Studying in Turkey: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not apply there, so the Federal Foreign Office strongly recommends private travel health insurance with repatriation cover. For stays of up to 90 days within 180 days no visa is required, but for a study stay of more than 90 days no clear official rule exists, and the Turkish diplomatic mission must confirm what applies to you. As an Erasmus+ student you pay no tuition fees at the host university. Living costs at Middle East Technical University in Ankara are listed at 12,000 to 18,000 Turkish lira per month.
Study abroad in Turkey at a glance
| Point | Information (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC does not apply in Turkey. A social security agreement covers health insurance, but its scope is not documented | European Commission, DVKA, Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | No visa for stays of up to 90 days within 180 days. For study stays over 90 days there is no clear official rule | Federal Foreign Office |
| Tuition or travel document | Erasmus+ students are exempt from fees for studies, enrolment and examinations. Passport with at least one blank page | European Commission, Federal Foreign Office |
| Living costs or insurance on site | Dormitory on campus, modest lifestyle: 12,000 to 18,000 lira per month (example Ankara, status 22 June 2026) | Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara |
| Study abroad grant (Auslands-BAföG) | Possible under the prior-year rule for countries outside the EU and Switzerland. The responsible office is not named for Turkey in the DSW flyer | 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 Turkey?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
The European Health Insurance Card does not apply in Turkey. The European Commission lists the EU states, the EEA, the United Kingdom and Switzerland for the card, and Turkey is not among them. Protection through the card therefore does not exist.
A social security agreement exists between Germany and Turkey. According to the German Liaison Agency for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA), it explicitly covers health insurance with cash and benefit-in-kind benefits for maternity. The page, however, names neither a benefit-in-kind replacement nor conditions such as a residence right or a certificate from your health insurer. Clarify in writing with your health insurer before departure what cover you will actually receive.
What does your German health insurer pay?
According to the Federal Foreign Office, private treatment in Turkey can cost considerably more than in Germany. Advance payment is common, so clarify costs in advance. Statutory insured persons should request form A/T 11 (Auslandskrankenschein) before departure, which the Foreign Office page names. Keep all receipts so that a reimbursement can be checked. We have not documented a cap or a reimbursement rate for Turkey.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office strongly recommends private travel health insurance with repatriation cover. According to the page, care has improved in large cities and tourist regions, while in rural areas it is often not comparable with Western European standards. For serious cases the page names the emergency department of a university hospital of level 3. We do not state whether your university requires compulsory insurance, because we have no source for it.
No compulsory vaccinations are prescribed for direct entry from Germany. The Foreign Office names the standard vaccinations of the STIKO schedule and hepatitis A. For long stays hepatitis B and rabies are added.
Do you need a visa for Turkey?
The Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement for stays of up to 90 days within 180 days. Accepted documents are passport, provisional passport, identity card and children’s passport. The Foreign Office advises against the provisional identity card, and a Federal Police travel document as passport substitute is not accepted. The passport needs at least one blank page. An expired document can under certain conditions suffice for entry if it expired no more than one year ago, but departure can then cause problems.
Whether you need a visa for a study stay in Turkey is decided by the Turkish diplomatic mission, and we do not state a rule of our own because we have no official statement for it. The Foreign Office travel information for Turkey describes the entry rules for German citizens in a way that is not consistent: it mentions both a visa before entry and a residence permit within 90 days after entry. Clarify this contradiction with the mission before you travel. For longer stays already planned before entry, the page names the Turkish mission as the application office. The page contains no information on studying.
- Passport or provisional passport with at least one blank page
- Identity card or children’s passport
The Federal Foreign Office has no travel warning for Turkey as a whole (page status 24 October 2026). For the border regions to Syria and Iraq in the provinces of Şanlıurfa and Mardin, it advises against travel that is not strictly necessary. The page also refers to the travel warnings for Syria, Iran and Iraq. Across the country there is a general terrorist threat, and the Foreign Office points to arbitrary arrests and exit bans, in particular where there are links to organisations classed as terrorist or where critical statements about the government are made.
What does a study abroad semester in Turkey 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. Small charges, for example for insurance or the student representation, may apply. Which fees apply to exchange students without an Erasmus+ agreement depends on the university. We do not state an amount, because we have no official figure. Ask your university and the host university before accepting your place.
Living costs
Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara publishes monthly budgets in Turkish lira. For a dormitory place on campus with a modest lifestyle it estimates 12,000 to 18,000 lira per month, and for a shared flat with a moderate lifestyle 20,000 to 35,000 lira. The basic costs without accommodation are listed at about 8,000 to 15,000 lira. The page was last updated on 22 June 2026. The amounts apply to Ankara and may differ elsewhere. We do not convert lira into euros. Ask your host university for a budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
According to the European Commission’s Erasmus+ list of participating countries, Turkey is an associated third country and fully eligible to take part. Your host university sets the monthly grant. We do not state an amount, because we have no official figure for Turkey.
Auslands-BAföG can fund a partial study stay in Turkey, but only under the conditions for countries outside the EU and Switzerland. According to the flyer of the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW, as of January 2026), you must have studied at least one year in Germany beforehand, and funding is generally limited to two semesters. Outside the EU and Switzerland a monthly foreign surcharge may be paid under certain conditions. The flyer does not name Turkey, however. Clarify the responsible office with the DSW, and submit the application at least six months before the start if possible.
Example calculation: For a stay of five months, the METU example gives five times 12,000 to 18,000 lira, which is 60,000 to 90,000 lira for accommodation and a modest daily life. Tuition fees do not apply to Erasmus+ students. Flights, travel health insurance and the semester fee of your home university are not included. The sum is a guide, not a promise.
How to prepare before you leave
- Ask your health insurer in writing how you are insured during the study abroad semester, and ask for form A/T 11 before you sign the Learning Agreement.
- Take out private travel health insurance with repatriation cover, because the EHIC does not apply in Turkey.
- Check that your passport has at least one blank page and is valid for the whole stay, and keep spare documents ready.
- Ask the Turkish diplomatic mission whether a study stay of more than 90 days requires a visa before entry or a residence permit on site.
- Submit the Auslands-BAföG application about six months before the start, and clarify the responsible office with the DSW, because the flyer does not name Turkey.
- Ask the International Office about the Erasmus+ grant amount and the fees of the host university.
- Clarify vaccinations before you travel. The Foreign Office names the STIKO standard vaccinations and hepatitis A.
- Check the current travel warning for the border regions to Syria and Iraq before you plan trips within the country.
Frequently asked questions
Does my European Health Insurance Card work in Turkey?
No. The European Commission lists the EU states, the EEA, the United Kingdom and Switzerland for the card. Turkey is not among them. The Federal Foreign Office therefore strongly recommends private travel health insurance with repatriation cover.
Do I need a visa for Turkey?
For stays of up to 90 days within 180 days, the Federal Foreign Office names no visa requirement. For a study stay of more than 90 days there is no clear official rule. The Turkish diplomatic mission gives the binding answer for your case.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Turkey?
As an Erasmus+ student you are exempt from fees for studies, enrolment and examinations. Small charges may apply. For exchange students without an Erasmus+ agreement we state no amount, because we have no official figure.
What are the living costs in Turkey?
METU in Ankara lists 12,000 to 18,000 lira per month for a dormitory place with a modest lifestyle, as of 22 June 2026. The amounts apply to Ankara and may differ elsewhere.
Does my health insurer pay for repatriation?
Repatriation by statutory health insurance is not documented. The Federal Foreign Office strongly recommends private travel health insurance with repatriation cover. Ask your insurer which benefits abroad it covers.
Who is responsible for Auslands-BAföG in Turkey?
The DSW flyer (as of January 2026) names no office for Turkey. Ask the German National Association for Student Affairs which office is responsible.
Sources
- Federal Foreign Office, Turkey: travel and security information (page status 24 October 2026, German)
- European Commission, FAQ social security: European Health Insurance Card (no date)
- German Liaison Agency for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA), scope for Turkey (last update 07.02.2025, German)
- European Commission, Erasmus+: studying abroad (last update 18.12.2025)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ programme guide: eligible countries (no date)
- Middle East Technical University, International Student Office: cost of living (22.06.2026)
- German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW), flyer Auslands-BAföG (as of January 2026, German)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
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Status: October 2026. This guide provides general information and does not replace individual advice.
