Visa and health insurance for exchange students

The information given below should give you an idea if the process. We give no assurance or warranty that information on this site is current.
Please always contact your local German embassy for detailed regulations

Entry without visa

If you are a citizen of EU member states, Israel, USA and Canada, Some South and Central American states, Australia and New Zealand, Japan and South Korea

• You do not need a visa to enter Germany for study purposes
• You will need to apply for a residence permit once you are in Germany (within first 3 months)

For your residence permit you will need:

• Bank Statement as proof of sufficient funds
• Proof of your enrollment at Frankfurt UAS
• Proof of adequate Health Insurance
• Proof of Residency (Registration at the City Hall)

Visa required

Citizens of other countries are required to apply and obtain a visa prior to entry at the German Embassies of their respective countries.

• You can apply for a study visa at the German embassy or consulate in your home country (Application should be done 3 months in advance).
• Do not enter Germany on a tourist visa! (visa types cannot be changed once you are in Germany; tourist visa do not allow for enrollment at a university)
• The visa may not cover the whole period of your stay. A final residence permit may be granted in Germany after arrival.

Required documents include:

• Your "Invitation to Study at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences" as proof of acceptance in Germany
• Document stating that you have sufficient funds for your studies in Germany 

More information about documents needed to file your visa application is available on the webpage of the German Foreign Office.

You are a citizen of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or Macedonia:

For enrollment all students need to provide a valid and adequate health insurance.

If you are a citizen of these countries, your country has a Social Security agreement with Germany. With your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are also insured in Germany. You do not have to take out public health insurance in Germany. 

Please send a copy of your EHIC before arrival (with your application documents) or bring your card upon arrival.

The EHIC needs to be valid for the duration of your stay in Germany.

Attention: Even if you have a European Health Insurance Card, in most cases the health insurance of your home country does not cover all the costs of a medical treatment in Germany. Additional costs may need to be paid out.

Further information about German health insurance:

DAAD - Study in Germany (official website of German Academic Exchange Service)
Information on Social Security Agreements between Germany and other countries
Information on European Health Insurance Card

You are a citizen of a non-EU state

For enrollment all students need to provide a valid and adequate health insurance.

Upon your arrival you can take out statutory health insurance for students. This covers all costs for medical treatment and hospital stays, plus most of the cost of any prescription medicines.

You will have the opportunity to register for a health insurance plan within the first few days of your arrival.

The International Office will help you register for your health insurance.  The current membership rate for students is around €120 per month.

Will my travel insurance and/ or my insurance scheme be recognized?

Foreign insurances are only accepted if they comply with the standards of a German compulsory health insurance (i.e.: unlimited coverage for the full duration of your stay).  

Travel insurance policies do not provide adequate cover and are not accepted as grounds for enrollment.
Please only sign up for a short-term travel insurance for the period between leaving your country and signing up for a German health insurance.

If you do not have a health insurance plan that is accepted in Germany, you are required to register for compulsory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung). You will have the opportunity to register for a health insurance plan within the first few days of your arrival.

Please note: If you are not able to pay your health insurance fee, you will be ex-matriculated from the university.  Additionally, not having adequate insurance coverage can lead to ex-matriculation and the cancellation of your visa.

Can I register for a private insurance?

You may only register for private insurance if you are 29+ years at the time of enrollment.

More information on German health insurance:

DAAD - Study in Germany (official website of German Academic Exchange Service)