EU/EEA and Swiss citizens enter with an ID card or passport – no visa or residence permit is needed. There are two obligations:
Students from outside the EU/EEA staying longer than six months need a Residence Permit – Student (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student). Most applicants apply at the Austrian embassy or consulate in their home country before entering; visa-exempt nationals may apply in Austria. OeAD recommends applying 3–6 months before you plan to arrive. The permit is issued for 12 months and must be renewed each year. You will need, among other things, your admission letter, a police clearance certificate, proof of accommodation, health insurance and proof of funds for 12 months – in 2026 €722.58 a month if you are under 24 and €1,308.39 a month from age 24. The address registration described above applies to you as well.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students living in Austria – including non-EU students, for whom insurance is a condition of the residence permit – can take out student self-insurance with the public health fund ÖGK (€78.84 a month in 2026) or a private policy.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa – you enter with your ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, you register at the municipality (commune / gemeente) where you live – Study in Flanders advises doing this as soon as possible after arrival.
When you register, you fill in a form (Annex 19), and within 3 months of applying you hand in:
The municipality will usually also ask for a photo and your rental contract. You first get a temporary document, then a residence card for EU citizens (EU card).
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a long-stay visa (type D) for studies. You apply at the Belgian embassy or consulate for your country of residence, and Study in Flanders warns that the procedure can easily take six to eight weeks – appointments fill up quickly in summer. You will need, among other things, your admission letter, a passport valid for at least 12 more months, proof of sufficient means, a certificate of good conduct, a medical certificate and proof that you have paid the administrative fee. For the 2026/27 academic year the minimum proof of means was raised to €1,062 a month (it was €835 in 2025/26); it can be a scholarship, your own money or a sponsor's formal commitment. After arrival you register at the municipality where you live, with your passport and visa, proof of means and proof of health insurance, and you receive a residence card for the duration of your studies.
Note: the €1,062 figure comes from EMN Belgium, the Belgian contact point of the European Migration Network (March 2026), while the Immigration Office (DOFI) page still showed €835 for 2025/26 – check the current amount with DOFI or the Belgian embassy before you apply for your visa.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport.
If you stay in Bulgaria longer than 3 months, you apply for a long-term residence certificate (удостоверение за продължително пребиваване) at the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior or at one of its local offices. The list of documents for students is published by the Migration Directorate.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a visa D, which you apply for at the Bulgarian embassy or consulate in your home country before you travel. After arriving, you get a residence permit from the Migration Directorate. You will need, among other things, your admission to a programme, a language certificate, proof of accommodation, health insurance, proof of sufficient funds for your living costs and your return home, and a medical certificate. According to Study in Europe, you must also register your address within 5 days of arriving in Bulgaria. If you are an EU citizen, ask your institution whether this also applies to you.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU need health insurance for their visa and residence permit.
EU/EEA citizens enter without a visa, with an ID card or passport, and can stay in Croatia for up to 3 months. If you stay longer, you must register your temporary residence (form 1b) at the police station or police administration responsible for where you live.
You can also apply for a biometric residence card, but it is voluntary – it costs €13.27.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a temporary stay permit for the purpose of study. Depending on your nationality, you may also need a visa to enter Croatia – check with the Croatian embassy or consulate. You can apply for the permit at a Croatian embassy or consulate, or at the police administration or police station once you are legally in Croatia. You will need, among other things, form 1a, your passport, proof of admission, proof of financial means (e.g. a bank statement or a letter of guarantee), health insurance, a colour photo (35×45 mm) and a criminal record certificate not older than 6 months. The permit is usually granted for one year or for the academic year; apply to renew it no later than 60 days before it expires. In 2026 the fees are €46.45 for the permit, €31.85 for the biometric card and €9.29 for issuing it. You must also report your address to the police within 3 days of arrival.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU need valid health insurance for their whole stay – it is a condition of the permit.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa. However, within 3 months of arrival you must register with the Civil Registry and Migration Department. You submit form MEU1A together with:
Students from outside the EU/EEA must get a visa or entry permit before arriving, and then a temporary residence permit for students. You will need, among other things, a criminal record certificate, medical tests and proof that you have paid part of your tuition fee. At the University of Cyprus, for example, you hand in your documents to the International Students and Staff Support Office within 7–10 days of arrival. They include a bank statement showing enough money for living costs and tuition fees, health insurance covering inpatient and outpatient care and repatriation, and the results of medical tests done in Cyprus (hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis and a chest X-ray for tuberculosis). The permit is valid for one year, the procedure takes about four months and the application fee is €55 (2026). Your permit is cancelled automatically if you stay abroad for more than three months.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa – you enter with a valid ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 30 days, you must report your place of residence to the Foreign Police (Cizinecká policie) within 30 days of arrival. If you live in a student residence or a hotel, the accommodation provider can do this for you.
Students from outside the EU/EEA who stay longer than 90 days need a long-term visa for the purpose of studies, valid for up to one year. You apply in person at a Czech embassy or consulate – book an appointment first. The procedure can take up to 60 days. For a stay longer than a year you need a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies. You will need, among other things, confirmation of your studies, proof of accommodation, a criminal record certificate and proof of funds. The amount is based on the subsistence minimum of CZK 3,130 a month: for a full academic year (1 September to 31 August), the Ministry of the Interior's Foreigners' Portal gives CZK 115,810 (2026). The consular fee is CZK 2,500.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU need travel medical insurance for the first 90 days and comprehensive health insurance after that – or comprehensive insurance for the whole stay – before the visa is issued.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa. If you stay longer than 3 months, you have two things to sort out:
Without a CPR number most things in Denmark are difficult, so don't put it off. Practical information for newcomers is collected on lifeindenmark.dk.
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a residence permit for higher education from SIRI. You create a case order ID, pay the fee (DKK 3,060 in 2026) and submit form ST1 – your institution fills in part 1, you fill in part 2. Within 14 days of applying online you must have your biometrics (photo and fingerprints) taken at a Danish mission abroad or at a SIRI office. Processing normally takes 2 months. You must show that you can support yourself: DKK 7,426 a month (2026), and at most DKK 89,112 for studies longer than a year – for example with a recent bank statement in your own name or scholarship documentation. According to SIRI, tuition already paid for the first semester is also accepted as proof of funds. Once you have your permit and an address, you get a CPR number in the same way as described above.
Health insurance: if you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to start with. Once you are registered with a CPR number, you get the yellow Danish health insurance card, which gives you access to public healthcare – for students from outside the EU/EEA it is valid as soon as you have registered.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa or residence permit – you enter with your ID card or passport. Once in Estonia, you have two obligations:
Students from outside the EU/EEA first apply for a long-stay D visa at an Estonian embassy or consulate; according to Study in Estonia, processing takes 10–30 calendar days. If your studies last longer than a year, you then apply for a temporary residence permit for study at the PPA after you arrive – it can be issued for up to 5 years. You will need, among other things, proof of admission, health insurance and proof of sufficient legal income – in 2026 €880 a month (four times the Estonian subsistence level). The state fee in 2026 is €120 for the D visa and €225 for the residence permit. Within a month of getting the permit, you must register your address in the population register.
Health insurance: international students are not covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Haigekassa) unless they work in Estonia. If you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC does not cover private treatment or, for example, transport back to your home country, so a private policy is a good idea. For non-EU students, health insurance is a condition of the visa and the residence permit.
EU citizens don't need a visa. If you stay in Finland for more than 3 months without a break, you register your EU right of residence with the Finnish Immigration Service, Migri:
After registration, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) can give you a Finnish personal identity code (henkilötunnus) and register you as a resident of your municipality.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence permit for studies. You apply for your first permit before you come to Finland – online in the Enter Finland service or on paper at a Finnish mission abroad – and you have to visit a Finnish embassy or consulate to prove your identity. The fee in 2026 is €600 online and €750 on paper. You will need, among other things, your letter of acceptance, proof that you have paid the tuition fee (or have a scholarship or fee waiver), a bank statement covering the past 6 months and health insurance. You must also show that you have at least €800 a month for living costs – for studies lasting a year or more, that means €9,600 in your account when you apply (Migri, 2026). Money for the tuition fee must come on top of this.
Health insurance: if you come from the EU, Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland) usually treats your stay as temporary, so you won't get Kela benefits. With your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you get necessary medical care. If you are covered by health insurance in another EU country, you can also use the student health service FSHS (YTHS) without paying the healthcare fee. Students from outside the EU/EEA need private insurance for the residence permit: it must cover medical costs up to €120,000 with a deductible of no more than €300, and for studies of 2 years or more also medicines up to €40,000.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa or a residence permit to study or do a traineeship in France – an ID card or passport is enough. Campus France reminds you of two conditions: you must have health insurance and enough money to support yourself. If you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Before enrolling at your institution, every student pays the CVEC (student and campus life contribution) on cvec.etudiant.gouv.fr. You show the certificate when you enrol – even if you are exempt from paying.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a short-stay visa for stays of up to three months and, for longer stays, a long-stay student visa that serves as a residence permit (VLS-TS "étudiant"). You apply at the French embassy or consulate in your country – in the 73 countries covered by Études en France, after completing that procedure. The visa fee is €60, and you must prove at least €615 a month to cover your living costs. Within 3 months of arrival you must validate your VLS-TS online on the official foreigners' portal (administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr). The VLS-TS is valid for up to one year; before it expires you apply at the prefecture to renew it or for a multi-year residence permit.
Note: the €615 a month figure comes from the European Commission's EU Immigration Portal (no year given), while Campus France's VLS-TS page does not state an amount – check the current requirement with the French consulate before you apply.
Health insurance: non-EU students register with French social security on etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr as soon as they have enrolled at their institution – registration is free.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa or a residence permit. You do have to register your address, though: once you have found a room or a flat, you go to the local registration office (Bürgeramt, Einwohnermeldeamt) within two weeks. You get a confirmation of registration, which shows that you have the right to live in Germany. Sometimes the office will also ask for proof of health insurance and of sufficient funds.
Students from outside the EU/EEA usually need a visa for study purposes, which you apply for at the German embassy or consulate in your home country before you travel – in many countries online through the Federal Foreign Office's Consular Services Portal. If you are still waiting for your admission, you can apply for a prospective student visa instead. Citizens of some countries, e.g. Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, the UK and the USA, can enter without a visa and apply for the permit in Germany. After arrival you register your address like everyone else and then get a residence permit for study purposes (Section 16b of the Residence Act) from the local foreigners' authority (Ausländerbehörde). The main documents are your admission letter, proof of language skills, health insurance and proof of funds – usually a blocked account (Sperrkonto) with €11,904 for one year, i.e. €992 a month (2026). A scholarship or a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) from someone in Germany can also be accepted. Note: Make it in Germany and the Federal Foreign Office give €11,904 a year (€992 a month) for 2026, but the amount is linked to BAföG student support, and a BAföG reform approved by the federal cabinet in August 2026 may raise it if it becomes law – check the current amount with the German embassy or consulate before you open the account.
Health insurance is compulsory for students in Germany – you need proof of it to enrol and, if you are from outside the EU/EEA, for your residence permit. If you have public health insurance in another EU/EEA country, ask your insurer whether it covers you in Germany; the basis for this is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If not, you take out insurance with a public health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenkasse). Up to the age of 30 you pay a reduced student rate.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, EU rules require you to register your residence with the authority responsible for your place of residence. Ask your university's international office about the current procedure. You will also need a Greek tax number (AFM), for example when renting a flat or signing a work contract.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a national (type D) visa for studies from the Greek embassy or consulate in their country before they travel, and then a residence permit for studies in Greece. You will need, among other things, an acceptance letter from a Greek higher education institution recognised by the Ministry of Education, proof that you have enough money to support yourself, proof that you have paid your fees (if your programme charges them) and health insurance. The residence permit is usually issued for one year and renewed each year (a permit for the whole programme is also possible); the fee is €150 a year. The embassy or consulate will give you the full list of documents and the amount of funds you must show.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU/EEA must have health insurance for the whole period of their studies.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa – you enter with a valid ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 90 days, you must register:
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence permit for the purpose of studies. You apply at the Hungarian embassy or consulate in your home country or country of residence before you travel. If you can enter Hungary without a visa, you can also apply in Hungary – online through the Enter Hungary platform or in person at a regional office of the Directorate-General. The permit is issued for at least one year (or the length of the course, if shorter) and at most three years, and can be extended. You must show that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay and for your return, and that you have health insurance. The fee is €110 at a consulate or HUF 24,000 through Enter Hungary.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers you in Hungary, with the same rights as Hungarians. For non-EU students, health insurance is a condition of the residence permit.
EU/EEA citizens don't need a visa. If you stay in Iceland for more than 3 months, you register your residence with Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá) – no later than 3 months after arrival. If you stay longer than 6 months, registration is compulsory.
You fill in form A-271 online and, after arrival, visit the office with your passport or ID card. You need:
Documents must be in Icelandic or English – others need a certified translation. Processing takes up to 10 working days, and once registered you get an Icelandic identification number, the kennitala.
Students from outside the EEA need a residence permit for students from the Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun). You must be enrolled full-time (30 ECTS per semester). The application is submitted on paper – by post or at the Directorate's office in Kópavogur – and the processing fee is ISK 70,000. If you need a visa to enter Iceland, you must not be in Iceland while your application is being processed. To get a decision before the semester starts, apply by 1 May for the autumn semester or by 1 October for the spring semester. You will need, among other things, a valid passport, confirmation of enrolment, a criminal record certificate, health insurance with cover of at least ISK 2,000,000 and proof of means of support – from 18 May 2026 ISK 259,951 a month. The permit is granted for up to one year and can be renewed.
Note: the service page on Ísland.is gives 1 May as the deadline, while an earlier news item from the Directorate of Immigration mentioned 1 June – check the current deadline on the Directorate's website before you apply.
Health insurance: after you register your residence, there is usually a 3-month wait before you are covered by Icelandic health insurance. If you were insured in another EEA country, you may get it sooner – bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover the start. Students from outside the EEA need private insurance at least for this period.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa or immigration permission – an ID card or passport is enough. Bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Students from outside the EU/EEA need permission to study (Stamp 2). If you are from a visa-required country, you apply for a long-term study visa online (AVATS) from your home country or country of residence, no earlier than 3 months before you travel; a decision takes around 8 weeks. You will need, among other things, a letter of acceptance for a full-time course, proof that you have paid your fees (in full if they are under €6,000, otherwise at least €6,000), private medical insurance, a passport valid for at least 12 months and proof of access to €10,000 for a year of study (since 30 June 2025; €833 a month for stays of 6–8 months). If you don't need a visa, you show the same documents after arrival. All non-EU students who stay longer than 90 days must register their immigration permission after arrival – the fee is €300 – and receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. The procedure takes time, so Study in Europe advises applying early.
If you have lived outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK in recent years, check the residence condition of the Free Fees Initiative (see: Tuition fees).
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, you register your residence at the town hall's registry office (anagrafe). You will also need an Italian tax code – the codice fiscale – for example to enrol at university, rent a flat or sign a work contract.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a national (type D) study visa for university enrolment, which you apply for at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country after completing pre-enrolment on Universitaly (see: Admission). You will need, among other things, a valid passport, the pre-enrolment summary validated by your university, your school leaving certificate with a dichiarazione di valore or CIMEA statement, proof of accommodation, health insurance and proof of funds – for 2026/27 at least €10,179.85 a year (€783.06 a month). Within 8 working days of arrival you must apply for a residence permit for study (permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studio), which is issued by the police headquarters (Questura).
Health insurance: as an EU citizen, you use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU need health insurance valid in Italy – a private policy or voluntary registration with the Italian National Health Service (SSN), which is subject to a fee.
EU/EEA citizens enter with an ID card or passport – no visa is needed.
If you stay in Latvia for longer than 3 months, you can get an EU citizen registration certificate (reģistrācijas apliecība) from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde, PMLP). According to PMLP, registration is not required for stays of up to 6 months, e.g. for studies shorter than a year. Study in Latvia, on the other hand, says that EU citizens do not have to register, but a residence document is useful, for example when opening a bank account. If you are coming for a full degree, ask PMLP or your university's international office what you need to do.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence permit for studies. First, your university has to approve its invitation at PMLP. Then you apply for the permit – at a Latvian embassy or consulate abroad or, depending on your nationality, directly at PMLP in Latvia. You will need, among other things, your passport, the application form, a photo, your study agreement, proof of payment of the state fee and proof of funds – PMLP states €500 a month (checked in 2026). The permit is granted for your period of study plus four months; the card is issued for a year and renewed.
Note: the €500 figure on PMLP's studies page is undated, and the EU Immigration Portal quotes it as a 2021 amount. PMLP's general page on necessary means of subsistence (April 2026) lists €780 a month (the minimum wage) where the rules set no other amount – check the current figure with PMLP or your university's international office before you apply.
Health insurance: Study in Latvia lists it among the things to arrange before you leave. If you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and consider a private policy as well. Non-EU students need private health insurance for the residence permit – according to the EU Immigration Portal, with cover of at least €42,600, including repatriation.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens enter with an ID card or passport. But if you move to Liechtenstein to study, you must get a short-term residence permit (L) – this is mandatory. You register with the relevant municipal office within 14 days of arrival. The university has a separate office that helps with residence permits. You can also choose to live in neighbouring Switzerland or Austria – then their rules apply, and the university cannot help with those procedures.
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland in most cases need a visa. Liechtenstein does not issue its own visas – you apply at a Swiss embassy or consulate. The application for the short-term residence permit for study (L) goes to the Migration and Passport Office (Ausländer- und Passamt) no later than 14 days before your studies start – if you need a visa, apply earlier. As well as the documents every student submits (enrolment confirmation, proof of health insurance and proof of funds), you need a criminal record extract (no older than one month, translated into German) and proof of language skills. Funds can be proved with a scholarship or with a guarantee from the university or from a person living in Liechtenstein. You also pay the university a deposit of CHF 3,000, which you get back after you graduate; in return the university gives you a bank guarantee to support your visa application.
Health insurance is compulsory if you live in Liechtenstein while you study. According to the European Commission's profile, EU students staying longer than 3 months can use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – check this with the university before you leave. Students from outside the EU/EEA need their own health insurance, which is also a condition of the residence permit.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa – you enter with your ID card or passport.
If you stay in Lithuania for longer than 3 months, you apply for a Certificate of the Right of Residence for EU citizens. It is issued by the Migration Department (Migracijos departamentas) – details and forms are on migracija.lrv.lt. You can also declare your place of residence there.
Students from outside the EU/EEA staying less than a year can come on a national (D) visa; for a full degree you need a temporary residence permit (TRP) for studies. You fill in the application in the Migration Information System MIGRIS and submit your documents either before arrival (through VFS Global or a Lithuanian embassy) or after arrival at a Migration Department office. Processing takes up to 3 months (45 days in the fast-track procedure). According to Vilnius University, the state fee is €80 (€320 for urgent processing) and you must prove sufficient funds – at least €577 a month for 12 months plus €1,153 for the journey home (2026). You will also need, among other things, a letter from your university, proof of accommodation and a criminal record certificate.
Health insurance: with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you are entitled to state healthcare in Lithuania if you have an accident or fall ill. Visits to private clinics are not covered. Students from outside the EU need private health insurance – Vilnius University and Vytautas Magnus University require cover of at least €10,000 for a TRP and €30,000 for a national visa. Note: the EU Immigration Portal gives a lower minimum of €6,000 for a TRP – check with the Migration Department and your university before you buy a policy.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa. You have two obligations instead:
If you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Students from outside the EU/EEA must apply for a temporary authorisation to stay as a student before entering Luxembourg – to the General Department of Immigration (Ministry of Home Affairs), directly or through a Luxembourg embassy or consulate. You will need a copy of your whole passport, a criminal record extract, proof of enrolment, proof of sufficient resources – at least 80% of the current social inclusion income (REVIS) a month – and proof of health insurance. The answer usually comes within 60 days. If your nationality requires a visa, you then apply for a type D visa. After arrival you declare your arrival at the commune within 3 days, have a medical check (including tuberculosis screening) and apply for your residence permit for students within 3 months (fee €80). The permit is valid for at least one year (or the length of your studies, if shorter) and you renew it within 2 months before it expires.
EU citizens don't need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, you must register your residence. In Malta this means applying for a residence document (e-Residence) with the Identità agency – you apply online, uploading your documents through the Identità portal.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Students from outside the EU – including those who can visit Malta visa-free – need a national long-stay (D) study visa for courses longer than 90 days. You apply before you travel, at an authorised visa application centre (external service provider). According to the University of Malta, you must show at least €950 for each month of your stay (2026), not counting tuition fees, with bank statements covering at least the last 3 months. After you arrive and enrol, you apply to Identità for an e-Residence permit – again with a recent bank statement showing €950 a month. Within four weeks of arrival you also have to go through a health screening (immunisation certificate, possibly a chest X-ray). You will also need health insurance – check the required cover in Identità's list of documents.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa or a residence permit – your ID card or passport proves that you are staying legally. According to the immigration service IND, you must meet three conditions:
If you stay longer than 4 months, register at the municipality (gemeente) where you live as soon as possible.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a student residence permit (for university or higher professional education) and, depending on your nationality, also an entry visa (MVV). You do not apply yourself: only your institution can apply for you, as a sponsor recognised by the IND – it will contact you after you enrol. You will need to show that you have enough money: in 2026 the IND study norm is €1,130.77 a month for university and HBO students. Foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German. The permit is valid for the length of your programme plus 3 months, and you must earn at least 50% of the credits each study year. On arrival you register in the municipal personal records database (BRP) where you live.
Note: the IND updates the study norm every 1 January – €1,130.77 applies to 2026. If you start your studies or renew your permit in 2027, check the current amount on the IND website or with your institution.
Health insurance: as long as you only study, you cannot take out Dutch basic insurance – a private or foreign policy that covers you is enough. Once you start working (whether you are from the EU or not), you must take out Dutch basic health insurance from your first day of work – Study in NL estimates it at around €133 a month (Nibud, 2024).
North Macedonia is not in the EU. EU citizens do not need a visa for a short stay, and a valid ID card is enough to enter – according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia. Whether other nationals need a visa depends on their nationality – check on the ministry's website before you travel.
Registering your stay: a hotel or hostel registers you with the police within 12 hours. If you stay with a private person, they must register you with the police within 48 hours of your arrival – they can do it online on the Ministry of the Interior website.
To study, every foreign student – EU citizens included – needs a temporary residence permit. It is granted for education for up to one year and can be extended. According to UKIM's guide, you apply at a diplomatic mission of North Macedonia abroad, and after enrolling you go to the Ministry of the Interior with a certificate from your faculty and your tenancy agreement. Once the residence permit is approved, the mission issues a long-stay visa D. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned stay.
Insurance: to enrol at UKIM you need a one-year health insurance policy that covers emergency care and transport back to your home country. North Macedonia is not in the EU – the EHIC is not valid here.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa. If you stay in Norway longer than 3 months, you must register in the registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals – no later than 3 months after arrival. You apply through the website of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, UDI, and the police issue the registration certificate.
Conditions for students:
Registration is free.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a study permit from UDI, which you usually apply for before you travel. You apply online after you have been admitted, pay the application fee and hand in your documents at a Norwegian embassy or an application centre in your home country. You must have somewhere to live and prove that you can support yourself: NOK 170,368 a year, i.e. NOK 15,488 a month (2026/27). With a study permit you may also work part-time (see: Working while studying). Note: Study in Norway (HK-dir) gives NOK 170,368 for 2026/27, but the UDI website was still showing the 2025/26 amount (NOK 166,859) – check the current amount with UDI before you apply.
Health insurance for students from outside the EU/EEA: if you stay more than 12 months and have a valid residence permit, you are automatically covered by the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden). For shorter stays you need private insurance; universities recommend taking out private health insurance before arrival in any case.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens enter with an ID card or passport – no visa is needed. If you stay in Poland for longer than 3 months, you must register your residence with the voivode (the regional government office) for your place of residence – at the latest on the day after 3 months have passed since your arrival. You apply in person. As a student you attach a certificate from your university, proof of health insurance and a written statement that you have enough money to support yourself. Registration and the certificate are free, and the certificate is valid for 10 years. Note: NAWA describes the certificate as having unlimited validity – if this matters to you, check the current rule with the voivode's office.
Students from outside the EU/EEA usually enter on a national (D-type) visa for study. You apply at a Polish consulate; NAWA says the decision takes up to 15 days, but getting an appointment can take much longer, so start early. You will need, among other things, your admission letter, health insurance and proof of funds. Once in Poland – and before your visa expires – you apply for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of study at the voivode's office; since 27 April 2025 applications are submitted online only, through the MOS system. The first permit for first-year students is issued for 15 months, later ones for the length of your studies plus 3 months (up to 3 years). You have to show that after paying for accommodation you have more than PLN 1,010 a month if you live alone (PLN 823 per person in a family), plus money for your journey home (2026).
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU can buy private insurance before arriving or sign a voluntary insurance agreement with the National Health Fund (NFZ) – according to NAWA, this costs around €15 a month for students.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa – for the first 3 months you can live in Portugal without any formalities. After that, you have 30 days to register your residence and get a registration certificate for EU citizens (Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia). You apply at the town hall (câmara municipal).
As a student, you'll need, among other things:
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a residence visa for study, which you apply for at the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your home country before you travel – the procedure can take a few months. After arriving, you book an appointment with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) to get a residence permit (autorização de residência) for your studies. You will need, among other things, a valid passport, proof of enrolment and of tuition payment, a criminal record certificate, proof of accommodation, health insurance and proof of sufficient means of subsistence – the rules are set by Ordinance (Portaria) no. 1563/2007, and the consulate will tell you what exactly it accepts.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport. If you stay in Romania longer than 3 months, you must register your residence with the General Inspectorate for Immigration (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări, IGI) – at its office in the county (județ) where you live.
You receive a registration certificate (certificat de înregistrare), valid for one to five years and usually issued on the same day. With your application you submit, among other things, your ID card or passport (original and copy), documents from your institution, health insurance and proof of means of support.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a long-stay visa for studies, which you apply for at a Romanian embassy or consulate in your country of origin or residence. You will need, among other things, the Letter of Acceptance from the Ministry of Education, proof that you have paid tuition for at least one year, a criminal record certificate, medical insurance and proof of means of support of at least the national minimum wage for each month covered by the visa. The visa is valid for 90 days. At least 30 days before it expires, you apply to IGI for a residence permit for studies, which is renewable. Full details are on the IGI website.
Note: IGI pages describe the required amount differently (gross or net minimum wage), and Study in Romania mentions at least €2,000 – check the current amount with the Romanian consulate before you apply for the visa.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The full list of documents for EU citizens is on the IGI website.
Serbia is not in the EU. EU citizens and nationals of many other, mainly European, countries enter without a visa for 90 days within 6 months, counted from the first entry; EU citizens can use a passport or an ID card.
If your nationality needs a visa for Serbia, you first need a place on a programme. Then you apply for a visa D (long-stay visa) at the nearest Serbian embassy or consulate. A decision is usually made within 15 days, in justified cases within 30 days at most. You must apply for temporary residence while your visa is still valid.
Note: the Serbian Ministry of the Interior says a visa D is mandatory for a temporary residence application for studies, while Study in Serbia says nationals of visa-exempt countries come without one – check with the Serbian embassy and your institution before you travel.
Registration within 24 hours: every foreigner must register at the nearest police station. In a hotel or student residence, reception does it for you. In a private flat, you go to the police together with your landlord.
To study, every foreign student – EU citizens included – needs a temporary residence permit. You apply at the Directorate for Foreigners of the Belgrade Police Directorate, at a regional police directorate or online on the welcometoserbia.gov.rs portal. You will need, among other things:
You renew the permit every year – apply no earlier than 3 months before it expires. Serbia is not in the EU, so your EHIC is only accepted if your country has a social security agreement with Serbia (the Serbian Ministry of the Interior lists the accepted documents) – otherwise buy private insurance for your whole stay.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa and study under the same conditions as Slovak citizens. You do, however, have two obligations towards the Foreign Police (cudzinecká polícia):
Students from outside the EU/EEA need temporary residence for the purpose of study. It is best to apply at the Slovak embassy in your country of citizenship or residence; if you are already legally in Slovakia, you can apply to the Foreign Police. The police decide within 30 days of receiving a complete application. Residence is granted for the expected length of your studies, for a maximum of six years. You will need, among other things, your passport, confirmation of admission, criminal record extracts (from your home country and any country where you have lived for 90 days or more in the last three years) and proof of funds – for example a bank statement for the last three months, confirmation of a scholarship or a sworn statement from a person who will support you. The official pages do not give a fixed amount, so ask the embassy. Financial documents must not be older than 90 days. Within 3 working days of collecting your residence card you must take out health insurance, and within 30 days submit a medical report.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens enter without a visa, with an ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, you must get a registration certificate within the first three months. You apply at the administrative unit (upravna enota) for your place of residence – in Ljubljana, Koper and Maribor you need to book an appointment.
You will need, among other things: the application form, a biometric photo, your ID card or passport, proof of address (e.g. a rental contract), confirmation of admission, a statement that you have enough money to support yourself and your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Fees: €9.10 for the certificate, €4.50 for the application and €12.32 for printing the card. The certificate is valid for up to 5 years.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a temporary residence permit for the purpose of study. If you need a visa to enter Slovenia, you apply at a Slovenian embassy or consulate as soon as you are enrolled – Study in Slovenia recommends 3–6 months before you plan to arrive. If you are already legally in Slovenia, you apply at an administrative unit before your legal stay ends. You will need, among other things, a passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay, proof of enrolment, health insurance covering at least emergency care in Slovenia, a criminal record certificate and proof of funds for every month of your stay equal to at least the basic minimum income – €507.43 a month since 1 March 2026. The fee is €102 at an embassy or €50 at an administrative unit, plus the cost of the residence card.
Note: Study in Slovenia still gives €484.88 a month, while the Slovenian government (gov.si) gives €507.43 since 1 March 2026 – check the current amount with the embassy or administrative unit before you apply.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, you have to register your residence. You then get a registration certificate for EU citizens (certificado de registro de ciudadano de la Unión) with your NIE number – you'll need it when renting, at the bank and for work.
Students from outside the EU/EEA coming for longer than 90 days need a long-term stay authorisation for higher education (autorización de estancia de larga duración por estudios) and a student visa. You apply at the Spanish consulate in your country of residence at least two months before your studies begin; if you are already legally in Spain, you apply at the immigration office in the province where you will study. You will need, among other things, a passport valid for at least a year, your admission letter with proof that you have paid the registration fee, a medical certificate, a criminal record certificate (for stays over six months), health insurance and proof of funds of 100% of the IPREM (Spain's public income reference index) per month – a lower amount can be accepted if you have paid for your accommodation in advance. If you stay longer than six months, you must apply in person for your foreigner identity card (TIE) within one month of arriving. The authorisation is valid for the length of your programme. Note: the ministry's page does not give the IPREM in euros, and the figure changes with the state budget – check the current amount with the consulate before you apply.
Health insurance: if you are insured in another EU country, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU need public or private health insurance with cover similar to the Spanish national health system – it is a condition of the stay authorisation.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens have a right of residence (uppehållsrätt) in Sweden as students – you don't need a visa or a residence permit.
If your studies will last at least a year, you register in the population register with the Swedish Tax Agency, Skatteverket. Once registered, you get a Swedish personal identity number, the personnummer – you will need it at the bank, at the doctor's and for work. To register you need:
You also have to go in person to a government service office (servicekontor) to verify your identity – book the visit in advance. If you study for less than 12 months (e.g. two semesters, 60 hp), Skatteverket will ask what you plan to do after your studies.
Students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland need a residence permit for higher education studies from the Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket). You apply online (or on paper at a Swedish embassy or consulate) once you have been admitted to full-time studies and have paid your first tuition fee – only then are you considered finally admitted. The fee is SEK 1,500 for adults. You must show that you can support yourself for the whole permit period: at least SEK 10,656 a month if you apply in 2026. If your studies last less than a year, you also need comprehensive health insurance covering emergency and other medical care, hospitalisation and emergency dental care. If your permit is for a year or more, you register with Skatteverket in the same way as described above.
Health insurance: if you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Switzerland is not in the EU, but thanks to the agreement on the free movement of persons, EU/EFTA citizens do not need a visa. You do need a residence permit for non-working persons:
Students from outside the EU/EFTA need a national (type D) student visa before entering. You apply at the Swiss embassy or consulate in your country of residence – the University of Zurich advises doing so at least three months before you plan to arrive, and the visa takes at least 8 weeks to be issued. You will need, among other things, your admission letter, proof of financial means, health insurance with accident cover, a study plan, a motivation letter, a CV, proof of language skills, proof of accommodation and a confirmation that you will leave Switzerland at the end of your studies. The amount of money you must show is set by the canton – for example, the canton of Zurich requires CHF 21,000 a year, so check the requirement of the canton where you will study. After arrival you register at your place of residence within 14 days and receive a B residence permit.
Health insurance is compulsory in Switzerland, and you must take it out within three months of arrival. As an EU/EFTA student with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) who does not work, you can ask the cantonal office for an exemption from Swiss insurance. Students from other countries can also apply for an exemption if they have private insurance with cover equivalent to Swiss insurance.
Turkey is not in the EU, so the same rules apply to all international students – EU/EEA citizens included.
Entry: most visitors need a passport. Citizens of some European countries can enter with a national ID card – the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the list. Many nationalities, including most EU citizens, can come without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but only for tourism or business; the e-visa is also for tourism and business only.
Student visa: according to Study in Türkiye, students must get a student visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate; you can start the application online at konsolosluk.gov.tr. Apply as soon as you have your admission letter.
Note: Study in Türkiye says a student visa is required, but some universities (e.g. METU, ITU) say you can also apply for the residence permit after visa-free entry – check with the Turkish embassy and your university's international office before you travel.
Student residence permit (öğrenci ikamet izni): you apply online in the e-ikamet system of the Presidency of Migration Management before your visa or visa-free period expires. You will need, among other things:
Instead of a private policy, you can join the Turkish general health insurance (GSS) within 3 months of enrolling. Students do not pay a fee for the permit itself, only for the card – at METU in 2026 this is 964 TL. Many universities help you with the application through their international office.
Since Brexit, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens need a visa to study in the UK, just like everyone else. The exceptions are Irish citizens, who can live and study in the UK freely under the Common Travel Area, and people with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. You enter the UK with a passport. An EU ID card is only enough for people with EU Settlement Scheme status – a biometric card indefinitely, an older one until changes are announced.
Everyone else – whether from the EU or from any other country – needs a Student visa:
If you have settled or pre-settled status, or are an Irish citizen, you don't need a visa.
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
EN 
CS
DE
ES
FR
HU
IT
PL
PT
РУ
SK
TR
УК
AR
中文