Studying in Albania: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not on the European Commission’s list for Albania. The bilateral social security agreement with Germany does not cover health insurance according to the German Liaison Agency for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA), so you need your own protection through private travel health insurance. For tourist stays of up to 90 days no visa is needed. For longer stays you must apply for a long-stay visa before entry or a residence permit within 30 days after arrival. The University of Tirana lists living costs of about 400 to 600 euros, without a stated period.
Study abroad in Albania at a glance
| Point | Information (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is not listed for Albania. According to the DVKA the agreement does not cover health insurance | European Commission, DVKA |
| Visa | No visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. For longer stays: long-stay visa before entry or residence permit within 30 days | Federal Foreign Office |
| Tuition fees | No figure for exchange students on the checked partner page of the University of Tirana | Hochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt, partner page |
| Living costs | About 400 to 600 euros, no period stated | Hochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt, partner page |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study grant abroad) | Possible under the prior-year rule. Responsible office according to the DSW allocation: Studierendenwerk Marburg | German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW), flyer as of January 2026 |
All information is general guidance and not individual advice. The linked official pages are binding.
How are you insured in Albania?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
The European Commission does not list Albania among the countries where the EHIC applies. The card therefore gives you no protection in Albania.
A bilateral agreement exists between Germany and Albania. According to the DVKA, the agreement covers the statutory pension insurance, the supplementary mining insurance and the old-age security for farmers. The page does not name health insurance as part of the agreement, and maternity and benefits in kind are not mentioned. The page was last updated on 7 February 2025. Contributions in Albania follow Albanian law. Clarify the scope of your protection with your health insurer before departure.
Private travel health insurance and medical evacuation
The Federal Foreign Office writes that medical care in Albania does not meet German standards, and that operations should only be carried out in an absolute emergency. Tourists are charged fees for certain services. The page recommends travel health insurance and medical evacuation cover that also includes air ambulance flights to Germany. Many clinics require payment before discharge, and a hospital can refuse to release you until the bill is settled.
Travel health insurance with repatriation cover is therefore the most important protection for your study semester. Background on choosing cover is in the guide Study Abroad in Turkey, which covers the same questions for a country without the EHIC.
Do you need a visa for Albania?
The Federal Foreign Office names no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. For a longer stay you must either apply for a long-stay visa before entry or apply for a residence permit within the first 30 days after entry. The page names no office where the residence permit is applied for. The application requires, among other documents, an apostilled German certificate of good conduct.
The page contains no information on studying. Clarify which documents the University of Tirana requires and which visa fits your study stay directly with the host university and the Albanian diplomatic mission. Plan the 30-day deadline after entry into your schedule.
- Passport valid for the whole length of your stay
- Long-stay visa before entry or residence permit within 30 days after entry
- Apostilled German certificate of good conduct for the application (Federal Foreign Office)
The Federal Foreign Office has no travel warning for Albania, neither for the whole country nor for individual regions (page status 24 October 2026, unchanged since 15 October 2026). It does name daily demonstrations in the centre of the capital Tirana, which have spread to Durrës, Shkodra, Vlora and Korça. The page advises avoiding demonstrations and larger crowds.
What does a study abroad semester in Albania cost?
Tuition fees
Albania is not associated with the Erasmus+ programme. The European Commission lists the Western Balkans region as non-associated third countries, which can take part only in certain measures, depending on criteria or conditions. We therefore cannot document a fee exemption as applies to associated countries. The partner page of the University of Tirana gives no tuition fees for exchange students. Ask the university about fees before you accept a place.
Living costs and funding
The partner page of the University of Tirana at Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences gives living costs of about 400 to 600 euros. No period is stated, so we cannot say whether this is a monthly amount. The page also mentions that Erasmus+ funding can be applied for with limited funds, through a separate application. The host university sets the amount of the grant. More on planning is in the guide Study Abroad in France.
Auslands-BAföG can fund a partial study stay in Albania, but only under the conditions for countries outside the EU and Switzerland. According to the DSW flyer (as of January 2026), you must have studied at least one year in Germany beforehand, and funding is generally limited to two semesters. The responsible office according to the DSW allocation is the Studierendenwerk Marburg.
Cost note: We do not give a calculation, because the partner page states no period for the living costs. Flights, travel health insurance and the semester fee of your home university are not included in any figure. The sum is a guide, not a promise.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer in writing how you are insured in Albania, and whether it pays for services there.
- Take out private travel health insurance with repatriation and medical evacuation cover, because neither the EHIC nor the agreement covers health insurance.
- Ask the University of Tirana and the Albanian diplomatic mission which visa you need for studying.
- Order the certificate of good conduct in good time and have it apostilled, because the Foreign Office names it for the application.
- Plan the residence permit within 30 days after entry if you do not apply for a long-stay visa before entry.
- Submit the Auslands-BAföG application about six months before the start, and clarify responsibility with the Studierendenwerk Marburg.
- Ask the International Office about fees and the Erasmus+ grant amount, because the partner page gives no figures for either.
- Check the current demonstrations in Tirana and other cities before departure, and avoid larger crowds.
Frequently asked questions
Does my European Health Insurance Card work in Albania?
No. The European Commission does not list Albania for the card. Private travel health insurance with repatriation cover is therefore important.
Do I need a visa for Albania?
For tourist stays of up to 90 days the Federal Foreign Office names no visa. For longer stays you need a long-stay visa before entry or a residence permit within 30 days after entry.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Albania?
We cannot document a fee exemption. The partner page of the University of Tirana gives no tuition fees for exchange students. Ask the university before you accept a place.
What are the living costs in Tirana?
The partner page of the University of Tirana gives about 400 to 600 euros, without a stated period.
Does my health insurer pay for a flight home?
Cover by statutory health insurance is not documented for Albania. The Federal Foreign Office recommends medical evacuation cover. Ask your insurer in advance what it covers abroad.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG in Albania?
According to the DSW allocation, the Studierendenwerk Marburg is responsible. The prior-year rule applies because Albania is not part of the EU or Switzerland.
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office, Albania: travel and security information (page status 24.10.2026, German)
- European Commission, FAQ social security: European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- German Liaison Agency for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA), scope for Albania (last update 07.02.2025, German)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ programme guide: eligible countries (no date)
- Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences, partner page University of Tirana (no date)
- German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW), flyer Auslands-BAföG (as of January 2026, German)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related articles
- Study Abroad in North Macedonia: Insurance, Visa, Costs
- Study Abroad in Turkey: Insurance, Visa, Costs
- Study Abroad in Serbia: Insurance, Visa, Costs
Status: October 2026. This guide provides general information and does not replace individual advice.
