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If you come from outside the EU, you usually need proof of health insurance before you get your visa. For a work visa, your cover must start on the day you enter Germany – travel insurance is not accepted. Because public insurance only starts with your job, most people bridge the time in between with incoming health insurance. Visitors with a Schengen visa need travel medical insurance with at least 30.000,00€ cover.
Which insurance do you need?
- Moving to Germany for a job – Proof from the day of entry: public insurance from your job start plus incoming insurance – or private insurance.
- Partner or children join you – Incoming insurance for the visa period until family or own insurance starts.
- Parents or friends visit you – Travel medical insurance with at least 30.000,00€ cover for the whole stay.
- Trips home and holidays – Travel health insurance for countries outside the EU.
Moving for a job: proof of insurance for your work visa
For a national visa (for example a work visa or EU Blue Card) the German mission checks that you have sufficient health insurance from the day you enter Germany. Your visa can only start from the date your proof of cover starts.
| Option | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Public insurance + incoming insurance | Public insurance starts with your employment. Incoming insurance covers you from entry until then. | Most employees, family members |
| Private health insurance from entry | Long-term private insurance that starts on your entry date. The health questions are answered before the move. | Salaries above the threshold, self-employed people |
| Travel health insurance | Not accepted as proof for a national visa. | Only short visits (Schengen visa) |
Prefer public insurance? Apply online with Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), our partner for public health insurance: for employees · for students · all other members
Decide early if private insurance is an option. If your salary is above the income threshold (2026: 77.400,00€, 2027 planned: 84.150,00€), you can choose private insurance – but the application and health questions take several weeks. Start before your visa appointment. Health Insurance Guide 2027
Incoming health insurance: your bridge to German insurance
Incoming health insurance is designed for people coming to Germany. It covers medical treatment in Germany from your day of entry until your public or private insurance starts. Embassies recommend it for the visa period, and it is also suitable for family members who join you.
Check before you buy:
- Cover starts on your entry date at the latest
- It runs for the full period your embassy asks for – often the validity of your entry visa
- It covers treatment in Germany, including hospital and emergency treatment
- You can end it when your German health insurance starts
Visitors with a Schengen visa
Parents, family and friends from outside the EU who visit you for up to 90 days usually need a Schengen visa. Their travel medical insurance must:
- cover at least 30.000,00€
- be valid in the whole Schengen area for the entire stay
- include repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical treatment and emergency hospital treatment
Living in Germany: travel insurance for trips home
Public health insurance pays only in exceptional cases for treatment outside the EU. If you visit your family in Taiwan, Turkey, India or the US, an emergency abroad can quickly cost several thousand euros. Travel health insurance closes this gap for a small annual premium and also covers medically necessary repatriation.
Already privately insured? Many private tariffs include cover abroad for a limited time. We check your contract before you book an extra policy.
Your timeline before the move
- Check your visa type. National visa for work or family, or Schengen visa for a visit.
- Decide: public or private? If you can choose, compare costs and benefits now.
- Get your insurance confirmation. Incoming or private insurance, starting on your entry date.
- Attend your visa appointment. Bring the confirmation with your other documents.
- Start your job in Germany. Your long-term insurance takes over; we end the incoming insurance on time.
Request your incoming or travel insurance
Frequently asked questions
Do I need health insurance for a German work visa?
Yes. You must show sufficient health insurance from the day you enter Germany. Public insurance usually starts with your employment, so many applicants bridge the time before with incoming health insurance.
Is travel insurance enough for a German national visa?
No. German missions do not accept travel health insurance as proof for a national (long-stay) visa. You need public insurance from entry, long-term private insurance or a suitable incoming insurance.
What insurance do my parents need to visit me in Germany?
For a Schengen visa they need travel medical insurance with at least 30.000,00€ cover, valid in the whole Schengen area for the entire stay, including repatriation and emergency treatment.
Can I take out German private health insurance before I arrive?
Yes, if you can choose private insurance – for example with a salary above the income threshold. The health questions are answered before the move, and the insurer’s confirmation can serve as proof for your visa.
Does my German health insurance cover trips home?
Public insurance pays only in exceptions outside the EU. For holidays and family visits outside Europe we recommend travel health insurance.
This page gives general information and does not replace personal advice. Tax aspects are not considered; finanXpats does not provide tax advice.