Study abroad in Sweden: As an EU country, Sweden recognises your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and with a German passport you do not need a visa. The Lund University gives a sample budget of 8,900 to 13,500 Swedish kronor per month for living costs, excluding transport. Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition, registration and examination fees at the host institution.
Study abroad in Sweden at a glance
| Point | Information (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The European Health Insurance Card applies, repatriation is not covered | German Foreign Office, European Commission (FAQ) |
| Visa | Not required for EU citizens, registration after three months may be requested | Your Europe, German Foreign Office |
| Tuition and travel document | Erasmus+ students are exempt from tuition, registration and examination fees. Passport or identity card, valid for the entire stay | Erasmus+, German Foreign Office |
| Living costs | Sample budget of Lund University (in German) per month: food 3,000 kronor, rent 4,000 to 8,000 kronor, course materials 400 to 1,000 kronor, miscellaneous 1,500 kronor, transport not stated | Lund University (last updated 9 September 2026) |
| Study grant abroad (Auslands-BAföG) | Possible, responsible office: Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar | German Student Services Organisation (DSW), flyer as of January 2026 |
All information is general guidance and not individual advice. The linked official pages are authoritative in each case.
How are you health insured in Sweden?
European Health Insurance Card and statutory health insurance
Sweden is part of the EU, so the European Health Insurance Card applies there. It is printed on the back of your German health insurance card. The European Commission lists medically necessary benefits in kind during a temporary stay as covered. Treatment follows the rules of the host country. The card therefore does not guarantee any benefits that are not provided in Sweden. For students, the Commission states that they receive the treatment that is necessary for the duration of their stay.
The card is tied to your statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). Whether your cover continues unchanged during your semester abroad depends on your enrolment and your health insurer. Ask for the answer in writing before you leave. If you are privately insured, you will find the basics in our guide Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester (in German).
What does a doctor’s visit cost in Sweden?
The German Foreign Office names a co-payment for Sweden that you pay at every doctor’s visit. It depends on the effort involved and is at least 200 Swedish kronor. You therefore have to pay this amount yourself, even with the card. Keep all receipts and ask your health insurer which costs it reimburses after your return and which proof it requires.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The card does not replace travel health insurance. Repatriation to Germany is not covered, and neither are treatments that can wait, such as most dental procedures. The German Foreign Office recommends a travel health insurance and a medical evacuation insurance for Sweden. You will find background information in our guide Auslandskrankenversicherung für Erasmus, USA und Work and Travel (in German).
Do you need a visa for Sweden?
No. For EU citizens, the European Commission does not state a visa requirement for studying in another EU country. The German Foreign Office lists the following travel documents for German citizens: passport, temporary passport, identity card, temporary identity card and children’s passport. The documents must be valid for the entire length of your stay. Expired documents are not accepted on entry or exit. Sweden carries out temporary spot checks at its borders.
For stays longer than three months, the European Commission requires enrolment at a recognised higher education institution, comprehensive health insurance and sufficient resources. Your resources must be such that you do not depend on social benefits. After three months, Sweden may require you to register your residence. The Commission’s page is written for EU countries in general, so you should clarify the exact procedure with the Swedish authorities. Keep these documents ready:
- Valid passport or identity card
- Proof of enrolment at the host institution
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance, for statutory insured students the European Health Insurance Card
- A declaration that you have sufficient financial resources
According to the German Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Sweden (page status 25 October 2026). The page names the risk of terrorist attacks and a terror warning level of three out of five. For crime, it mainly mentions pickpocketing and car break-ins.
What does studying abroad in Sweden cost?
Tuition fees
Erasmus+ students are exempt from fees at the host institution for tuition, registration and examinations, as well as for laboratory and library access. Small fees for insurance or student union membership may still apply. Which fees apply in an exchange outside Erasmus+ depends on the exchange agreement of your home university. We do not give a general amount because we have not found an official figure we could verify. Ask your home university and the host institution before you accept a place.
Living costs
Lund University (in German) lists a sample budget for students on its page (last updated 9 September 2026). It calculates monthly costs of 3,000 kronor for food, 4,000 to 8,000 kronor for rent, 400 to 1,000 kronor for course literature and 1,500 kronor for miscellaneous costs. The page does not state transport costs. The figures apply to students in general, not specifically to exchange students, and they come from a single university. The page also notes that stays of under six months can make opening a bank account difficult. Ask your host institution for its budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
According to the European Commission, the Erasmus+ grant is a contribution to travel and daily living costs. Its amount depends on several conditions, among them the difference in living costs between your home and host country. The Commission does not state a monthly amount. Ask your international office about the level of funding for Sweden. More details are in our guide Erasmus und Auslandssemester planen (in German).
Auslands-BAföG, the German study grant for study abroad, is possible for a part of your studies abroad. For Sweden, the flyer of the German Student Services Organisation (DSW, status January 2026) names the Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar, Amt für Ausbildungsförderung, as responsible. A permanent residence in Germany is required. The application should be submitted online, ideally six months before the start of your studies abroad. Funding starts in the month of application, but at the earliest with the start of the study abroad. The flyer lists a one-off travel allowance, a health insurance supplement and tuition fees of up to 5,600 euros for one year at most, if required. You will find all details in our guide Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German).
Sample calculation: For a semester of five months, the sample budget of Lund University gives living costs of 44,500 to 67,500 Swedish kronor, excluding transport. Erasmus+ students pay no tuition at the host institution, but small fees may apply. Flights or train travel and travel health insurance are not included in this sum. Convert the amount at the current exchange rate into euros. The total is a guide, not a commitment.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing how you are insured in Sweden before you sign the Learning Agreement.
- Check that your European Health Insurance Card is valid for the entire stay and order a new one in good time if needed.
- Take out travel health insurance and medical evacuation insurance, because the card does not cover repatriation.
- Check that your passport or identity card is valid for the entire stay.
- Submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar, ideally six months before the start, if you want to apply for funding.
- Ask your international office about the level of Erasmus+ funding and about the fees of the host institution.
- Keep your enrolment and insurance proof ready for a possible registration after three months.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Sweden?
Yes, for medically necessary treatment under the rules of the Swedish system. Treatments that can wait and repatriation to Germany are not covered.
Do I need a visa for Sweden?
No. With German citizenship, a passport or identity card is enough, and it must be valid for the entire length of your stay. After three months, Sweden may require registration.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Sweden?
As an Erasmus+ student, not for study, registration or examinations. Small fees for insurance or student union membership may apply. For other exchange formats, your home university will clarify the fees under the exchange agreement.
How high are living costs in Sweden?
Lund University gives 8,900 to 13,500 kronor per month as an example, excluding transport. This figure comes from a single university and does not apply nationwide.
Does my health insurer pay for repatriation?
The European Health Insurance Card does not cover repatriation to Germany. Ask your health insurer which benefits it provides abroad, and arrange repatriation cover with a separate travel insurance.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG for Sweden?
The Studierendenwerk Rostock-Wismar, Amt für Ausbildungsförderung. This is stated in the flyer of the German Student Services Organisation (status January 2026).
Sources
- German Foreign Office, Sweden: Travel and security advice (page status 25 October 2026)
- European Commission, Your Europe: Studying in another EU country (last amended 30 September 2026)
- European Commission, FAQ on the European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: Studying abroad (last updated 18 December 2025)
- Lund University, Money and living costs (last updated 9 September 2026)
- German Student Services Organisation (DSW), Flyer on Auslands-BAföG (status January 2026)
Sources retrieved on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related reading
- Krankenversicherung im Auslandssemester: Was gilt? (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: Voraussetzungen, Höhe und Zuschläge (in German)
- Auslandskrankenversicherung für Erasmus, USA und Work and Travel (in German)
- Study Abroad in Denmark: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026
- Study Abroad in Finland: Insurance, Visa, Costs 2026
- Alle Länder für dein Auslandssemester im Überblick (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.
