Study abroad in Bolivia: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is intended for the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Bolivia is not among them. Tourist stays of up to 90 days per calendar year need no visa. For study, the Federal Foreign Office says a visa must be applied for at a Bolivian mission before you enter. The DAAD sets a scholarship rate of 800 euros for students in Bolivia.
Study abroad in Bolivia at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is not intended for Bolivia. Without a Bolivian residence permit, you must show health insurance cover on entry | European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | Tourist stays of up to 90 days per calendar year without a visa. For study, a visa must be applied for at a Bolivian mission before entry | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Travel document | Passport or provisional passport, valid for at least six months on entry. The ID card is not accepted | 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 Bolivia?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
The EHIC does not apply in Bolivia. The European Commission’s FAQ names the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as the countries for which the card is intended. Bolivia is not listed, so you cannot rely on the card there. We found no proven social security agreement with Bolivia that covers health insurance, so we do not name one.
Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing what cover it gives you in Bolivia 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
The Federal Foreign Office says that foreigners without a Bolivian residence permit must show proof of health insurance cover on entry. Yellow fever is compulsory only when entering certain yellow fever areas, such as the departments of Beni and Pando. The proof applies from the tenth day after vaccination. The Federal Foreign Office recommends yellow fever for certain areas east of the Andes and hepatitis A, and depending on individual risk, chikungunya, dengue, hepatitis B and rabies are added.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office strongly advises health cover abroad with repatriation insurance and names 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 Bolivia?
For tourist stays you need no visa with a German passport, for up to 90 days per calendar year. For study the rule is different: according to the Federal Foreign Office, a visa must be applied for at a Bolivian mission before entry, a visa for a specific purpose (visa de objeto determinado). The Federal Foreign Office’s travel and safety advice for Bolivia sets out the entry rules for German citizens (page as of 25 October 2026):
- Passport, provisional passport or children’s passport. The ID card is not accepted
- The documents must be valid for at least six months on entry
- For all other purposes, such as internship, employment or study, the visa must be applied for before entry at a Bolivian mission abroad
The Federal Foreign Office issues a partial travel warning for Bolivia (page as of 25 October 2026). Travel to the Chapare in the department of Cochabamba, including Villa Tunari and routes 4 and 24, is strongly advised against. Travel to the border region with Brazil in the department of Santa Cruz is advised against. For the rest of the country, the general advice is particular caution. A nationwide state of emergency has applied since 20 June 2026, giving security forces extended powers, and is expected to last until 17 December 2026.
What does a semester in Bolivia 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 Bolivia. As a guide, the DAAD’s scholarship list sets a scholarship rate of 800 euros for students in Bolivia. 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 Bolivia 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 Bolivia. 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 Bolivia before you sign the learning agreement.
- Take out health insurance with repatriation cover for the whole length of your stay and keep the proof ready for entry.
- Apply for the study visa before entry at a Bolivian mission, for example in Berlin.
- Check that your passport is valid for at least six months on entry.
- Have your vaccinations checked by a doctor. Yellow fever matters for certain areas, and the Federal Foreign Office also recommends 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 advice on the state of emergency and the partial travel warnings before you plan any trips.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Bolivia?
No. The card is intended for the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Bolivia is not named. Without a Bolivian residence permit, you must show health insurance cover on entry.
Do I need a visa for Bolivia?
Not for tourist stays of up to 90 days per calendar year. For study, a visa must be applied for at a Bolivian mission before entry.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Bolivia?
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 Bolivia?
We found no proven monthly figure. The DAAD sets a scholarship rate of 800 euros for students in Bolivia as a guide. Ask your host university about its budget.
Is there a travel warning for Bolivia?
The Federal Foreign Office issues a partial travel warning for the Chapare and the border region with Brazil, not for the whole country. The current page of the Federal Foreign Office is authoritative.
Who handles Auslands-BAföG for Bolivia?
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, Bolivia: travel and safety advice (page as of 25 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 Peru (in German)
- Semester abroad in Paraguay (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.
