Study abroad in Ireland: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers medically necessary treatment under Irish rules, but not repatriation. The German Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for German citizens, but you need a valid travel document. We found no verified monthly figure for living costs in Ireland, so we state no sum.
Study abroad in Ireland at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is valid in Ireland, repatriation is not covered | German Federal Foreign Office, European Commission, German federal portal |
| Visa | No visa requirement stated, registration may be requested after three months | 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 | No verified figure. Ask your host university for its budget for exchange students | No official source verified |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Possible, responsible office: Region Hannover | 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 Ireland?
EHIC and your statutory health insurer
Ireland 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 Ireland. The German Federal Foreign Office names the EHIC or a replacement certificate from your health insurer as proof, and it considers medical care comparable to Germany.
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 the expiry date of the card. 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 Irish rules. Co-payments charged there follow Irish law. If you pay for treatment yourself first, the German federal portal says your insurer reimburses at most what the treatment would have cost in the insured state, minus an administrative deduction. The portal does not name a maximum amount. The German Federal Foreign Office notes that treatment costs often have to be paid or advanced on the spot. Inpatient treatment in the EU and treatment that would also need 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 strongly advises travel health insurance with medical evacuation cover. For background, see Travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and work and travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for Ireland?
The German Federal Foreign Office lists for German citizens the accepted travel documents: passport, provisional passport, identity card, provisional identity card and children’s passport. The documents must be valid on entry and exit. The page does not cover visas, residence or registration. Your Europe names three conditions for stays longer than three months: enrolment at a recognised educational institution, sufficient income so that no social assistance is needed, and comprehensive health insurance. Registration may be requested afterwards. Keep these documents ready:
- Valid passport or ID card
- Proof of enrolment at the host university
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance, for statutorily insured students the European Health Insurance Card
- Proof of sufficient financial means
One note for trips beyond Ireland: an ID card does not allow entry to Great Britain or Northern Ireland. A UK ETA has been required since 2 April 2025, with exceptions for people resident in Ireland. The German Federal Foreign Office also advises against using identity documents reported as lost or stolen, because the Irish border police can confiscate them.
According to the German Federal Foreign Office (page status 20.10.2026), no travel warning applies to Ireland. The page lists general safety notes, for example on petty crime and storms. Check the current page of the office before you leave, because its notices can change.
What does a semester abroad in Ireland 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.
Living costs
We do not state a verified monthly amount for living costs in Ireland. We found no official source and no university source that we can adopt without reservation. Ask your host university for its budget for exchange students and for current prices of residence hall places, and base your financial plan on those figures.
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 Planning a semester abroad: application, Erasmus and funding (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 Region Hannover, Team Ausbildungsförderung, is responsible for Ireland. 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: Requirements, amounts and supplements (in German).
Worked example: A worked example with a total is not possible for Ireland, because we have no verified figure for living costs. Erasmus+ students pay no fees for studies, enrolment or exams in that case. Flights, travel health insurance and the semester fee of your home university are not included. 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, because the EHIC does not cover repatriation and treatment often has to be paid on the spot.
- Ask your host university whether small contributions for insurance or student union membership apply.
- Submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Region Hannover about six months before the start, if you want funding.
- Ask a doctor about your vaccination status under the STIKO schedule.
- Ask the International Office about the amount of Erasmus+ funding, the fees at your host university and its budget for exchange students.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Ireland?
Yes, for medically necessary treatment under Irish 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 Ireland?
The German Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for German citizens in its information, only the accepted travel documents. After three months, registration may be requested.
Do I have to pay tuition in Ireland?
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 Ireland?
We do not state a verified monthly amount. Ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Will my health insurer pay for repatriation?
The European Commission does not cover repatriation with the card, and the federal portal names repatriation costs as a residual risk. Travel health and repatriation insurance can cover this part. Ask your insurer about the exact scope of its benefits.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Ireland?
According to the DSW leaflet (status January 2026), the Region Hannover, Team Ausbildungsförderung.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Ireland: Travel and security information (page status 20.10.2026)
- 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)
- 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: Requirements, amounts and supplements (in German)
- Study abroad in Greece: insurance, visa, costs (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.
