Study abroad in Chile: The European Health Insurance Card does not apply there according to the EU Commission’s list. You therefore need your own travel health cover. Citizens of Germany need no visa for up to 90 days. For a longer stay the visa must be applied for online before entry with the Chilean migration service SERMIG. There are no sourced figures for tuition fees or living costs that we can state.
Chile is neither an EU member state nor part of the European Economic Area, so health insurance and visa follow different rules than inside the EU. The Federal Foreign Office issues no travel warning for Chile, but names security notices for certain regions. This guide is general information and not individual advice.
Study abroad in Chile at a glance
| Topic | Information (status October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | European Health Insurance Card does not apply according to the EU list. The social security agreement does not cover health insurance. | European Commission, DVKA |
| Visa | No visa for up to 90 days. For a longer stay apply online with SERMIG before entry | Federal Foreign Office |
| Tuition fees | Not sourced. They depend on the exchange agreement of your home university. | No official figure |
| Living costs | Not sourced. The host university can give guide figures. | No official figure |
| Auslands-BAföG (federal training assistance abroad) | Probably responsible: Studierendenwerk Bremen, Chile is not named individually | DSW flyer, status January 2026 |
Health insurance in Chile
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
The European Commission’s FAQ on the European Health Insurance Card names the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as its area of application. Chile is not named. Treatment rights as they exist inside the EU therefore do not apply.
The social security agreement between Germany and Chile of 5 March 1993 governs pension insurance, according to the extract published by the German Liaison Agency for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA). Health insurance is not regulated in it. Ask your health insurance fund how your cover works in Chile and get the answer in writing. The basics of private cover outside the EU are explained in the guide PKV für Studierende im Nicht-EU-Ausland (in German).
Advance payment and air rescue
The Federal Foreign Office notes that in many countries medical bills must be settled or paid up front before discharge. Unpaid bills can lead to a refusal to leave the country. Check whether your travel health insurance covers an air rescue to Germany. The office names medical evacuation insurance as additional protection. Background information is in the guide Travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and work and travel (in German).
Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required for direct entry from Germany. The Federal Foreign Office names hepatitis A and hepatitis B depending on individual indication. It also mentions the standard vaccinations under the STIKO schedule, especially against measles. It names dengue vaccination only for Easter Island.
Visa and entry
German citizens may enter with a passport, provisional passport or children’s passport. The identity card and the provisional identity card are not accepted. The passport must still be valid for at least six months on entry.
Up to 90 days you need no visa. On entry you receive the free Tarjeta Única Migratoria, which you hand in when leaving. For a stay of more than 90 days the visa must be applied for online before entry through the platform of the Servicio Nacional de Migraciones (SERMIG). Chilean diplomatic missions are not involved. The Federal Foreign Office names no fee.
The Federal Foreign Office does not explicitly say whether study requires its own visa. Clarify this with your host university and on the SERMIG pages before departure. Minors travelling alone or with only one parent need a notarised travel authorisation from the parent who is not travelling.
Safety in Chile
The Federal Foreign Office names no travel warning for Chile, only security notices (status of the page 25 October 2026). According to the office, the situation in Araucanía, Bío Bío, Los Lagos and Los Ríos is more tense than in the rest of the country. In the south, in the traditional settlement area of the Mapuche, there are violent acts, roadblocks and arson attacks. Motorways there should be avoided after dark. Be alert to protests on certain commemoration days and to petty crime.
What does a study abroad semester in Chile cost?
Tuition fees
The fees depend on the exchange agreement of your home university. We have no sourced amount. Ask your home university and the host university for the figure before you accept a place.
Living costs
We state no figure for living costs either, because no sourced figure is available. The host university can give you guide values for accommodation and everyday costs. The currency is the Chilean peso (CLP).
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
Ask the International Office directly whether your university has an Erasmus agreement with Chile. The Erasmus+ programme guide of the European Commission describes which countries can take part in principle.
The DSW flyer (status January 2026) does not name Chile individually. Chile probably falls under the region “America excluding Canada and the USA”. In that case the Studierendenwerk Bremen is responsible, telephone 0421/2201-0. Outside the EU and Switzerland, funding is usually given for at most one to two semesters, and at least one year of study in Germany is required beforehand. A study abroad period lasts at least six months. All details are in the guide Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amounts and supplements (in German).
How to prepare before you leave
- Get a written statement from your health insurance fund on your cover in Chile before you sign the learning agreement.
- Check whether your travel health insurance includes an air rescue to Germany and treatment on site.
- Make sure your passport is still valid for at least six months on entry.
- For a stay of more than 90 days, apply for the visa early online through SERMIG.
- Discuss your vaccination status with your doctor, for example hepatitis A and the standard vaccinations against measles.
- Clarify place, fees and accommodation with the host university and get the acceptance in writing.
- Inform yourself about the security situation at your study location, especially in the south of the country.
- Clarify with the Studierendenwerk Bremen whether Auslands-BAföG is possible for your plans, and apply early.
Frequently asked questions
Does my European Health Insurance Card work in Chile?
According to the EU Commission’s list, no. Chile is outside its area of application. Ask your health insurance fund about your cover in Chile and get the answer in writing.
Do I need a visa for Chile?
Not for up to 90 days. For a longer stay apply for the visa online through SERMIG before entry. Clarify with your host university whether study has its own rule.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Chile?
That depends on the exchange agreement of your home university. We state no sourced amount.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Chile?
Probably the Studierendenwerk Bremen, telephone 0421/2201-0. The DSW flyer does not name Chile explicitly, so have the responsibility confirmed.
Is there a travel warning for Chile?
No. The Federal Foreign Office names security notices for certain regions, especially in the south.
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office, Chile: travel and security advice (status of the page 25 October 2026), auswaertiges-amt.de
- European Commission, FAQ on the European Health Insurance Card (no date), European Commission
- DVKA, social security agreement Germany–Chile, extract (status 25 October 2026), dvka.de
- German Student Services Organisation (DSW), flyer Auslands-BAföG (status January 2026), studierendenwerke.de
- European Commission, Erasmus+ programme guide Part A (no date), erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu
Sources retrieved on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related reading
- Study abroad in Argentina: insurance, visa, costs 2026
- Study abroad in Mexico: insurance, visa, costs 2026
- All countries for your semester abroad at a glance (in German)
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information and does not replace individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
