Study abroad Kazakhstan: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not apply there according to the European Commission’s list. For stays of up to 30 days you need no visa, according to the German Federal Foreign Office. For a longer stay you must apply for a visa in advance at a Kazakh diplomatic mission (Auslandsvertretung). We found no documented figure for living costs.
Study abroad Kazakhstan 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 insurance with air ambulance cover and medical evacuation insurance | European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | Visa-free for up to 30 days. An ETA via the QazETA app is recommended but not mandatory during the pilot phase. For a longer stay, apply for a visa in advance at a Kazakh diplomatic mission, processing can take several weeks | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Travel document | Passport or provisional passport, valid for six months on entry. Identity card not accepted | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Living costs | No documented figure found. The finance page of Nazarbayev University lists only an optional canteen rate | Nazarbayev University, finance page (undated) |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Responsible according to DSW: Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau | 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 Kazakhstan?
Whether your statutory or private health insurance continues to apply abroad depends on your contract. Kazakhstan lies outside the EU area that the health insurance card covers. You therefore need to clarify the protection for your stay yourself.
European Health Insurance Card
The European Commission lists the countries where the EHIC applies in its FAQ on the card. Kazakhstan is not on that list. The page carries no date.
Private travel health insurance
The German Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance with repatriation cover. The page notes that in many countries treatment must be paid or advanced before discharge. It does not state an advance payment requirement for Kazakhstan. 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. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required only when entering from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic area. The page names the standard vaccinations under the STIKO schedule, especially measles, and hepatitis A. For a long-term stay, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are added.
Do you need a visa for Kazakhstan?
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, Kazakhstan requires no visa for stays of up to 30 days. An ETA through the QazETA app is recommended but not mandatory during the pilot phase. For a longer stay you need a visa, which you must apply for in good time at a Kazakh diplomatic mission. For German citizens, the responsible mission is the embassy in Berlin. The page says processing can take several weeks.
The page names no visa fee and gives no information on study stays. According to the page, the inviting party must also report your entry to the migration police within three working days, even if you enter visa-free. Ask the diplomatic mission and your host university which notification applies to you.
- Passport or provisional passport that is still valid for six months on entry
- Extended or updated documents are not accepted
- Identity card is not accepted
Travel warning and security situation
The country page of the German Federal Foreign Office (page status 25 October 2026) contains no travel warning in its text and names no regions. It refers to a separate overview titled ‘Current travel warnings’, whose content was not available to us. According to the page, the terrorism threat is low, although isolated attacks by Islamist groups cannot be ruled out. The situation is described as stable. You should avoid demonstrations and larger gatherings.
What does a study abroad semester in Kazakhstan cost?
Tuition fees
Which fees apply at the host university depends on the exchange agreement of your university. We do not name a general amount, because we found no official figure for it. Ask your university and the host university before you accept the place.
Living costs
We found no official figure for living costs in Kazakhstan. The finance page of Nazarbayev University names no amounts for accommodation or rent and carries no date. Its only money figure is an optional canteen plan of about 1,000 tenge per weekday. A monthly amount is therefore missing from this guide. Ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
According to the Erasmus+ programme guide of the European Commission, Kazakhstan is listed as a third country in the Central Asia region. Participation is possible only for certain actions. Ask the International Office of your university whether Erasmus+ funding can be used for your stay. The guide Erasmus and planning a study abroad semester (in German) describes the process.
According to the flyer of the German Student Services (status January 2026), the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau is responsible for Kazakhstan. For a partial study abroad outside the EU and Switzerland, a maximum of two semesters is funded, after at least one year of study in Germany. We found no documented monthly study abroad supplement. 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 need a visa for your stay and apply for it in good time at the Kazakh diplomatic mission.
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing what protection it provides during your stay.
- Take out travel health insurance with air ambulance and repatriation cover.
- Have your vaccination status checked, especially against measles and hepatitis A.
- Apply for Auslands-BAföG in good time at the responsible office, if you may be eligible.
Frequently asked questions
Does my European Health Insurance Card work in Kazakhstan?
Not according to the European Commission’s list. You need separate travel health insurance for your stay.
Do I need a visa for Kazakhstan?
Not for stays of up to 30 days, according to the German Federal Foreign Office. For a longer stay, you need a visa that you must apply for in advance at a Kazakh diplomatic mission.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Kazakhstan?
According to the assignment of the German Student Services (flyer as of January 2026), the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Kazakhstan: Travel and Security Information (page status 25 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)
- Nazarbayev University, finance page (undated)
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)
- Study abroad Brazil: insurance, visa, costs
- All countries for your study abroad semester at a glance
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.
