Study abroad in Nepal: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, Europäische Krankenversicherungskarte) is not listed for Nepal by the European Commission, so it does not apply there. German citizens need a visa. You can apply for it in advance at the Nepalese embassy in Berlin or the honorary consulate in Munich, or receive it on arrival at Kathmandu airport. We found no sourced figure for living costs.
Study abroad in Nepal at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is not listed. The German Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health and repatriation insurance | European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | In advance at the embassy in Berlin or the honorary consulate in Munich, or on arrival at Kathmandu airport. Fees: 30 US dollars for 15 days, 50 US dollars for 30 days, 125 US dollars for 90 days | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Travel document | Passport, provisional passport or children’s passport, valid for six months on entry. Identity card not accepted | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Living costs | No sourced figure found | No official source found |
| Study abroad grant (Auslands-BAföG) | Responsible office according to DSW: Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim (German student services office) | German Student Services (DSW), flyer as of January 2026 |
All details are general information, not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative.
How are you insured in Nepal?
Whether your statutory or private insurance continues to apply abroad depends on your contract. Nepal lies outside the EU area covered by the health insurance card, so you need to arrange cover for your stay yourself.
European Health Insurance Card
The European Commission’s FAQ on the EHIC lists the countries where the card applies. Nepal is not on that list. The page carries no date.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The German Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health and repatriation insurance. For trekking, the page advises cover that includes mountain risks, such as a helicopter evacuation. It also notes that medical bills often have to be settled before discharge, and that a doctor may refuse to let you leave if a bill is unpaid. Background is in the guide Travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and Work and Travel (in German).
Vaccinations
For direct entry from Germany, the German Federal Foreign Office lists no compulsory vaccinations. Yellow fever protection applies only if you enter from a yellow fever area. The page names the standard vaccinations under the STIKO schedule, especially measles, and travel vaccinations against hepatitis A and typhoid. For a long stay or special exposure, hepatitis B, rabies, dengue and Japanese encephalitis are added.
Do you need a visa for Nepal?
Yes. A visa is required. According to the German Federal Foreign Office, you can apply for it in advance at the Nepalese embassy in Berlin or the honorary consulate in Munich. Alternatively, a visa on arrival is available at Kathmandu airport via machines. The fees are 30 US dollars for 15 days, 50 US dollars for 30 days and 125 US dollars for 90 days. Holders of passport substitute documents cannot use this service.
Tourist visas can be extended for a fee to up to 150 days, provided the conditions are met. If you overstay, the page says a fee of 8 US dollars per day applies. An overstay of 150 days or more counts as a criminal offence. Paid work and volunteer service require a work permit. The page gives no information on study.
Ask the embassy or the honorary consulate which visa applies to your studies, and get the answer in writing.
- Passport or provisional passport that is still valid for six months on entry
- Children’s passport is accepted, identity card is not
- Visa in advance at the embassy or honorary consulate, or visa on arrival at the airport
Travel warning and security situation
The country page of the German Federal Foreign Office (status 24 October 2026) contains no explicit travel warning in its text. It refers to a separate overview titled Current travel warnings, whose content was not available to us. The page names flash floods and landslides, including in the Langtang border area with Tibet in the Rasuwa district on 26 August 2026 and in the Gorkha district on 11 October 2026. According to the page, the situation has calmed since the new elections in March 2026, but a further change cannot be ruled out. Petty crime, assaults on lone trekkers and extortion attempts also occur.
What does a study abroad semester in Nepal cost?
Living costs
We found no official figure for living costs in Nepal. The page of Tribhuvan University’s Centre for Development Studies did not give living costs either, so this guide gives no amount. Ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
The EU programme guide for Erasmus+ lists Nepal in the Asia region as a third country. Participation is possible only for certain actions. Ask your International Office whether Erasmus+ funding can apply to your stay. The guide Erasmus and planning your study abroad semester (in German) explains the process.
According to the DSW flyer (status January 2026), the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim is responsible for Nepal. For a partial study period outside the EU and Switzerland, a maximum of two semesters is funded, after at least one year of study in Germany. We found no supplement for study abroad. Details are in the guide Auslands-BAföG: eligibility, amounts and supplements (in German).
How to prepare before you leave
- Check that your passport is valid for six months on entry.
- Find out whether you apply for your visa in advance or receive it on arrival.
- Ask the embassy or honorary consulate which visa applies to your studies.
- Have your health insurer confirm in writing what protection it provides during your stay.
- Take out travel health and repatriation insurance, including mountain risks if you go trekking.
- Check your vaccination status, especially measles, hepatitis A and typhoid.
- Apply for Auslands-BAföG at the responsible office in good time.
Frequently asked questions
Does my European Health Insurance Card work in Nepal?
No. According to the European Commission’s list, it does not. You need your own travel health insurance.
Do I need a visa for Nepal?
Yes. You can apply for it in advance at the embassy in Berlin or the honorary consulate in Munich, or receive it on arrival at Kathmandu airport.
How long can I extend my tourist visa?
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, up to 150 days for a fee, provided the conditions are met.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Nepal: Travel and Security Information (page status 24 October 2026)
- European Commission, FAQ on social security: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme Guide Part A: Eligible countries (undated)
- German Student Services, Auslands-BAföG flyer (status January 2026)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related guides
- Health insurance during a study abroad semester: what applies? (in German)
- PKV for students outside the EU (in German)
- All countries for your study abroad semester at a glance (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.
