Study abroad in Egypt: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not apply there, so you need private travel health insurance with repatriation cover. According to the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), German citizens need a visa to enter. A visa on arrival costs 30 US dollars for a single entry. The DAAD lists a monthly scholarship rate of 800 euros for students in Egypt as a guideline.
Study abroad in Egypt at a glance
| Point | Information (status October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC does not apply. We have not found a social security agreement covering health insurance, so we name none. | European Commission, EHIC FAQ |
| Visa | Required for German citizens. A visa on arrival costs 30 US dollars for a single entry and counts as a tourist visa. The office gives no rule for study. | Federal Foreign Office |
| Tuition fees | No verified amount. They depend on the exchange agreement of your home university. | Host university |
| Living costs | 800 euros per month as a DAAD guideline rate (list without date) | DAAD, scholarship rates |
| Study grant abroad (Auslands-BAföG) | Possible. Responsible office according to the DSW assignment: Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg | Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW), leaflet January 2026 |
All information is general and not individual advice. The official pages linked here are authoritative.
How is health insurance arranged in Egypt?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
Egypt is not part of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland. The EHIC therefore does not apply there. According to the European Commission, the card covers the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. We have not found a social security agreement with Egypt that covers health insurance, so we name none.
Outside the area covered by the card, you must arrange treatment in Egypt yourself. Ask your health insurer in writing before you leave which services apply abroad. The guide on health insurance during a study abroad semester explains the basics: Health insurance during a study abroad semester (in German).
According to the Federal Foreign Office, no yellow fever vaccination is required for direct entry from Germany. The office advises ensuring complete protection against polio and keeping standard vaccinations up to date, especially against measles. It lists hepatitis A as a recommended travel vaccination.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office advises taking out travel health and repatriation insurance for the whole stay. Check whether the policy covers repatriation and treatment that can wait until your return. Background is in our guide travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and work and travel (in German). Privately insured students will find the basics in our guide PKV for students in non-EU countries (in German).
Do you need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. According to the Federal Foreign Office, German citizens need a visa to enter Egypt. Before you travel, a simple tourist visa costs 35 euros plus a 3 euro processing fee, and an e-visa is also possible. On arrival, a visa for a single entry costs 30 US dollars, payable at bank counters before passport control. The office describes visa on arrival as a tourist visa in principle.
The office accepts a passport and a provisional passport. The passport must still be valid for at least six months on arrival.
Whether and which visa you need for study in Egypt is decided by the authorities of the country. We do not repeat a rule of our own, because we have not found an official statement that covers study. The travel and security advice of the Federal Foreign Office for Egypt (in German) lists the entry rules for German citizens. The Egyptian embassy in Germany gives binding information.
Keep these documents ready for entry and registration:
- Passport or provisional passport valid for at least six months on arrival
- Visa, or the 30 US dollar fee for a visa on arrival
- Proof of your travel health and repatriation insurance
The Federal Foreign Office issues a partial travel warning for Egypt (page status 24 October 2026). It warns against travel to the north of the Sinai Peninsula and the Egyptian-Israeli border area, except Taba. Affected are the North Sinai governorate, the border area with the Gaza Strip and the Suez road to Taba. It also warns against remote areas of the Sahara, including the border areas with Libya and Sudan. In the south of the Sinai, the office advises against unaccompanied trips and overland journeys. It reports a nationwide risk of terrorist attacks and possible demonstrations, and advises avoiding gatherings of people and military sites.
What does a study abroad semester in Egypt cost?
Tuition fees
Which fees your host university charges depends on the exchange agreement with your home university. We do not name a general amount, because we have no official figure that we could verify. Ask your home university and the host university before you accept a place.
Living costs
The DAAD scholarship rates list a monthly rate of 800 euros for students in Egypt. This is a guideline, not a budget. The list carries no date. We have not found a verified figure for accommodation and food on site, so ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
The Erasmus+ programme guide of the European Commission lists Egypt among the partner countries of region 3 (South-Mediterranean countries). These countries take part in certain measures only under specific criteria. Whether your exchange runs under Erasmus+ and what funding you receive is decided by your university. More in our guide Erasmus and planning a study abroad semester (in German).
Study grant abroad (Auslands-BAföG) is possible for part of a degree abroad. For Egypt, the Deutsches Studierendenwerk (DSW) assigns the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg, Office for Training Support, according to its leaflet of January 2026. Outside the EU, the BAföG foreign supplement regulation allows a supplement if purchasing power abroad is lower. The Federal Foreign Office sets the percentage, and the regulation names no euro amount. Details are in our guide Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German).
Worked example: For a stay of five months at the DAAD guideline of 800 euros a month, living costs come to 4,000 euros. Add 30 US dollars for a visa on arrival, if you apply for one on arrival. Flights, travel health insurance, tuition fees of the host university and the semester fee of your home university are not included, because we have no verified amounts for them. The total is a guide, not a promise.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer in writing which services apply in Egypt before you sign the learning agreement.
- Take out travel health and repatriation insurance and check whether it covers repatriation and treatment that can wait.
- Ask your host university whether you need a visa for study. The Federal Foreign Office gives no rule for study.
- If you need a tourist visa or an e-visa, apply before departure, or budget for the 30 US dollar fee payable on arrival.
- Check that your passport is valid for at least six months on arrival.
- Check vaccinations against the list of the Federal Foreign Office: complete polio protection, up-to-date standard vaccinations and hepatitis A.
- If you want Auslands-BAföG, apply to the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg about six months before departure.
- Read the travel and security advice of the Federal Foreign Office shortly before you leave and watch for changes.
Frequently asked questions
Does my European Health Insurance Card work in Egypt?
No. According to the European Commission, the card applies in the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. For Egypt you need private travel health insurance with repatriation cover.
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, according to the Federal Foreign Office. Before you travel, you can apply for a tourist visa or an e-visa. On arrival, a visa for a single entry costs 30 US dollars. The office gives no rule for study.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Egypt?
That depends on the exchange agreement of your home university. We do not name an amount, because we have no verified figure. Ask your university before you accept the place.
What does living cost in Egypt?
The DAAD scholarship rates list 800 euros a month for students in Egypt as a guideline. It is not a budget, and the list carries no date. Ask your host university for its figures for exchange students.
Is there a travel warning for Egypt?
Yes, a partial travel warning applies. It covers the north of the Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptian-Israeli border area and remote parts of the Sahara. According to the Federal Foreign Office, no warning covers the whole country.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Egypt?
According to the DSW assignment, the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg, Office for Training Support. The leaflet is dated January 2026.
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office, Egypt: travel and security advice (page status 24 October 2026)
- European Commission, FAQ on the European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- DAAD, scholarship rates for students and graduates (no date)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme Guide Part A, eligible countries (no date)
- Deutsches Studierendenwerk, leaflet Auslands-BAföG (status January 2026)
- BAföG foreign supplement regulation, gesetze-im-internet.de (no date)
Sources retrieved on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related articles
- Health insurance during a study abroad semester (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German)
- Study abroad in Italy (in German)
- Study abroad in Turkey (in German)
- All countries for your study abroad semester (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.
