Studying in Montenegro: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not on the European Commission’s list for Montenegro. The social security agreement with Germany covers health insurance including cash and benefit-in-kind benefits for maternity, according to the German Liaison Agency for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA). No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days. Stays over 90 days require a residence permit applied for in the country. The University of Montenegro lists no tuition fees for exchange students, and a bed in a double room in its Podgorica residence hall costs 24.90 euros per month.
Study abroad in Montenegro at a glance
| Point | Information (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is not listed for Montenegro. The agreement covers health insurance with cash and benefit-in-kind benefits for maternity. An insurance certificate is required for the residence permit | European Commission, DVKA, University of Montenegro |
| Visa | No visa for stays of up to 90 days. Stays over 90 days: residence permit in the country, police registration within 24 hours | Federal Foreign Office, University of Montenegro |
| Tuition fees | No figure for exchange students on the university’s information page | University of Montenegro |
| Accommodation and fees | Residence hall Podgorica, bed in a double room 24.90 euros per month. Residence permit for EU citizens about 50 euros | University of Montenegro |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study grant abroad) | Possible under the prior-year rule. Responsible office according to the DSW allocation: Studierendenwerk Marburg | German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW), flyer as of January 2026 |
All information is general guidance and not individual advice. The linked official pages are binding.
How are you insured in Montenegro?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
The European Commission does not list Montenegro among the countries where the EHIC applies, so the card does not protect you there.
The DVKA names for the agreement with Montenegro health insurance including cash and benefit-in-kind benefits for maternity. The page does not mention temporary benefit-in-kind cover explicitly, and it names no certificates or conditions for health insurance benefits. The page was last updated on 7 February 2025. Clarify the scope of your protection with your health insurer before you leave.
The University of Montenegro requires a health insurance certificate for the application for a residence permit. The page gives neither costs nor providers. The certificate must be translated into Montenegrin by a court-sworn translator, so plan the translation early.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office notes that medical care to German standards is not always guaranteed in Montenegro. It names travel health and repatriation insurance for the whole stay. Without sufficient cover you generally have to pay for necessary treatment on site yourself.
Statutory insured persons should clarify before departure whether their health insurer issues a certificate for treatment abroad. Keep all receipts so that a reimbursement can be checked. We have not documented a reimbursement rate for Montenegro. Background on choosing cover is in the guide Study Abroad in Albania.
Do you need a visa for Montenegro?
The Federal Foreign Office names no visa for German citizens for stays of up to 90 days. For stays over 90 days a residence permit must be applied for in the country. The page does not say where or by which deadline this must happen.
The University of Montenegro describes the procedure for EU citizens in more detail. After arrival you must register your stay within 24 hours. A stay of 90 days is then possible, and during that time you apply for a temporary residence permit at the Interior Ministry. The university gives the fee as around 50 euros. The page carries no date and refers to the academic calendar 2024/25, so check the details with the university before departure.
- Passport valid for the whole length of your stay
- Insurance certificate, translated by a court-sworn translator, for the residence permit
- Police registration within 24 hours of arrival
The Federal Foreign Office has no travel warning for Montenegro, neither for the whole country nor for individual regions (page status 25 October 2026, unchanged since 3 February 2026). It describes the situation across the country as calm overall, though there may be occasional protests and demonstrations in the capital Podgorica.
What does a study abroad semester in Montenegro cost?
Tuition fees
As an Erasmus+ student you are exempt from fees for studies, enrolment and examinations at the host university, according to the European Commission. Montenegro is not an associated country, however. It belongs to the non-associated third countries of the Western Balkans region, which can take part only in certain measures, depending on criteria or conditions. The information page of the University of Montenegro names no tuition fees for exchange students, neither for Erasmus nor for other programmes. Ask the university before you accept a place.
Accommodation and living costs
The University of Montenegro lists 24.90 euros per month for a bed in a double room in the residence hall in Podgorica. The page gives no price for the residence hall in Nikšić or for private accommodation. It states no living costs, neither amounts nor a period, so we give no total for daily life.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
Erasmus+ funding for Montenegro is possible only to a limited extent. Your host university sets the amount of the grant, and we have no documented figure. More on planning is in the guide Study Abroad in France.
Auslands-BAföG can fund a partial study stay in Montenegro, but only under the conditions for countries outside the EU and Switzerland. According to the DSW flyer (as of January 2026), you must have studied at least one year in Germany beforehand, and funding is generally limited to two semesters. The responsible office according to the DSW allocation is the Studierendenwerk Marburg.
Example calculation (accommodation only): For five months in a double room in the Podgorica residence hall, the university’s price gives 5 times 24.90 euros, which is 124.50 euros. Add about 50 euros for the residence permit. Food, local transport, insurance and flights are not included, because the university names no amounts for them. The sum is a guide, not a promise.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer in writing how you are insured in Montenegro, and ask about a certificate for treatment abroad before you sign the Learning Agreement.
- Take out private travel health insurance with repatriation cover, because the EHIC is not on the EU list.
- Have your insurance certificate translated into Montenegrin by a court-sworn translator in good time.
- Plan the registration within 24 hours of arrival and the temporary residence permit at the Interior Ministry.
- Submit the Auslands-BAföG application about six months before the start, and clarify responsibility with the Studierendenwerk Marburg.
- Ask the International Office about fees and the Erasmus+ grant amount, because the information page gives no figures for either.
- Check the situation in Podgorica before departure, because the Foreign Office names possible protests and demonstrations.
Frequently asked questions
Does my European Health Insurance Card work in Montenegro?
No. The European Commission does not list Montenegro for the card. Private travel health insurance with repatriation cover is therefore important.
Do I need a visa for Montenegro?
The Federal Foreign Office names no visa for stays of up to 90 days. For longer stays you apply for a residence permit in the country.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Montenegro?
The University of Montenegro names no tuition fees for exchange students. We cannot document a fee exemption for Montenegro under Erasmus+.
What does a residence hall bed in Podgorica cost?
According to the University of Montenegro, a bed in a double room costs 24.90 euros per month.
Does my health insurer pay for a flight home?
Cover for a flight home by statutory health insurance is not documented. The Federal Foreign Office names repatriation insurance. Ask your insurer in advance what it covers abroad.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG in Montenegro?
According to the DSW allocation, the Studierendenwerk Marburg is responsible. The prior-year rule applies because Montenegro is not part of the EU or Switzerland.
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office, Montenegro: travel and security information (page status 25.10.2026, German)
- European Commission, FAQ social security: European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- German Liaison Agency for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA), scope for Montenegro (last update 07.02.2025, German)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ programme guide: eligible countries (no date)
- University of Montenegro, Information for Incoming Students (no date)
- German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW), flyer Auslands-BAföG (as of January 2026, German)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related articles
- Study Abroad in Albania: Insurance, Visa, Costs
- Study Abroad in Serbia: Insurance, Visa, Costs
- Study Abroad in North Macedonia: Insurance, Visa, Costs
Status: October 2026. This guide provides general information and does not replace individual advice.
