Study abroad in Thailand: The European Health Insurance Card does not apply there, and we found no social security agreement that covers health insurance. For tourist entries without a visa, the permitted stay has been limited to 30 days since 15.09.2026. We do not name tuition fees. The DAAD uses 800 euros per month as a benchmark for students.
Study abroad in Thailand at a glance
| Point | Information (status October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | European Health Insurance Card does not apply, private travel health insurance with evacuation cover is recommended | European Commission, Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | Visa-free only for 30 days since 15.09.2026, for longer stays a visa or e-visa | Federal Foreign Office |
| Tuition fees | No verified amount, fees depend on the exchange agreement | Host university |
| Living costs | 800 euros per month as a benchmark for students | DAAD, scholarship rate list (undated) |
| Study abroad BAföG | Possible, responsible office according to the DSW assignment: Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim | German Student Union, leaflet (status January 2026) |
All information is general guidance and not individual advice. The official pages linked below are binding.
How are you insured in Thailand?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreements
Thailand lies outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. The European Commission describes the scope of the European Health Insurance Card as the EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Thailand is not on this list. Your card from your statutory health insurer therefore does not count as proof of cover for treatment there.
We did not find a social security agreement with Thailand that covers health insurance, so we do not name one. Ask your statutory health insurer in writing which benefits it provides for a stay outside the EU, and get the answer confirmed. The basics for statutory insured people abroad outside the EU are summarised in our guide on private health insurance for students outside the EU, which is available in German.
Health care in Thailand
For direct entry from Germany, no vaccinations are required. The Federal Foreign Office recommends protection against hepatitis A and measles. Depending on individual risk, the page also lists vaccinations against typhoid, rabies, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.
The Federal Foreign Office points out that in many countries hospital bills must be paid or advanced before discharge. If a bill is not paid, departure can be refused. Before you leave, ask your insurer how it settles bills in an emergency.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance with evacuation cover. Without sufficient cover, treatment and the flight home must be paid by you, according to the page. Which benefits you need depends on your contract, your university and the length of your stay. Background information is in our guide on travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and Work and Travel, available in German.
Do you need a visa for Thailand?
For tourist entries without a visa, Thailand has granted a maximum of 30 days since 15.09.2026, according to the Federal Foreign Office (status of the page 25.10.2026). Visa-free entries by land and sea are limited to two per calendar year. For entry, the passport must be valid for at least six months. Accepted are the passport, the temporary passport and the children’s passport. Identity cards are not accepted.
According to the page, a one-time extension of up to 30 days is possible for purely tourist purposes. You apply to the Immigration Bureau before the period expires. Anyone who overstays may face arrest, fines or prison and a re-entry ban. The page cites a flat fee of 500 baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. A tourist visa applied for before entry generally allows a maximum of 60 days, according to the page. Visas can be applied for as an e-visa, but the page does not name the fees.
The Federal Foreign Office names no rules for study. Whether you need a visa or e-visa for your studies is decided by the Thai diplomatic mission. We do not give a rule of our own, because we found no official statement on it. For stays longer than three months, the page generally names a Thai driving licence. For tourist stays of more than 180 days in a year, entry can be refused. Keep these documents ready:
- Passport with at least six months of validity on entry
- Visa or e-visa if you stay longer than 30 days
- Proof of funds, for entry with cash at least 20,000 baht, for families 40,000 baht
- Proof of travel health insurance with evacuation cover, as recommended by the Federal Foreign Office
The Federal Foreign Office issues a partial travel warning for Thailand (status of the page 25.10.2026). In the border area with Cambodia, in a strip 20 kilometres wide along the border, the page warns against travel. All border crossings are closed. The Federal Foreign Office strongly advises against travel to the provinces of Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani and to parts of Songkhla. The page also mentions emergency laws in the south.
What does a study abroad in Thailand cost?
Tuition fees
Which fees arise at the host university depends on the exchange agreement of your university. We do not name a general amount, because we found no official figure. Ask your university and the host university before you accept a place.
Living costs
For students in Thailand, the DAAD uses a monthly scholarship rate of 800 euros. This is a benchmark, not a budget. The DAAD scholarship rate list carries no date, so you cannot read off its status. Living costs depend heavily on whether you live in Bangkok or another city. Ask the host university what it expects exchange students to budget.
Funding: Erasmus+ and study abroad BAföG
Whether your university awards Erasmus+ funds for a study period in Thailand is up to the university. The International Office can tell you. For more on planning, see our guide Planning Erasmus and study abroad, available in German.
Study abroad BAföG is possible for a part of your studies abroad. According to the DSW assignment, the responsible office is the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim. According to the leaflet (status January 2026), you must have a permanent residence in Germany, and funding starts at the earliest with the month of application. Outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, a foreign-stay supplement may be added. Under the BAföG foreign-stay supplement regulation, it is a percentage of the need that the Federal Foreign Office sets. We have not verified a euro amount for Thailand.
Worked example: For a study period of five months, the DAAD benchmark of 800 euros per month gives 4,000 euros for living costs. Tuition, visa, insurance and flights are not included, because we have no verified amounts for them. The sum is a guide, not a promise.
Steps before you leave
- Have your statutory health insurer confirm in writing which benefits it provides for a stay outside the EU.
- Take out travel health insurance with evacuation cover and check how it settles treatment on site.
- Check that your passport is still valid for six months on arrival.
- Ask the Thai diplomatic mission whether you need a visa or e-visa for your studies.
- Register for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before you arrive. It can be submitted at the earliest three days before arrival.
- Clarify your vaccinations: hepatitis A, measles protection and, depending on risk, typhoid, rabies, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.
- Check the partial travel warning for your route, especially the border with Cambodia and the south of the country.
- Ask the International Office about fees, insurance requirements and the host university’s budget.
- If you receive funding, file the study abroad BAföG application about six months before the start. The required details are in our guide to study abroad BAföG, available in German.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Thailand?
No. The European Commission names the EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as the scope. Thailand is not among them. We found no social security agreement with Thailand that regulates health insurance.
Do I need a visa for Thailand?
For tourist entries without a visa, the maximum stay has been 30 days since 15.09.2026. For study, the Thai diplomatic mission decides binding. We do not give a rule of our own.
Do I have to pay tuition in Thailand?
That depends on the exchange agreement of your university. We do not name a verified amount. Ask your university and the host university before you accept a place.
What are living costs in Thailand?
The DAAD uses 800 euros per month as a benchmark for students, without a dated list. It is not a budget. Ask the host university what it expects exchange students to budget.
Is there a travel warning for Thailand, and does insurance cover the flight home?
The Federal Foreign Office issues a partial travel warning for the border area with Cambodia and parts of the south (status of the page 25.10.2026). It does not issue a warning for the whole country. The page links the flight home to a travel health insurance with evacuation cover that you take out for that purpose.
Who handles study abroad BAföG for Thailand?
According to the DSW assignment, the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim. The assignment is in the leaflet of the German Student Union (status January 2026).
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office, Thailand: Travel and security information (status of the page 25.10.2026, German)
- European Commission, FAQ social security: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- DAAD, scholarship rates for students and graduates (undated, German)
- BAföG foreign-stay supplement regulation, section 2 (undated, German)
- German Student Union, leaflet study abroad BAföG (status January 2026, German)
Sources accessed on 25.10.2026 unless stated otherwise.
Related
- Study abroad in Japan: health insurance, visa, costs
- Study abroad in South Korea: health insurance, visa, costs
You can find the online check at check.academycon.de.
Status: October 2026. This guide gives general information and does not replace individual advice.
