Study abroad in Latvia: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers medically necessary treatment, but not repatriation. The German Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for German citizens. The University of Latvia puts living costs at 610 to 860 euros a month, undated.
Study abroad in Latvia at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC applies, repatriation is not covered | European Commission (EHIC FAQ) |
| Visa | No visa requirement named, registration may be requested after three months | German Federal Foreign Office, European Commission (Your Europe) |
| Tuition fees | Erasmus+ students are exempt from fees for tuition, registration and examinations, small fees may apply | European Commission (Erasmus+) |
| Living costs | 610 to 860 euros a month (University of Latvia), 450 to 700 euros a month (Study in Latvia), both undated | University of Latvia, Study in Latvia |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Possible, responsible office according to the DSW: 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 Latvia?
EHIC and your statutory health insurance
Latvia is an EU member, so the EHIC applies there. According to the European Commission, treatment follows the law of the host country. For students, the card replaces the form E-128 and gives access to treatment that is necessary given the length of your stay. The Commission states that the card has nothing to do with repatriation.
Ask your statutory health insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured during your semester abroad before you sign the learning agreement. Also check that the card is valid until the end of your stay. If you have private health insurance, the basics are covered in our guide Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German).
What does your German insurer pay?
Treatment is billed under the rules of the host country. Abroad, higher co-payments can apply, which is a cost risk. Keep all receipts. If you pay for treatment first, the German federal portal says your insurer reimburses only what comparable treatment would have cost in the insuring state, minus an administrative deduction.
Inpatient treatment in the EU requires prior approval from your insurer, as does treatment that also needs approval in Germany. For planned outpatient treatment, the federal portal advises checking with your insurer in advance.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The card does not replace travel health insurance. Repatriation to Germany is not covered. The German Federal Foreign Office advises travel health and repatriation insurance for the whole duration of your stay. The federal portal names repatriation and higher co-payments abroad 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 Latvia?
No. The German Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for German citizens in Latvia. Accepted travel documents are a passport, a provisional passport, an ID card and a children’s passport. A driving licence or birth certificate is not enough for entry. Even within the Schengen area, you must be able to identify yourself at border crossings.
According to the European Commission, the host country may not require registration during the first three months. After that, Latvia may require you to register your residence. For stays longer than three months, the Commission names three conditions: enrolment at a recognised institution, comprehensive health insurance and sufficient resources. Keep these documents ready:
- A valid ID card or passport
- Proof of enrolment at the host university
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance
- Proof of sufficient resources, the Commission names no fixed minimum amount
According to the Federal Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Latvia (page as of 25 October 2026). The page warns of drones that are believed to have been diverted into Latvian airspace by electronic interference, mainly in the east of the country. Airport closures and flight delays are possible. At tourist sites, especially near Riga Central Station, petty crime such as pickpocketing is to be expected.
What does a semester in Latvia cost?
Tuition fees
As an Erasmus+ student, you are exempt from fees for tuition, registration and examinations at the host university. The Commission also names fees for access to laboratories and libraries as covered. Small fees, for example for insurance or membership of a student union, may still apply. We have not verified their amount, so ask your host university. The portal Study in Latvia names tuition fees of less than 1,600 euros a year for certain bachelor programmes, undated. This applies to degree-seeking students and is no benchmark for an exchange semester.
Living costs
The University of Latvia lists, in its overview for exchange students, 250 to 400 euros a month for accommodation, 300 to 400 euros for food and drinks, 40 euros for books and 20 euros for local transport. That makes 610 to 860 euros in total. The page carries no date. The portal Study in Latvia gives 450 to 700 euros a month for food, accommodation, utilities and transport, also undated. Both figures depend on accommodation and lifestyle, so ask your host university for its current budget.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
Your university sets the Erasmus+ grant. The Commission describes it as a contribution to travel and daily living costs, with the amount depending among other things on living costs, the number of applicants and the distance between countries. It names no fixed amount, and neither does the University of Latvia. For more, see Planning Erasmus and a semester abroad (in German).
Auslands-BAföG, the German study abroad grant, is available for study abroad. A permanent residence in Germany is required. Funding starts in the month of application, at the earliest with the start of the study abroad. According to the leaflet, the application should ideally be made six months before you start. Within the EU, the leaflet of the German Student Services (as of January 2026) does not require a prior year of study in Germany. According to the DSW assignment, the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau is responsible for Latvia. The leaflet names a one-off travel allowance, a health insurance supplement and tuition fees of up to 5,600 euros for a maximum of one year. Details are in Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German).
Worked example: For a five-month Erasmus+ semester, the living costs in the University of Latvia overview come to 3,050 to 4,300 euros (5 times 610 to 5 times 860 euros). Erasmus+ students pay no tuition, registration or examination fees at the host university. Small fees, whose amount we have not verified, are extra. Travel, 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 your statutory health insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured during your semester abroad before you sign the learning agreement.
- Check that your EHIC is valid until the end of your stay and order a new card in good time if needed.
- Take out travel health and repatriation insurance, because the card does not cover repatriation.
- Ask your insurer whether planned treatment needs prior approval.
- If you receive funding, submit your Auslands-BAföG application about six months before you start.
- Ask your international office about the Erasmus+ grant and all fees at the host university.
- Ask a doctor to check your hepatitis A and measles protection and, during tick season from April to October, your FSME vaccination, as the Federal Foreign Office advises.
- Keep your ID card or passport, proof of enrolment and proof of insurance ready for a possible registration after three months.
Frequently asked questions
Does my EHIC work in Latvia?
Yes, for medically necessary treatment under the rules of the host country. Treatment that can wait until you return and repatriation are not covered.
Do I need a visa for Latvia?
No. The Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for German citizens. After three months, Latvia may require you to register.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Latvia?
Not as an Erasmus+ student for tuition, registration and examinations. Small fees, for example for insurance, may apply.
What are living costs in Latvia?
The University of Latvia gives 610 to 860 euros a month, the portal Study in Latvia 450 to 700 euros. Both figures are undated and depend on accommodation and lifestyle.
Does my health insurer pay for repatriation?
The European Commission says the card has nothing to do with repatriation. Travel health and repatriation insurance covers this risk. Ask your insurer about the scope of cover.
Who handles Auslands-BAföG for Latvia?
According to the DSW assignment, the Studentenwerk Chemnitz-Zwickau is responsible.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Latvia: travel and safety advice (page as of 25 October 2026, in German)
- European Commission, Your Europe: Studying in another EU country (last changed 30 September 2026)
- European Commission, social security FAQ: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: studying abroad (last updated 18 December 2025)
- German federal portal, health insurance abroad (last updated 6 December 2022, in German)
- German Student Services, Auslands-BAföG leaflet (as of January 2026, in German)
- University of Latvia, Exchange studies (undated)
- Study in Latvia, fees and costs (undated)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related guides
- Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German)
- Travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and Work and Travel (in German)
- Planning Erasmus and a semester abroad (in German)
- Study abroad in the Netherlands
- All countries for your semester abroad (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.
