Study abroad in Peru: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is intended for the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Peru is not among them. For tourist stays of up to 90 days per half-year you need no visa. The German Federal Foreign Office gives no information on study. The DAAD sets a scholarship rate of 800 euros for students in Peru.
Study abroad in Peru at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is not intended for Peru. The Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance with air ambulance cover to Germany and medical evacuation | European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | No visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days per half-year. A long stay requires an entry visa from the Peruvian mission in advance. The page gives no information on study | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Travel document | Passport or provisional passport, valid for at least six months on arrival. The ID card is not sufficient | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Living costs | DAAD scholarship rate of 800 euros as a guide, not a budget. The list names no period | DAAD, scholarship rates (undated) |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Responsible office according to German Student Services: Studierendenwerk Bremen, telephone 0421/2201-0 | German Student Services (DSW), leaflet (January 2026) |
All details are general information, not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative.
How are you insured in Peru?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
The EHIC does not apply in Peru. The European Commission’s FAQ names the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as the countries for which the card is intended. Peru is not listed, so you cannot rely on the card there. We found no proven social security agreement with Peru that covers health insurance, so we do not name one.
Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing what cover it gives you in Peru before you sign the learning agreement. The basics for privately insured students are in our guide Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German).
Health care and vaccinations
For direct entry from Germany, no vaccination is compulsory. The Federal Foreign Office recommends yellow fever, depending on the region below 2,300 metres, and hepatitis A. Depending on your risk, chikungunya, dengue, hepatitis B and rabies are added, along with the STIKO standard vaccinations, especially against measles. The page also points to the state of emergency and protests as reasons to check the current situation before you travel.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office recommends for Peru a travel health insurance that covers an air ambulance flight to Germany, and a medical evacuation insurance. What you need depends on your policy, your university and the length of your stay. For background, see Travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and Work and Travel (in German). Students with private health insurance outside the EU can also read PKV for students in non-EU countries (in German).
Do you need a visa for Peru?
For tourist stays you need no visa with a German passport. The German Federal Foreign Office gives no information on study. Whether and which visa you need for study is for the Peruvian diplomatic mission to say, and its answer is binding. We do not give our own rule, because we found no official statement on it. The Federal Foreign Office’s travel and safety advice for Peru sets out the entry rules for German citizens (page as of 24 October 2026):
- Passport, provisional passport or children’s passport. The ID card is not accepted
- All documents must be valid for at least six months on arrival
- Tourist stays of up to 90 days per half-year are possible without a visa. The border authorities set the actual length of stay, and there is no automatic approval
- For a long stay, the necessary entry visa must be applied for in advance at the responsible Peruvian mission. A residence permit in Peru requires a German certificate of good conduct with apostille and translation
According to the Federal Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Peru (page as of 24 October 2026). The page does name safety points: the state of emergency applies in Lima and Callao among other places, and emergency orders apply in further regions, including Pataz, the VRAEM and the border with Ecuador. After the run-off election of 7 June 2026, the vote count is still under way, so protests are possible at any time.
What does a semester in Peru cost?
Tuition fees
Which fees the host university charges depends on your home university’s exchange agreement. We do not name a general amount, because we found no official statement on it. Ask your home university and the host university before you accept a place.
Living costs
We found no official or university figure for living costs in Peru. As a guide, the DAAD’s scholarship list sets a scholarship rate of 800 euros for students in Peru. The list is undated and names no period, so the amount is a guide, not a budget. Ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
The European Commission lists Peru in region 10, Latin America, among third countries not associated with the programme. These countries can take part in certain actions under specific conditions. Part B of the programme guide sets out which action applies to students. Ask your international office. More in our guide Planning Erasmus and a semester abroad (in German).
Auslands-BAföG, the German study abroad grant, is available for part of a degree abroad. According to German Student Services (DSW), the Studierendenwerk Bremen, Office for Educational Funding, is responsible for America excluding Canada and the USA, telephone 0421/2201-0. The leaflet (as of January 2026) requires at least one year of study in Germany before going abroad outside the EU and Switzerland. Funding there is generally limited to two semesters, in rare cases up to five. Details are in Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German).
The BAföG study abroad supplement ordinance provides, for study outside the EU and Switzerland, a supplement where purchasing power at the place of study is lower than in Germany. It is calculated as a percentage of the need set by the Federal Foreign Office. We found no specific percentage for Peru. The ordinance caps tuition fees at 5,600 euros per year and provides a travel allowance of 500 euros per journey from outside Europe. The DSW leaflet mentions a monthly supplement, which may be possible in some cases.
A worked example is omitted, because the DAAD list does not say for which period the scholarship rate applies, and the other amounts are not proven.
Steps before you leave
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing what cover you have in Peru before you sign the learning agreement.
- Take out travel health insurance with an air ambulance flight to Germany and medical evacuation for the whole length of your stay.
- Ask the Peruvian mission whether you need a visa for your studies. For a long stay, apply for the entry visa in advance.
- Check that your passport is valid for at least six months on arrival.
- For a possible residence permit, obtain a German certificate of good conduct with apostille and translation.
- Have your vaccinations checked by a doctor. The Federal Foreign Office recommends yellow fever and hepatitis A.
- If you receive funding, submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Studierendenwerk Bremen about six months before you start.
- Read the Federal Foreign Office’s travel and safety advice for the regions you plan to visit and the current situation after the run-off election.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Peru?
No. The card is intended for the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Peru is not named. For your time in Peru, the Federal Foreign Office names travel health insurance with air ambulance cover and medical evacuation.
Do I need a visa for Peru?
Not for tourist stays of up to 90 days per half-year. For a long stay, the entry visa must be applied for in advance at the Peruvian mission. The Federal Foreign Office gives no information on study, so the mission will say.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Peru?
That depends on your home university’s exchange agreement. We do not name a general amount, because we found no official statement on it.
What are living costs in Peru?
We found no proven monthly figure. The DAAD sets a scholarship rate of 800 euros for students in Peru as a guide. Ask your host university about its budget.
Is there a travel warning for Peru?
According to the Federal Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Peru. There are states of emergency and emergency orders in individual regions. The current page of the Federal Foreign Office is authoritative.
Who handles Auslands-BAföG for Peru?
According to the German Student Services, the Studierendenwerk Bremen, Office for Educational Funding, is responsible for America excluding Canada and the USA.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Peru: travel and safety advice (page as of 24 October 2026)
- European Commission, social security FAQ: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme Guide Part A: eligible countries (undated)
- German Student Services, Auslands-BAföG leaflet (as of January 2026, in German)
- DAAD, scholarship rates for students and graduates (undated, in German)
- BAföG study abroad supplement ordinance, gesetze-im-internet.de (last amended 15 July 2022, in German)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related guides
- Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German)
- PKV for students in non-EU countries (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German)
- Semester abroad in Colombia (in German)
- Semester abroad in Brazil (in German)
- All countries for your semester abroad (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.
