Study abroad in Belgium: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers medically necessary treatment under Belgian rules, but not repatriation. With a German passport or ID card you need no visa, and after three months registration can be required. The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) puts living costs at about 1,000 euros a month, without tuition.
Study abroad in Belgium at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is valid in Belgium, repatriation is not covered | European Commission, German federal portal |
| Visa | No visa requirement stated, registration may be requested after three months | German Federal Foreign Office, Your Europe |
| Tuition | Erasmus+ students pay no fees for studies, enrolment or exams at the host university. VUB example for international students: 1,116 to 5,320 euros per year | Erasmus+, VUB |
| Living costs | About 1,000 euros a month without tuition and course materials (VUB example) | VUB |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Possible, responsible office: Bezirksregierung Köln | 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 Belgium?
EHIC and your statutory health insurer
Belgium is an EU member, so the EHIC applies there. It is on the back of your German health insurance card and does not have to be applied for separately. According to the German federal portal, it entitles you to medically necessary benefits, especially emergency care and ongoing treatment of chronic conditions, on the same terms as people insured in Belgium. The German Federal Foreign Office states that statutorily insured travellers receive treatment at doctors, dentists and hospitals with the card or a replacement certificate.
The card requires that you are insured or covered by a state social security system. Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing before you leave that your cover continues during your semester abroad, and check that the card is valid until the end of your stay. If you have private insurance, start with our guide Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester: Was gilt? (in German).
What does your German insurer pay?
With the card, treatment is billed under Belgian rules. Co-payments charged there follow Belgian law. If you pay for treatment yourself first, the German federal portal says your insurer reimburses at most what comparable treatment would have cost in the insured state, minus an administrative deduction. The portal does not name a maximum amount. Inpatient treatment in the EU and treatment that also needs approval in Germany require prior consent from your insurer. Keep all receipts.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The card does not replace travel health insurance. Repatriation to Germany is not covered, and the treating doctor does not have to provide treatment that can wait until you return. The federal portal names repatriation costs as a residual risk and recommends private travel health insurance. The German Federal Foreign Office advises insurance that also covers an air ambulance. For background, see Travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and work and travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for Belgium?
No. For German citizens, the German Federal Foreign Office does not state a visa requirement. It lists the accepted travel documents: passport, provisional passport, identity card, provisional identity card and children’s passport. Apart from a provisional identity card, travel documents may have expired for no more than one year, according to the page.
For stays longer than three months, Your Europe names three conditions: enrolment at a recognised educational institution, sufficient income so that no social assistance is needed, and comprehensive health insurance. During the first three months, Belgium may not require registration, but afterwards the registration of your residence can be requested. Keep these documents ready:
- Valid ID card or passport
- Proof of enrolment at the host university
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance, for statutorily insured students the European Health Insurance Card
- Declaration of sufficient financial means
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, no travel warning applies to Belgium (page status 20.10.2026). The page names the terror threat level as three out of four, according to the Belgian government, and increased police presence at airports, stations and government buildings. In Brussels, the office reports an elevated risk of pickpocketing and robbery, particularly around the Midi and Nord stations.
What does a semester abroad in Belgium cost?
Tuition
As an Erasmus+ student, you are exempt from fees for studies, enrolment and exams at the host university, as the European Commission states explicitly. Small contributions, for example for insurance or student union membership, may still apply. For international students at the VUB, the university lists general tuition of 1,116 to 5,320 euros per year. The page distinguishes students from the EEA and from non-EEA countries but gives no separate amounts. Which fees apply at your host university depends on its exchange agreement, so ask both your home and host university before you accept the place.
Living costs
The VUB estimates about 1,000 euros a month for international full-time students in the first year of a bachelor’s degree, excluding tuition and course materials. Its breakdown includes accommodation at 500 to 650 euros, energy at 100 to 130 euros, food at 300 to 400 euros, health insurance at 12 to 100 euros, medical costs at 25 euros, phone and internet at 30 to 50 euros, miscellaneous costs at 45 euros and a savings buffer of 25 euros. Course materials add about 250 euros once. The page carries no date and addresses international students in general, not Erasmus students in particular.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
Erasmus+ is a contribution to travel and living costs. According to the European Commission, its amount depends on, among other things, the difference in living costs between your home and host country, the number of applications and the distance between the countries. Universities sign the funding agreements and apply for funding for their students. The page names no fixed amount, so ask your International Office. For more, see our guide Auslandssemester planen: Bewerbung, Erasmus und Finanzierung (in German).
Auslands-BAföG is possible for a partial period of study in the EU if you have a permanent residence in Germany and the stay benefits your studies in Germany. According to the DSW leaflet (status January 2026), the Bezirksregierung Köln is responsible for Belgium. Funding starts at the earliest with the month of application, and the application should be submitted about six months before the start. Tuition fees are funded up to 5,600 euros for one year at most, plus a one-off travel allowance and a health insurance supplement. The six-month minimum duration does not apply within the EU. Details are in our guide Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German).
Worked example: For an Erasmus+ semester of five months, the VUB estimate gives about 5,000 euros in living costs (5 times 1,000 euros). No fees apply for studies, enrolment or exams in that case. Flights, travel health insurance and the semester fee of your home university are not included. The total is a guide, not a guarantee.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured during the semester abroad, before you sign the learning agreement.
- Check that your European Health Insurance Card is valid and order a new one in good time if needed.
- Take out travel health and repatriation insurance if your cover does not include repatriation and deferrable treatment.
- Ask your host university whether small contributions for insurance or student union membership apply.
- Submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Bezirksregierung Köln about six months before the start, if you want funding.
- Ask the International Office about the amount of Erasmus+ funding and the fees at your host university.
- Keep your ID card or passport and proof of enrolment and insurance ready for a possible registration after three months.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Belgium?
Yes, for medically necessary treatment under Belgian rules. The card does not cover repatriation, and the treating doctor does not have to provide treatment that can wait until you return.
Do I need a visa for Belgium?
No. The German Federal Foreign Office does not state a visa requirement for German citizens, only the accepted travel documents. After three months, Belgium can require registration.
Do I have to pay tuition in Belgium?
As an Erasmus+ student, no fees for studies, enrolment or exams. Small contributions may apply. The VUB lists general tuition for international students of 1,116 to 5,320 euros per year. Ask your host university what it charges.
Is about 1,000 euros a month enough for living costs?
That is the VUB estimate for international full-time students in the first bachelor year, excluding tuition. The page does not differentiate between cities and carries no date. Ask your host university for the current budget for exchange students.
Will my health insurer pay for repatriation?
The European Commission does not cover repatriation with the card, and the federal portal names repatriation costs as a residual risk. Travel health and repatriation insurance can cover this part. Ask your insurer about the exact scope of its benefits.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Belgium?
According to the DSW leaflet (status January 2026), the Bezirksregierung Köln.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Belgium: Travel and security information (page status 20.10.2026)
- European Commission, Your Europe: Studying in another EU country (page status 30.09.2026)
- European Commission, FAQ on the European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- German federal portal, Health insurance abroad in the EU (last updated 06.12.2022)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: Studying abroad (last updated 18.12.2025)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, How much does studying cost (no date)
- German Student Services (DSW), Auslands-BAföG leaflet (status January 2026)
Sources accessed on 25.10.2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related reading
- Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester: Was gilt? (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German)
- Travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and work and travel (in German)
- Auslandssemester Frankreich: KV, Visum, Kosten 2026 (in German)
- Auslandssemester Niederlande: KV, Visum, Kosten 2026 (in German)
- 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, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
