Travel insurances for group trips

If language learners have a visa or residence permit for the purpose of language acquisition, it is usually valid for the duration of the course – up to a maximum of 12 months. During this time, they are generally allowed to work up to 20 hours per week.

Tuition fees were abolished in Germany in 2014. If you’re a citizen of an EU or EEA country, your first degree is free of charge – just like for German students. If you're from another country, different rules may apply. It depends on your home country, your study plans, and whether you already hold a degree. Ask the student advisory service at your chosen university for more details.

Students without a German passport (and without family holding German citizenship) usually aren’t eligible for BAföG – even if they meet other requirements. There may be limited chances for support if they have a long-term residence permit and a clear long-term perspective to stay, or if they come from an EU country, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, or Norway.

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality and how long you plan to stay. If you hold a passport from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, you generally don't need a visa.

Citizens of Australia, the UK, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States can enter without a visa and apply for a residence permit later if staying longer than 90 days.
For most other countries, a visa must be obtained from the German mission abroad before entering Germany.

An up-to-date list of visa requirements by country is available at www.auswaertiges-amt.de.

Citizens of EU and EEA countries don’t need a visa to study in Germany. The same applies to those already studying in another EU country and holding a valid residence permit. Citizens of Australia, the UK, Israel, Japan, and some other countries usually have no problems applying for a residence permit for study purposes after arriving in Germany. Most non-EU nationals, however, must apply for a student visa at the German embassy or consulate in their home country before traveling.

f you’re from an EU or EEA country and are taking part in a preparatory language course or Studienkolleg, you don’t need additional insurance as long as you're covered by your home country’s EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). If you’re from a non-EU country, you should take out private health insurance until your university studies begin. There are special plans available for language learners.

Whether you need travel insurance for your stay in Germany depends on your nationality.

If you come from a country that requires a visa to enter Germany, you must take out travel insurance before your trip – covering the entire duration of your stay. Without it, you won’t be granted a visa. This rule applies regardless of the purpose of your visit.

If you're from an EU country, your domestic insurance usually covers you in Germany. However, it might not include all risks – such as costly return transport. That’s why it’s often recommended to get an additional travel insurance package.

Yes. To enroll at a German university or university of applied sciences, you need student health insurance.
If you're under 30 and plan to complete your full studies in Germany, you should join a public health insurance provider. It offers full coverage at very affordable rates. If you’re only staying for part of your studies (e.g. a semester abroad or your thesis), or taking part in an exchange program, a private health insurance plan is recommended. There are special products made for students.

You can check whether your higher education entrance qualification is valid in Germany on anabin (Information portal of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs).

If you come from a country outside the EU, you can contact the International Office of the university of your choice. If the university does not recognize your diploma, you will need to take a qualifying exam. Preparatory courses for this exam are offered by Studienkollegs across Germany. Alternatively, you can start your studies in your home country and transfer to a German university after completing your basic studies.

For studying in Germany, you must prove sufficient German language skills at the C1 level. There are tests to determine your language proficiency, such as the DSH (German Language Test for University Admission for Foreign Students) at the university of your choice or the TestDaF (Test of German as a Foreign Language). The Goethe-Institut also offers language courses with certification that you can use for your enrollment. If you have completed an Abitur at a German school abroad, no additional test is required.

Planning group trips is a challenge, but with a little organizational skill, you can handle it. Here are three tips to help you out:

1. Be clear: Collect all suggestions regarding destinations, transportation, accommodation, activities, and travel dates, and let the group democratically decide when and what should happen, and what costs to expect. Even if you're planning the trip on your own, keep everyone informed. This way, everyone will have a clear picture of the plan, and you'll avoid long discussions and misunderstandings before and during the trip.

2. Save money: When booking for the group, you can often get group discounts. This applies to travel tickets, accommodations, and even travel insurance.

3. Stay flexible: Allow for some free time during the trip. This way, your fellow travelers can decide whether to take a break or explore on their own. Everyone needs some personal time during a trip.

If students have moved their main place of residence to Germany and plan to stay long-term, they are required to take out public health insurance with a German provider. The same applies if they receive funding from a German institution.

Absolutely! Germany has so much to offer international visitors. From natural wonders like Lake Königssee in the Bavarian Alps to the chalk cliffs of Rügen island. Discover historic sites like Eltz Castle, Neuschwanstein Castle, and Ulm Minster – as well as charming medieval towns like Bamberg and Regensburg. Germany’s vibrant cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich are full of culture, tradition, and culinary delights waiting to be explored.

Germany is one of the safest and most peaceful countries in the world. Within Europe, it's the fifth most visited country. The crime rate is low, and law enforcement is reliable and well connected internationally. In 2024, Germany ranked 20th out of 163 in the UNESCO Global Peace Index.

Still, it’s a good idea to take usual precautions during your visit: avoid dark and isolated areas, don’t carry large amounts of cash, and keep your phone with you at all times.

Yes, absolutely! It’s strongly recommended that groups travelling abroad take out travel health insurance. There are many good reasons to do so. These insurances are designed specifically for international travel and cover typical risks – from medical treatment and necessary aids to search, rescue, and repatriation costs, up to the agreed coverage limit. Often, they also include liability and accident insurance, providing full protection for the whole group. That way, you don’t have to rely on each participant’s individual insurance. And the best part: group travel insurance is usually very affordable.

Group trips offer many advantages. The main benefit is the company around you. You always have people to talk to and share your experiences with. Additionally, you get to experience exciting places and situations together with others that you might not have considered before. You don’t have to worry about the trip planning, or maybe not at all. This saves a lot of effort. Last but not least, group trips are cheaper per person than individual travel. This is due to the discounts that hotels and museums, for example, offer, especially to larger groups.

If your travel health insurance is mandatory for your Germany visa, it should have a minimum coverage of €30,000 and cover medical services, including the return transport to your home country. Additionally, it should be valid not only in Germany but also in all Schengen member states.

A charter flight, unlike a scheduled flight, operates only when needed. It’s sometimes referred to as demand traffic or a flight on request. The charter airline transports passengers and goods only on occasion or for specific events, such as transporting holidaymakers to the Canary Islands on behalf of a tour operator. The financial risk does not lie with the airline, but with the tour operator as the client. Charter flights are typically part of package holidays, where the flight, accommodation, and transfers are included in the price.

A group trip refers to travel undertaken by more than two people who are traveling together for a common purpose. The size and destination of the groups can vary greatly, such as school classes on a graduation trip, study groups on research excursions, or a group of friends on vacation.

A scheduled flight is the service offered by an airline according to a fixed timetable. This means that an aircraft regularly operates the same route between two locations at the same times. You can book a seat on the plane under certain conditions. Unlike a charter flight, a scheduled flight will operate regardless of seat occupancy, even if the flight is not fully booked. The airline carries the full financial risk.

The Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, or BAföG for short, is a government-funded support program that aims to make education and training accessible to everyone, regardless of their social or financial background.
Pupils who qualify receive BAföG as a full grant, meaning they don’t have to repay it. Eligible students at universities, technical colleges, and academies receive half of the support as a grant and the other half as an interest-free loan. The amount that actually needs to be repaid depends on each individual case.

In case of doubt, it's helpful to have a consultation with the health insurance provider. All public health insurance companies offer dedicated service phone numbers for inquiries.

If you need to travel or arrive before your insurance status is resolved, you should arrange a temporary solution before departure. For example, you can purchase guest insurance, even for an extended period. Typically, guest insurance covers treatment costs in case of illness, ensuring you're protected.

To ensure seamless coverage during your stay in Germany or Austria, you should take out your policy no later than two weeks before your arrival. While many plans allow for retroactive coverage, the safest option is always to arrange your insurance in advance.

You should apply for a visa for your trip to Germany at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. Typically, you will first receive an entry visa, which you can extend in Germany if needed.