Study Abroad in Brazil: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026

Study abroad in Brazil: no EHIC cover, visa rules for stays over 90 days, living costs and travel advice with official sources. Last updated October 2026.

Study abroad in Brazil: the European Health Insurance Card is not valid there, and the social security agreement does not cover statutory health insurance. For stays of more than 90 days you need a visa, which you apply for before departure at the Brazilian mission. The University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) cites a monthly budget of about 1,000 to 3,200 reais for exchange students.

Study abroad in Brazil at a glance

Item	Details (as of October 2026)	Source
Health insurance	The EHIC is not valid, the agreement does not cover statutory health insurance	European Commission, DVKA
Visa	Required for stays over 90 days, before departure at the Brazilian mission	German Federal Foreign Office
Travel document	Passport required, an ID card is not enough	German Federal Foreign Office
Living costs	About 1,000 to 3,200 reais per month (example UFJF)	UFJF (page from 2023)
Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant)	Possible, responsible office: Studierendenwerk Bremen	German Student Services (DSW)

All details are general information, not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative.

How are you insured in Brazil?

EHIC and social security agreement

Brazil is not part of the EU or the EEA. The European Health Insurance Card is not valid there, as the European Commission limits it to the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. According to the German liaison body for health insurance abroad (DVKA), the German-Brazilian social security agreement (signed on 3 December 2009) covers only pensions and pension benefits, and statutory health insurance is outside its scope. It therefore creates no entitlement to benefits in kind in Brazil.

For statutorily insured students this means you pay treatment costs in the host country yourself at first, or through insurance taken out locally or abroad. According to the Federal Government Commissioner for Patients, German cover does not apply outside the EU, and a private travel health policy is advised for full cover in case of illness. Whether your German insurance continues during the semester depends on your enrolment and your insurer, so get it confirmed in writing. If you have private insurance, see Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German) and, for countries outside the EU, Private health insurance for students outside the EU (in German).

Healthcare and vaccinations

The German Federal Foreign Office notes that private clinics often demand a high advance payment regardless of insurance. No vaccinations are required for direct entry from Germany. Yellow fever and hepatitis A vaccination are recommended, and the yellow fever risk is rated high in many states, including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) requires exchange students to take out health insurance from their home country before arrival and treats this as the students’ own responsibility.

Private travel health insurance and repatriation

The German Federal Foreign Office strongly advises travel health insurance that also covers an air rescue flight to Germany and recommends medical evacuation insurance in addition. The federal portal names higher co-payments abroad and repatriation costs as a residual risk that private travel health insurance can cover. What you need depends on your contract, your university and the length of your stay. For background, see Travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and Work and Travel (in German).

Do you need a visa for Brazil?

That depends on the length of stay. According to the German Federal Foreign Office, tourist and business stays of up to 90 days within six months are visa-free. For planned stays of more than 90 days, a visa must be applied for before departure at the Brazilian mission in Germany. For study, internships and research, you should ask the mission in advance whether a visa is needed. A visa cannot be granted retroactively in Brazil.

You can enter only with a passport or provisional passport, as an ID card is not enough. The document must still be valid for at least six months on entry.

The University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) describes the procedure for its exchange students: you apply for the student visa (formerly VITEM IV) after receiving the acceptance letter. You also need a Brazilian taxpayer number (CPF), which you can request at the consulate. Processing takes up to 30 days, after issue you have 90 days to enter, and registration with the Federal Police takes place within 30 days of arrival. The page was last modified on 3 March 2023, so check the deadlines and documents with your host university and the mission.

Passport valid for the whole stay and for at least six months on entry
Acceptance letter from the host university
Brazilian taxpayer number (CPF), to be requested at the consulate
Visa application at the Brazilian mission

The German Federal Foreign Office issues no general travel warning for Brazil but advises against travel to the immediate border areas with Venezuela (page as of 25 October 2026). It names a high risk of crime and violence, especially in large cities, and points to possible rallies because of the elections. Read the current travel and safety advice before you leave.

What does a semester in Brazil cost?

Tuition fees

Which fees apply at the Brazilian host university depends on your university’s exchange agreement. We name no general amount because we found no official figure. Ask your university and the host university before you accept a place.

Living costs

The University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) cites a monthly budget of about 1,000 to 3,200 reais for exchange students. A one-bedroom apartment near campus costs 700 to 1,500 reais per month, a room in a shared flat 500 to 700 reais and a meal at the university restaurant 1.40 reais. The page was last modified on 3 March 2023, and prices differ by city. Ask your host university for its current budget.

Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG

Brazil is not on the European Commission’s list of Erasmus+ programme countries. Whether your university offers funding for Brazil depends on the partner institution and your university’s programmes, so ask your international office. For more on the programme, see 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 the German Student Services, the Studierendenwerk Bremen is responsible for Brazil. According to the leaflet (as of January 2026), you need a permanent residence in Germany, funding starts at the earliest in the month of application, and you should apply online about six months before you start. It includes a one-off travel allowance, a health insurance supplement and tuition fees of up to 5,600 euros for a maximum of one year, and for study outside the EU and Switzerland possibly a monthly foreign-country supplement. Details are in Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German).

Worked example: For a five-month semester at 1,000 to 3,200 reais per month, living costs come to 5,000 to 16,000 reais. Flights, travel health insurance and your home university semester fee are not included. The total is a guide, not a commitment.

Steps before you leave

Ask the Brazilian mission early whether you need a visa for your programme and which one, and apply before departure.
Check that your passport is still valid for at least six months on entry.
Get vaccinated against yellow fever and hepatitis A if your travel medicine adviser recommends it, and plan it well before departure.
Plan for registration with the Federal Police after arrival.
Ask your insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured during your semester abroad before you sign the learning agreement.
Take out travel health and repatriation insurance if your cover does not include repatriation and treatment that can wait.
If you receive funding, submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the responsible office (the Studierendenwerk Bremen) about six months before you start.
Ask your international office about funding and the host university fees.

Frequently asked questions

Does my EHIC work in Brazil?

No. The card is valid only in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The social security agreement with Brazil does not cover statutory health insurance.

Do I need a visa for Brazil?

For stays of more than 90 days, yes. For study, you should ask the Brazilian mission in advance whether and which visa is needed.

Is an ID card enough for Brazil?

No. According to the German Federal Foreign Office, you need a passport that is still valid for at least six months on entry.

How much does it cost to live in Brazil per month?

The University of Juiz de Fora cites about 1,000 to 3,200 reais per month (page from 2023). Costs depend strongly on the city.

Is there a travel warning for Brazil?

There is no general travel warning, but the German Federal Foreign Office advises against travel to the border areas with Venezuela (as of 25 October 2026).

Who handles Auslands-BAföG for Brazil?

The Studierendenwerk Bremen.

Sources

Sources accessed on 25 October 2026 unless stated otherwise.

Related guides

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.