Study abroad in Bulgaria: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers medically necessary treatment under Bulgarian rules, but not repatriation. The German Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for German citizens, but for stays longer than 90 days registration with the foreigners’ authority is required. The Medical University of Varna gives 450 to 650 euros a month as a guide value.
Study abroad in Bulgaria at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is valid in Bulgaria, repatriation is not covered | European Commission, German federal portal, German Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | No visa requirement stated, registration with the foreigners’ authority after 90 days | German Federal Foreign Office, Your Europe |
| Tuition | Erasmus+ students pay no fees for studies, enrolment or exams at the host university | European Commission, Erasmus+ |
| Living costs | Guide value 450 to 650 euros a month for international students (example Medical University of Varna) | Medical University of Varna |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Possible, responsible office: Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau | 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 Bulgaria?
EHIC and your statutory health insurer
Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria. The German Federal Foreign Office states that statutorily insured travellers can settle emergency treatment directly with the card or a replacement certificate, and that foreign patients usually pay in cash.
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 Bulgarian rules. Co-payments charged there follow Bulgarian 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 recommends cover for risks that statutory insurers do not pay, such as repatriation or private clinics. For background, see Travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and work and travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for Bulgaria?
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, Bulgaria does not state a visa requirement or a visa-free stay length for German citizens. The accepted documents are passport, provisional passport, identity card, provisional identity card and children’s passport. All documents must be valid for the entire stay. The office also notes that for stays longer than 90 days, registration with the foreigners’ authority and an application for a certificate for EU citizens are required.
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. 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 Bulgaria (page status 13.03.2026). The office describes the domestic political situation as stable and reports stricter security measures because of the global terror threat, including border controls. Petty crime such as pickpocketing occurs mainly at airports, stations and tourist sites.
What does a semester abroad in Bulgaria 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. Which fees apply to exchange students depends on your university’s exchange agreement, so ask both your home and host university before you accept. We do not state a general figure for fee-paying students because we found no official source for it.
Living costs
The Medical University of Varna gives an overall estimate of 450 to 650 euros a month for international students. It breaks this down only partly, with 250 to 400 euros for a private flat, 250 to 350 euros for food and 50 euros for transport. The page carries no date and does not mention Erasmus students by name. The figure is therefore an example from one university, not a national figure. We do not state a verified monthly amount for Bulgaria as a whole. Ask your host university for its current budget for exchange students.
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 Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau is responsible for Bulgaria. 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: A worked example with a monthly total is not possible for Bulgaria, because we have no verified figure for living costs in the country. Only the guide value of the Medical University of Varna can be calculated: over five months it gives 2,250 to 3,250 euros (5 times 450 to 650 euros). That figure applies to this one university and excludes flights, travel health insurance and the semester fee of your home university. 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.
- Plan the registration with the foreigners’ authority if your stay lasts longer than 90 days, and clarify the process with your host university.
- Submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau about six months before the start, if you want funding.
- Ask your doctor about the vaccinations the German Federal Foreign Office recommends under the STIKO schedule, and consider the hepatitis A travel vaccination.
- Ask the International Office about the amount of Erasmus+ funding and the fees at your host university.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Bulgaria?
Yes, for medically necessary treatment under Bulgarian 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 Bulgaria?
The German Federal Foreign Office does not state a visa requirement for German citizens, only the accepted documents. For stays longer than 90 days, the office says registration with the foreigners’ authority is required.
Do I have to pay tuition in Bulgaria?
As an Erasmus+ student, no fees for studies, enrolment or exams. Small contributions may apply. Ask your host university what it charges.
How much are living costs in Bulgaria?
We do not state a verified monthly amount for the country. The Medical University of Varna gives a guide value of 450 to 650 euros a month for international students, without a date. Ask your host university for its current budget for exchange students.
Will my health insurer pay for repatriation?
The European Commission states that the card does not help with repatriation. The federal portal names repatriation costs as a residual risk that private travel health insurance can cover. Ask your insurer about the exact scope of its benefits.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Bulgaria?
According to the DSW leaflet (status January 2026), the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Bulgaria: Travel and security information (page status 13.03.2026)
- 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)
- Medical University of Varna, Cost of living (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 Belgien: KV, Visum, Kosten 2026 (in German)
- Auslandssemester Italien: 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.
