Study abroad in Norway: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) applies there, but it does not replace travel health insurance, and repatriation is not covered. German citizens need no visa, but a stay of more than three months requires registration with the police. The University of Oslo puts living costs at about 15,250 Norwegian kroner per month.
Study abroad in Norway at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC applies in Norway, repatriation is not covered, the card is not accepted on Svalbard | European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | Not required, registration with the Norwegian police for stays over three months | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Tuition fees or travel document | Erasmus+ students are exempt from fees for tuition, enrolment and examinations. Passport or ID card, valid for the whole stay | European Commission, German Federal Foreign Office |
| Living costs or insurance on site | 15,250 Norwegian kroner per month (rent 7,500, food 3,500, transport 700), page last changed 9 April 2026, survey data from 2013 | University of Oslo |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Possible, responsible office: Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein, Office for Educational Funding | 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 Norway?
EHIC and the statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV)
Norway belongs to the European Economic Area (EEA), so the European Health Insurance Card applies there. The European Commission names Norway explicitly among the countries where the card is issued and accepted. Entitlement applies to people covered by a state social insurance scheme. With the card, you are entitled to all benefits in kind that become medically necessary during your stay. Treatment follows the law of the host country.
The card is tied to statutory health insurance. Whether your cover continues unchanged during your semester abroad depends on your enrolment in Germany and on your health insurer. Get the arrangement confirmed in writing before you leave. If you have private health insurance, the basics are explained in our guide Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester: Was gilt? (in German)
What does your German health insurer pay?
Treatment is billed at the statutory tariff of the host country, because that tariff applies to the providers of care. If you pay in advance, the amount is refunded in the host country. If that does not work, the German health authority refunds you after your return. The European Commission does not name an upper limit for reimbursement. Without the card, the doctor may ask for the full amount in advance, but treatment may not be refused. Keep all receipts for that reason.
Treatment that is not urgent, such as most dental work, does not have to be provided if it can wait until your return. Treatment that goes beyond what is medically necessary can lead to problems with reimbursement.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The EHIC does not replace travel health insurance. Repatriation to Germany is not covered, so you need a separate policy for it. The German Federal Foreign Office advises taking out travel health and repatriation insurance for the whole stay. It also notes that the card is not recognised on Svalbard, so anyone travelling there needs their own cover. For background on scope and choice, see our guide Auslandskrankenversicherung für Erasmus, USA und Work and Travel (in German).
No vaccinations are compulsory for entry. The German Federal Foreign Office names the STIKO standard vaccinations, in particular adequate protection against measles, and for long stays or special exposure the tick-borne encephalitis (FSME) vaccination. For emergencies, dial 112 for the police and 113 for ambulance and emergency doctor.
Do you need a visa for Norway?
No. The German Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for German citizens in Norway. The following documents are accepted for entry and must be valid for the whole length of your stay:
- Passport or provisional passport
- ID card or provisional ID card
- Children’s passport, where applicable
Many authorities and banks do not accept an ID card or a provisional passport. For a move to Norway, the German Federal Foreign Office therefore advises a valid biometric passport. If you stay longer than three months, you must register with the Norwegian police. We have not verified an official list of the documents required for this, so ask your host university and the police which papers they need before you leave.
According to the German Federal Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Norway (page as of 25 October 2026). The page refers to the general worldwide security notice on the continuing threat of terrorist attacks and kidnappings. Norwegian authorities point to the risk of terrorist attacks, while crime rates are comparatively low. In the travel season, pickpocketing can occur in busy places and on public transport.
What does a semester in Norway cost?
Tuition fees
According to the European Commission, Erasmus+ students are exempt from fees for tuition, enrolment and examinations at the host university. Small charges, for example for insurance or student union membership, may still apply. The University of Oslo names no amount for the semester fee and notes that most exchange students are exempt from it. Your International Office will confirm how this works at your host university.
Living costs
The University of Oslo expects about 15,250 Norwegian kroner per month for the city of Oslo. Of this, 7,500 kroner go on rent, 3,500 on food and 700 on transport. Study costs, leisure, communication, health and other fixed costs come on top. According to the page, the figures are based on the Eurostudent 8 survey. The page was published in 2013 and last changed on 9 April 2026, so the amounts may differ. Please ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
Norway is an Erasmus+ programme country. The University of Oslo names a monthly Erasmus+ grant of 410 euros for Norway for the 2026/27 academic year, but the page carries no date. The host university decides how many months are funded. The grant is meant to cover part of the extra costs of studying abroad and depends, among other things, on living costs in the host country and on the number of applicants. For more, see our guide Auslandssemester planen: Bewerbung, Erasmus und Finanzierung (in German).
Auslands-BAföG can fund part of a degree in Norway, but not under the same conditions as within the EU. Norway belongs neither to the EU nor to Switzerland. According to the leaflet of the German Student Services (as of January 2026), study outside these areas is funded only if you studied at least one year in Germany beforehand, and as a rule for no more than two semesters. The responsible office is the Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein, Office for Educational Funding. The application should be submitted about six months before the start. The leaflet also names a one-off travel allowance, a health insurance supplement, tuition fees of up to 5,600 euros for a maximum of one year and, in some cases, a monthly supplement outside the EU and Switzerland. Details are in our guide Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German).
Worked example: For a stay of five months, the University of Oslo’s figure gives five times 15,250 kroner, which is 76,250 Norwegian kroner for living costs. With five funded months, the Erasmus+ grant adds 5 times 410 euros, which is 2,050 euros. No tuition fees for tuition, enrolment and examinations apply at the host university. Travel, travel health insurance and your home university’s semester fee are not included. The total is a guide, not a commitment.
Steps before you leave
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured during your semester abroad, before you sign the learning agreement.
- Check that your EHIC stays valid for the whole stay and order a new card in good time if needed.
- Take out travel health and repatriation insurance, because the EHIC does not cover repatriation.
- Check that your passport or ID card is valid for the whole stay. For authorities and banks in Norway, a biometric passport is usually the safer choice.
- If you want funding, submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein about six months before you start.
- Ask your host university which documents are needed for registration with the Norwegian police, which is due for stays over three months.
- Ask the International Office about the amount of the Erasmus+ grant and the semester fees of the host university.
- Clarify your vaccinations before the trip. The German Federal Foreign Office names the STIKO standard vaccinations and protection against measles.
Frequently asked questions
Does my EHIC work in Norway?
Yes. The European Commission names Norway among the countries where the card applies. It covers medically necessary treatment under the law of the host country. Repatriation is not covered, and the card is not accepted on Svalbard.
Do I need a visa for Norway?
No. The German Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for German citizens. Your passport must be valid for the whole stay. If you stay longer than three months, you must register with the Norwegian police.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Norway?
As an Erasmus+ student, not for tuition, enrolment and examinations. Small charges may apply. The University of Oslo names no amount for the semester fee and says that most exchange students are exempt from it.
What are the living costs in Norway?
The University of Oslo names about 15,250 Norwegian kroner per month for Oslo, as of the page changed on 9 April 2026. The figures are based on a survey published in 2013 and may differ. Please ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Does my insurer pay for repatriation?
The EHIC does not cover repatriation to Germany. The German Federal Foreign Office advises travel health and repatriation insurance. Ask your health insurer which benefits it covers abroad.
Who handles Auslands-BAföG for Norway?
The Studentenwerk Schleswig-Holstein, Office for Educational Funding, according to the allocation of the German Student Services in its leaflet as of January 2026.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Norway: travel and safety advice (page of 25 October 2026, in German)
- European Commission, social security FAQ: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: studying abroad (last updated 18 December 2025)
- University of Oslo, budget and cost of living (last changed 9 April 2026)
- University of Oslo, exchange through Erasmus+ (undated)
- German Student Services, Auslands-BAföG leaflet (as of January 2026, in German)
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)
- Health insurance for students outside the EU (in German)
- Study abroad in Finland
- Study abroad in Denmark
- 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.
