Health insurance for a German visa or residence permit (2024)

This guide explains how to choose health insurance when you apply for a German visa, a National Visa or a residence permit.

What health insurance do you need?

For a tourist visa

To apply for a tourist visa (Schengen visa), you need travel insurance.¹

Your travel insurance must…²

• Cover you for at least 30,000€
• Be valid in all Schengen area countries, not just Germany
• Be valid during your whole trip in the Schengen area

HanseMerkur’s Visa Plus travel insurance works well for a Schengen visa application.

If you don’t need a visa to visit Germany, you don’t need travel insurance, but it’s still good to have.

For a National Visa

To apply for a National Visa, you need public, private or expat health insurance.

When you start working in Germany, you must switch to public or private health insurance. If you have a minijob, you can usually stay on expat insurance.¹³

For a job seeker visa

If you have never lived in Germany, you need travel insurance or expat insurance.

If you lived in Germany before, you need public, private or expat health insurance. Travel insurance is not accepted.³ If you come back to Germany, you can get the same type of insurance as before.

When you start working, you must switch to public or private health insurance.

For a work visa or Blue Card

To apply for a work visa or a Blue Card, you need public or private health insurance. If your salary is under 69,300€ per year, you can’t get private health insurance.

If you apply in another country (at the German embassy or consulate), you can get expat insurance to get your National Visa. When you start working, you must switch to public or private health insurance.¹

How to apply for a work visa

How to apply for a Blue Card

For a freelance visa

If this is your first residence permit, you need public, private or expat health insurance. Travel insurance is not accepted.

If you renew or change your current residence permit, you need public or private health insurance. Expat health insurance is rarely accepted.¹

Don’t choose health insurance yourself. It’s a really bad idea when you are self-employed. The best option depends on your citizenship, your income, your health, and your plans for the future. Ask a health insurance broker to help you choose.

How to apply for a freelance visa

For a Working Holiday Visa

To apply for a Working Holiday Visa or Youth Mobility Visa, you need public, private, travel or expat health insurance.

When you start working, you need public or private health insurance.¹² If you have a minijob, you can usually stay on travel or expat insurance.¹³

For other residence permits

If this is your first residence permit, you need public, private or expat health insurance.

If you renew or change your current residence permit, you need public or private health insurance. Expat health insurance is rarely accepted.¹

Travel insurance is not accepted when you apply for a residence permit.

How to choose health insurance

Ask a health insurance broker to help you choose. Their help is free. It’s the best way to choose insurance.

How to choose German health insurance

Expat health insurance options

These insurers usually work:

• Feather works really well.¹⁰ They have public, private and expat health insurance. They speak English. I got my own insurance from them. I trust them the most.
• Ottonova works well too.⁴ They sell private and expat health insurance. They speak English. They are not the cheapest long-term option.–My review of Ottonova
• Care Concept is usually accepted.⁵ It’s not the best insurance, but it works.
• April International⁷
• aLC⁶
• Allianz Worldwide Care¹¹

These insurers are less reliable:

• Mawista Expatcare is not always accepted⁸
• Cigna Global is not always accepted⁹

Need help?

How to choose health insurance