Study abroad in Uruguay: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is intended for the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Uruguay is not among them. According to the DVKA, the social security agreement with Uruguay covers pension insurance, not health insurance. Tourist stays of up to 90 days need no visa with a German passport. The DAAD sets a scholarship rate of 875 euros for students in Uruguay.
Study abroad in Uruguay at a glance
| Item | Details (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | The EHIC is not intended for Uruguay. According to the DVKA, the social security agreement does not name health insurance. The Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health and medical evacuation insurance | European Commission, DVKA, German Federal Foreign Office |
| Visa | Up to 90 days without a visa, one extension possible at the immigration authority. The page gives no information on study | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Travel document | Passport or provisional passport, the ID card is not accepted | German Federal Foreign Office |
| Living costs | DAAD scholarship rate of 875 euros as a guide, not a budget. The list names no period | DAAD, scholarship rates (undated) |
| Auslands-BAföG (German study abroad grant) | Responsible office according to German Student Services: Studierendenwerk Bremen, telephone 0421/2201-0 | 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 Uruguay?
European Health Insurance Card and social security agreement
The EHIC does not apply in Uruguay. The European Commission’s FAQ names the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as the countries for which the card is intended. Uruguay is not listed, so you cannot rely on the card there.
According to the German Liaison Office for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA), the social security agreement with Uruguay covers the pension insurance, the Hüttenknappschaft supplementary insurance and the old-age insurance for farmers. The page does not name health insurance, so we name no agreement for health insurance. Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing what cover it gives you in Uruguay before you sign the learning agreement. The basics for privately insured students are in our guide Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German).
Health care and vaccinations
For direct entry from Germany, no vaccination is compulsory. The Federal Foreign Office recommends hepatitis A, and depending on individual risk chikungunya, dengue, hepatitis B and rabies are added. Standard vaccinations under the STIKO schedule should be up to date, especially against measles. Yellow fever is not named for Uruguay.
Private travel health insurance and repatriation
The Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance and medical evacuation insurance for Uruguay. What you need depends on your policy, your university and the length of your stay. For background, see Travel health insurance for Erasmus, the USA and Work and Travel (in German). Students with private health insurance outside the EU can also read PKV for students in non-EU countries (in German).
Do you need a visa for Uruguay?
For tourist stays you need no visa with a German passport. Whether and which visa you need for study is for the Uruguayan diplomatic mission to say, and its answer is binding. We do not give our own rule, because we found no official statement on it. The Federal Foreign Office’s travel and safety advice for Uruguay sets out the entry rules for German citizens (page as of 24 October 2026):
- Passport, provisional passport or children’s passport. The ID card is not accepted
- Tourist stays of up to 90 days are possible without a visa. One extension can be requested from the immigration authority shortly before expiry
- Further extensions require a temporary residence permit, depending on the purpose of stay. The page names no entry fee
According to the Federal Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Uruguay (page as of 24 October 2026). The page does name safety points for Montevideo: robbery and theft have increased, sometimes with firearms. Since April 2026, drug-related violence has risen in several districts, which is why the Federal Foreign Office advises avoiding certain northern and western neighbourhoods, even during the day.
What does a semester in Uruguay cost?
Tuition fees
Which fees the host university charges depends on your home university’s exchange agreement. We do not name a general amount, because we found no official statement on it. Ask your home university and the host university before you accept a place.
Living costs
We found no official or university figure for living costs in Uruguay. As a guide, the DAAD’s scholarship list sets a scholarship rate of 875 euros for students in Uruguay. The list is undated and names no period, so the amount is a guide, not a budget. Ask your host university for its budget for exchange students.
Funding: Erasmus+ and Auslands-BAföG
The European Commission lists Uruguay in region 10, Latin America, among third countries not associated with the programme. These countries can take part in certain actions under specific conditions. Part B of the programme guide sets out which action applies to students. Ask your international office. More in our guide Planning Erasmus and a semester abroad (in German).
Auslands-BAföG, the German study abroad grant, is available for part of a degree abroad. According to German Student Services (DSW), the Studierendenwerk Bremen, Office for Educational Funding, is responsible for America excluding Canada and the USA, telephone 0421/2201-0. The leaflet (as of January 2026) requires at least one year of study in Germany before going abroad outside the EU and Switzerland. Funding there is generally limited to two semesters, in rare cases up to five. Details are in Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German).
The BAföG study abroad supplement ordinance provides, for study outside the EU and Switzerland, a supplement where purchasing power at the place of study is lower than in Germany. It is calculated as a percentage of the need set by the Federal Foreign Office. We found no specific percentage for Uruguay. The ordinance caps tuition fees at 5,600 euros per year and provides a travel allowance of 500 euros per journey from outside Europe. The DSW leaflet mentions a monthly supplement, which may be possible in some cases.
A worked example is omitted, because the DAAD list does not say for which period the scholarship rate applies, and the other amounts are not proven.
Steps before you leave
- Ask your health insurer to confirm in writing what cover you have in Uruguay before you sign the learning agreement.
- Take out travel health insurance and medical evacuation insurance for the whole length of your stay.
- Ask the Uruguayan mission whether you need a visa for your studies, and plan any extension beyond 90 days early.
- Check that your passport is valid on entry. The Federal Foreign Office recommends at least half a year of remaining validity.
- Have your vaccinations checked by a doctor. The Federal Foreign Office recommends hepatitis A.
- If you receive funding, submit your Auslands-BAföG application to the Studierendenwerk Bremen about six months before you start.
- Read the Federal Foreign Office’s safety advice for Montevideo and the neighbourhoods you plan to visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is my European Health Insurance Card valid in Uruguay?
No. The card is intended for the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and Uruguay is not named. According to the DVKA, the social security agreement does not cover health insurance.
Do I need a visa for Uruguay?
Not for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Whether a visa is needed for study is for the Uruguayan mission to say.
Do I have to pay tuition fees in Uruguay?
That depends on your home university’s exchange agreement. We do not name a general amount, because we found no official statement on it.
What are living costs in Uruguay?
We found no proven monthly figure. The DAAD sets a scholarship rate of 875 euros for students in Uruguay as a guide. Ask your host university about its budget.
Is there a travel warning for Uruguay?
According to the Federal Foreign Office, there is no travel warning for Uruguay. The page contains safety advice for Montevideo, and the current version on the Federal Foreign Office’s site is authoritative.
Who handles Auslands-BAföG for Uruguay?
According to the German Student Services, the Studierendenwerk Bremen, Office for Educational Funding, is responsible for America excluding Canada and the USA.
Sources
- German Federal Foreign Office, Uruguay: travel and safety advice (page as of 24 October 2026)
- German Liaison Office for Health Insurance Abroad (DVKA), Uruguay scope of the agreement (page as of 21 August 2026, in German)
- European Commission, social security FAQ: European Health Insurance Card (undated)
- European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme Guide Part A: eligible countries (undated)
- German Student Services, Auslands-BAföG leaflet (as of January 2026, in German)
- DAAD, scholarship rates for students and graduates (undated, in German)
- BAföG study abroad supplement ordinance, gesetze-im-internet.de (last amended 15 July 2022, in German)
Sources accessed on 25 October 2026, unless stated otherwise.
Related guides
- Health insurance during a semester abroad (in German)
- PKV for students in non-EU countries (in German)
- Auslands-BAföG: requirements, amount and supplements (in German)
- Semester abroad in Brazil (in German)
- Semester abroad in Paraguay (in German)
- 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.
