| Point | Information (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The European Health Insurance Card applies, repatriation is not covered, accident insurance for the entire stay | German Foreign Office, European Commission (FAQ), Comenius University |
| Visa | Not required for EU citizens, for Germans registration after three months of stay | Your Europe, German Foreign Office |
| Tuition and travel document | Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition, registration and examination fees. Passport or identity card, to be carried at the border at all times | Erasmus+, German Foreign Office |
| Living costs | Guide values of Comenius University: accommodation 250 to 300 euros, food 150 euros, books 30 euros, local transport 20 euros. The page does not state these as monthly amounts | Comenius University Bratislava (last updated 18 December 2024) |
| Study grant abroad (Auslands-BAföG) | Possible, responsible office: Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau | German Student Services Organisation (DSW), flyer as of January 2026 |
All information is general guidance and not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative in each case.
How are you health insured in Slovakia?
European Health Insurance Card and statutory health insurance
Slovakia is part of the EU, so the European Health Insurance Card applies there. It is printed on the back of your German health insurance card. The European Commission lists medically necessary benefits in kind during a temporary stay as covered. Treatment follows the rules of the host country, so the card does not guarantee benefits that are not provided there. For students, the Commission states that they receive the treatment that is necessary for the duration of their stay.
Comenius University Bratislava requires Erasmus students to provide evidence of health insurance when they enrol. The card is tied to your statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). Whether your cover continues unchanged during your semester abroad depends on your enrolment in Germany and on your health insurer. Ask for the answer in writing before you leave. If you are privately insured, you will find the basics in our guide Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester (in German).
Accident insurance and advance payment on site
The university also requires accident insurance for the entire stay, covering accidents during teaching activities. The German Foreign Office points out that treatment costs on site are often due before discharge or must be paid in advance. With an open bill, departure can be refused. The page does not state concrete co-payments. Statutory insured patients receive treatment with the European Health Insurance Card or a substitute certificate. Keep all receipts and clarify with your insurer which proof it requires after your return.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The card does not replace travel health insurance. Repatriation to Germany is not covered, and neither are treatments that can wait, such as most dental procedures. The German Foreign Office strongly recommends protection abroad with repatriation insurance. Clarify with your health insurer whether a rescue flight to Germany is covered. You will find background information in our guide Auslandskrankenversicherung für Erasmus, USA und Work and Travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for Slovakia?
No. For EU citizens, the European Commission does not state a visa requirement for studying in another EU country. The German Foreign Office lists the following travel documents for German citizens: passport, temporary passport, identity card, temporary identity card and children’s passport. You must carry a valid travel document at the border at all times. The page does not state the validity period or a visa-free duration, so keep your document valid for the entire stay.
According to the German Foreign Office, Germans are subject to a registration requirement after three months of stay or when they take up employment. For stays longer than three months, the European Commission also requires enrolment at a recognised higher education institution, comprehensive health insurance and sufficient resources. Your resources must be such that you do not depend on social benefits. The Commission’s page is written for EU countries in general, so clarify the exact procedure with the Slovak authorities. Keep these documents ready:
- Valid passport or identity card
- Proof of enrolment at the host institution
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance, for statutory insured students the European Health Insurance Card
- Proof of accident insurance for the entire stay
- A declaration that you have sufficient financial resources
According to the German Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Slovakia (page status 25 October 2026). The page names regions only in connection with crime, including Bratislava, the High Tatras and spa towns. Pickpocketing and car break-ins are common there. The page also warns of isolated cases of drugging in bars in Bratislava.
What does studying abroad in Slovakia cost?
Tuition fees
Erasmus+ students are exempt from fees at the host institution for tuition, registration and examinations, as well as for laboratory and library access. Small fees for insurance or student union membership may still apply. Which fees apply in an exchange outside Erasmus+ depends on the exchange agreement of your home university. We do not give a general amount because we have not found an official figure we could verify. Ask your home university and the host institution before you accept a place.
Living costs
Comenius University Bratislava gives guide values for living costs on its page. It lists 250 to 300 euros for accommodation, 150 euros for food, 30 euros for books and 20 euros for local public transport. The university describes the costs as estimates that depend on your personal living standard. The page does not expressly state these as monthly amounts, and it is dated 18 December 2024. The figures may therefore differ. Ask your host institution for its current budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
According to the European Commission, the Erasmus+ grant is a contribution to travel and daily living costs. Its amount depends on several conditions, among them the difference in living costs between your home and host country. The Commission does not state a monthly amount. Ask your international office about the level of funding for Slovakia. More details are in our guide Erasmus und Auslandssemester planen (in German).
Auslands-BAföG, the German study grant for study abroad, is possible for a part of your studies abroad. For Slovakia, the flyer of the German Student Services Organisation (DSW, status January 2026) names the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau as responsible. A permanent residence in Germany is required. The application should be submitted online, ideally six months before the start of your studies abroad. Funding starts in the month of application, but at the earliest with the start of the study abroad. The flyer lists a one-off travel allowance, a health insurance supplement and tuition fees of up to 5,600 euros for one year at most, if required. You will find all details in our guide Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German).
Sample calculation: No sample calculation is given, because the university does not expressly state its guide values as monthly amounts. Include the cost of flights or train travel and of travel health insurance in your planning. The figures are a guide, not a commitment.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured in Slovakia before you sign the Learning Agreement.
- Check that your European Health Insurance Card is valid for the entire stay and order a new one in good time if needed.
- Take out accident insurance for the entire stay that also covers accidents during teaching activities.
- Take out travel health insurance and repatriation insurance, because the card does not cover repatriation.
- Check your vaccination status, because the German Foreign Office recommends vaccination against hepatitis A.
- Submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau ideally six months before the start, if you want to apply for funding.
- Keep your enrolment and insurance proof ready for enrolment and for a possible registration after three months.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Slovakia?
Yes, for medically necessary treatment under the rules of the Slovak system. Treatments that can wait and repatriation to Germany are not covered. The university also requires accident insurance.
Do I need a visa for Slovakia?
No. With German citizenship, a passport or identity card is enough. Germans are subject to a registration requirement after three months of stay.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Slovakia?
As an Erasmus+ student, not for study, registration or examinations. Small fees for insurance or student union membership may apply. For other exchange formats, your home university will clarify the fees under the exchange agreement.
How high are living costs in Slovakia?
Comenius University gives guide values of 250 to 300 euros for accommodation, 150 euros for food, 30 euros for books and 20 euros for local transport. The page is dated 18 December 2024 and does not expressly state these as monthly amounts.
Does my health insurer pay for repatriation?
The European Health Insurance Card does not cover repatriation to Germany. Ask your health insurer which benefits it provides abroad, and arrange repatriation cover with a separate travel insurance.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Slovakia?
The Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau. This is stated in the flyer of the German Student Services Organisation (status January 2026).
Sources
- German Foreign Office, Slovakia: Travel and security advice (page status 25 October 2026)
- European Commission, Your Europe: Studying in another EU country (last amended 30 September 2026)
- European Commission, FAQ on the European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: Studying abroad (last updated 18 December 2025)
- Comenius University Bratislava, Practical information (last updated 18 December 2024)
- German Student Services Organisation (DSW), Flyer on Auslands-BAföG (status January 2026)
Sources retrieved on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related reading
- Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester: Was gilt? (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German)
- Auslandskrankenversicherung für Erasmus, USA und Work and Travel (in German)
- Study Abroad in Austria: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026
- Study Abroad in Poland: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026
- Alle Länder für dein Auslandssemester im Überblick (in German)
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
