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Study abroad in Iceland: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid, because Iceland belongs to the European Economic Area. For a study stay longer than 90 days we found no documented visa rule, so we refer you to the diplomatic mission. Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition fees. The University of Iceland gives monthly living costs in Icelandic krónur.
Study abroad in Iceland at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is valid, or a replacement certificate. The German Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance with repatriation cover | German Federal Foreign Office, Iceland: Travel and Security Information (status 25 October 2026) |
| Visa | Up to 90 days within 180 days needs no visa. No rule is documented for a study stay beyond that | German Federal Foreign Office, Iceland (status 25 October 2026) |
| Tuition fees | Erasmus+ students are exempt from study, enrolment and examination fees. Small fees may apply | Erasmus+, Study abroad (status 18 December 2025) |
| Living costs | Accommodation 130,000 to 180,000 ISK per month, food 65,000 to 80,000 ISK per month (per person) | University of Iceland, Living costs in Reykjavik (undated) |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Responsible office according to DSW: Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein | German Student Services (DSW), assignment for Auslands-BAföG (undated) |
All details are general information, not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative.
How are you insured in Iceland?
EHIC and statutory health insurance
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, you can present the EHIC or a replacement certificate in Iceland. The card is on the back of your health insurance card. Before you leave, ask your statutory health insurer to confirm that your cover applies abroad.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The German Federal Foreign Office additionally recommends travel health insurance with repatriation cover. It advises you to check whether your cover includes air ambulance flights to Germany. Without sufficient cover you pay the necessary costs yourself. The page also warns that doctors or hospitals in many countries ask for payment before discharge, and that unpaid bills can lead to a refusal to let you leave the country.
More is in our guide Travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and Work and Travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for Iceland?
Whether you need a visa for a study stay in Iceland is decided authoritatively by the country’s diplomatic mission. We do not give our own rule, because we have no official source for one. The Icelandic embassy in Germany can tell you.
The German Federal Foreign Office travel and security information for Iceland sets out the entry rules for German citizens (status 25 October 2026):
- Valid documents are passport, provisional passport, identity card, provisional identity card and children’s passport. The page gives no minimum remaining validity.
- Up to 90 days within 180 days, no visa is needed.
- The page gives no entry fee.
- Unaccompanied minors should carry a consent declaration from their parents or guardians.
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, no travel warning applies to Iceland (page status 25 October 2026). However, the page advises avoiding the Grindavík area on the Reykjanes peninsula because of volcanic activity and earthquakes. Before long-distance drives it recommends checking the weather and traffic. According to the page, crime is generally low.
What does a study abroad semester in Iceland cost?
Tuition fees
Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition, enrolment and examination fees at the host university. According to the Erasmus+ page, small fees for things like insurance or student representation may still apply. Your International Office will clarify with the host university which fees apply to you.
Living costs
The University of Iceland gives living costs for Reykjavík in Icelandic krónur (ISK), per person, on its website. Accommodation including utilities is 130,000 to 180,000 ISK per month, food and everyday spending 65,000 to 80,000 ISK per month. Public transport costs from 6,000 ISK per month, leisure 25,000 to 35,000 ISK per month. Books and study materials cost from 40,000 ISK per semester.
The page describes the figures as a rough planning aid and has no publication date. Without books, the listed items add up to 226,000 to 301,000 ISK per month. Convert at the current exchange rate to euros. We give no euro example, because the length of your stay is not yet set.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
The Erasmus+ grant contributes to travel and living costs. It does not fully fund your stay. Your home or host university applies for the grants. Your first contact runs through your International Office.
For Auslands-BAföG, the Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein is responsible according to the DSW assignment. Eligibility and amounts are in our guide Auslands-BAföG: eligibility, amounts and supplements (in German).
How to prepare before you leave
- Clarify with your university: Ask your International Office whether your exchange runs under Erasmus+ and which fees apply.
- Learning agreement: Sign it with both universities before you go.
- Health insurance: Ask your statutory insurer to confirm that the EHIC is valid in Iceland, or request a replacement certificate.
- Travel insurance: Take out travel health insurance with repatriation cover, as the German Federal Foreign Office recommends.
- Documents: Check that your travel document is valid for the entire stay, and bring a consent declaration if you are a minor.
- Visa: Ask the Icelandic embassy in Germany whether you need a permit for your studies.
- Auslands-BAföG: Apply at the Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein in good time before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Does the EHIC work in Iceland?
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, you can present the EHIC or a replacement certificate in Iceland.
Do I need a visa?
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, no visa is needed for up to 90 days within 180 days. For a study stay beyond that, the Icelandic embassy in Germany clarifies the rule.
Which fees apply?
Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition fees. Small fees may apply.
What are the living costs?
The University of Iceland gives amounts in ISK for Reykjavík. The page describes them as a rough planning aid.
Is there a travel warning or a risk for repatriation?
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, no travel warning applies to Iceland. The page advises avoiding Grindavík. It recommends travel health insurance with repatriation cover.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Iceland?
According to the DSW assignment, the Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Iceland: Travel and Security Information (status 25 October 2026)
- University of Iceland, Living costs in Reykjavik (undated)
- Erasmus+, Study abroad (status 18 December 2025)
- German Student Services (DSW), assignment for Auslands-BAföG (undated)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related guides
- Health insurance during a study abroad semester: what applies? (in German)
- Erasmus and planning your study abroad semester (in German)
- All countries for your study abroad semester 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.
