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    Health Insurance for Foreigners in Germany
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    Care Expatriate — recognised insurance proof for the Ausländerbehörde folder (up to 5 years)from €68/month (41–60) · from €246/month (61–74)
    Insurance proof is the most rejected single item in the residence-permit folder under § 5 AufenthG. Travel insurance and home-country policies are refused. Bring a recognised Incoming certificate with a German insurer address.

    Checklist — which documents foreign retirees commonly need at the German Ausländerbehörde

    Entry age 41–60: from €68/monthEntry age 61–74: from €246/month
    4.9/5 · Over 10,000 policies since 2009
    Foreign retiree document checklist for the German Ausländerbehörde — passport, Anmeldung, pension proof, recognised health insurance
    10–12 items
    Full folder
    Originals
    + copies
    Insurance
    Day-1 cover

    Three rules for the residence-permit document folder at the German Ausländerbehörde:

    1. 1Insurance proof from day 1 of the permit: Recognised long-term Incoming — Care Expatriate from €68/month (41–60) · from €246/month (61–74), up to 5 years per contract, accepted under § 5 AufenthG.
    2. 2Anmeldung first, then Ausländerbehörde: The Bürgeramt issues the Meldebescheinigung within 1–2 weeks of arrival; the Ausländerbehörde processes the permit only with the Anmeldung in the folder. Book both appointments back-to-back.
    3. 3If the decision is delayed → Fiktion bridge: The provisional Fiktionsbescheinigung still requires recognised cover. Bridge with Care Economy from €30 / 30 days (up to 2 years) for up to 2 years.

    Long-stay permit, Schengen visit or Fiktion bridge — which lane fits your case? 30-second tariff finder →

    Inside: the 10–12 items every Ausländerbehörde folder needs · why insurance is the most-rejected single document · how the Anmeldung sequence saves a second appointment

    Sources: § 5 AufenthG · § 7 AufenthG · § 36 AufenthG · § 68 AufenthG · Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG) · HanseMerkur Care Expatriate AVB · HanseMerkur Care Economy AVB · BAMF Anwendungshinweise

    Senior Stay Coverage

    Options for visitors and long-stay seniors up to entry age 74

    Visa & Residence Proof

    Proof for embassy, consulate or residence documents

    Online Application

    Receive confirmation after successful application

    4.9/5

    Over 10,000 policies issued · Since 2009

    Care Expatriate is the standard long-stay insurance line in the residence-permit folder — accepted by every Ausländerbehörde under § 5 AufenthG, up to 5 years per contract.

    🏛️ Authority-approved📄 Instant proof🔒 DAK / HanseMerkur🏷️ Transparent pricing
    4.9/5· Since 2009 · 10,000+ policies· Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued

    Document folder for the Ausländerbehörde — the six concrete rules

    Quick answer: "What documents does a foreign retiree need at the Ausländerbehörde?" — Roughly 10–12 items: passport, biometric photo, Anmeldung, tenancy contract, pension / income proof, marriage certificate (if family reunion), application form, fee, and recognised health insurance from day 1. The standard long-stay insurance line is Care Expatriate from €68/month (ages 41–60) or €246/month (ages 61–74), accepted under § 5 AufenthG, up to 5 years.

    • Passport: ≥ 1 year remaining validity, plus the visa page if entry was on a D-visa
    • Anmeldung (Meldebescheinigung) from the Bürgeramt — usually issued within 1–2 weeks
    • One biometric passport photo (35 × 45 mm, current EU standard)
    • Proof of secured livelihood: pension certificate + 6 months of bank statements (or Verpflichtungserklärung § 68 AufenthG)
    • Recognised health insurance from day 1 of the permit (Care Expatriate is the standard long-stay lane)
    • Originals AND copies of every document — case officer stamps and keeps copies on the spot

    Three insurance lanes for the document folder — long-stay, Fiktion bridge, or pre-application visit

    Path 1 / 3

    Path 1 — Long-stay residence permit (§ 7 / § 36 AufenthG): Care Expatriate

    For a residence permit longer than 90 days the Ausländerbehörde requires recognised insurance covering the whole permit period. Care Expatriate is the standard long-term Incoming product: from €68/month at entry age 41–60 and €246/month at 61–74 (Basic, €150 deductible), up to 5 years per contract. Insurer is HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG (Hamburg) — accepted at every German Ausländerbehörde under § 5 AufenthG.

    Need: Care Expatriate · § 5 AufenthG · up to 5 years
    Care Expatriate from €68/month →
    Path 2 / 3

    Path 2 — Short pending decision / Fiktion: Care Economy bridge

    When the Ausländerbehörde cannot issue the permit on the day of the appointment it hands out a Fiktionsbescheinigung (provisional certificate). Care Economy bridges 1 day to 2 years with per-day pricing by age — from €1.00/day for ages 0–64 (with deductible) and €2.95/day for 65–74 (with deductible), minimum €10 premium. Switchable to GKV / S1 the day the long-term decision arrives.

    Need: Care Economy · ≤ 2 years · Fiktion / S1 bridge
    Care Economy from €1.00/day (0–64) · €2.95/day (65–74) →
    Path 3 / 3

    Path 3 — Short visit before permit application: Care Visa Protect

    For relatives or pre-application visits up to 90 days the Schengen lane applies. Care Visa Protect meets EU Reg. 810/2009 at €0.85/day for ages 0–64 and €2.60/day for 65–74 (minimum €8.50 premium). Single PDF certificate accepted at every German consulate and at the Schengen border.

    Need: Care Visa Protect · EU Reg. 810/2009 · ≤ 92 days
    Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day (0–64) · €2.60/day (65–74) →

    Avoid the mistakes that can delay your application

    Senior prices can surprise you

    Age matters. For seniors, rates can be much higher, so show age-based pricing before the visitor applies.

    Short visit or long stay?

    Care Visa Protect or Care Economy may fit visits; Care Expatriate may fit selected longer family-stay cases.

    Entry age limit matters

    Many options have an entry-age limit. Check eligibility before preparing visa or residence documents.

    Coverage gaps create stress

    Choose the coverage period carefully if travel dates, family visit length or residence timing are uncertain.

    What happens when the folder is incomplete — second appointment, expired visa, €830/day hospital risk

    One wrong insurance choice can cost you money, time and your application deadline

    A medical incident can become expensive fast — but the wrong certificate can also delay your visa, enrollment, residence permit or work start.

    🏥

    €500–€1,500

    Emergency doctor visit

    One urgent doctor or emergency-room visit can already create a painful bill — before tests, medication or follow-up treatment are added.

    🏨

    €2,000–€10,000+

    Hospital treatment

    If observation, surgery, overnight stay or specialist treatment is needed, costs can quickly move from hundreds to thousands of euros.

    👴

    Age changes everything

    Senior pricing and eligibility matter

    Older parents or seniors may face higher prices and entry-age limits, so the wrong choice can create surprises before applying.

    • Wrong or incomplete proof can delay your visa, enrollment or authority process.
    • Cheap home-country policies may miss the exact coverage, dates or repatriation wording required.
    • The cheapest policy can become expensive if it is the wrong proof for your situation.

    Before you apply, check: coverage amount, validity dates, destination area and repatriation cover.

    Ausländerbehörde appointment booked? Lock the insurance line of the folder first

    Why act before family visit or residence paperwork

    Older visitors often face age-based pricing and eligibility limits. Waiting too long can make the right option harder to choose.

    👴

    Age affects price

    Senior rates can be much higher, so check pricing before preparing documents.

    📄

    Entry-age limits matter

    Many incoming insurance options are only available up to a specific entry age.

    ⚡

    Short visit or long stay?

    Care Visa Protect, Care Economy and Care Expatriate serve different stay lengths.

    ✅

    Avoid coverage gaps

    Choose the coverage period carefully if family visit dates or residence timing are uncertain.

    From contract to authority-ready certificate — in 3 steps

    10 minutes online. No medical exam, no health questions for standard tier cover. PDF certificate in German + English by email within minutes — accepted by every German embassy and Ausländerbehörde under § 5 AufenthG.

    Schengen-ready in 3 steps

    Proof of insurance for Schengen visa applications, including the €30,000 minimum-coverage requirement.

    1. Pick the right plan

      Care Visa Protect for short Schengen stays · Care Economy for the Opportunity Card or longer visitor stays.

    2. Apply online

      Enter passport, travel dates and destination. For Care Visa Protect, purchase before entry when required.

    3. Submit your proof

      Receive the PDF certificate after successful online application and submit it with your visa or authority documents.

    What foreign retirees say about Care Expatriate as the insurance line of their Ausländerbehörde folder

    4.9/5 · Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued
    5/5
    “My biggest worry was that the embassy wouldn't accept the insurance.
    The proof was accepted immediately — no questions asked.
    That saved me a lot of stress.”
    Georges from Cameroon

    Georges

    Cameroon

    5/5
    “I needed proof of insurance urgently for my visa appointment.
    The confirmation arrived within minutes by email.
    Everything worked first time at the embassy.”
    Olga from Russia

    Olga

    Russia

    5/5
    “Found the best solution and best service for health insurance for foreign visitors and guests in Germany.
    Fast, simple and affordable.
    Highly recommended!”
    Michael from Germany

    Michael

    Germany

    5/5
    “The online sign-up was done in just a few minutes.
    When I actually had to see a doctor, the billing went smoothly.
    I was really covered — not just on paper.”
    Yunhee from Australia

    Yunhee

    Australia

    Now choose your plan

    4.9/5 · Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued

    Full price tables — Care Expatriate (long-stay), Care Economy (bridge), Care Visa Protect (visit)

    Quick answer: Care Expatriate is the standard long-stay insurance line: ages 41–60 from €68/month (Basic, €150 deductible); ages 61–74 from €246/month — up to 5 years per contract. Care Economy bridges 1 day to 2 years with per-day pricing by age (€1.00/day for 0–64, €2.95/day for 65–74, both with deductible). Care Visa Protect covers a Schengen visit at €0.85/day (0–64) and €2.60/day (65–74).

    Long-stay permit insurance — Care Expatriate (ages 0–74, up to 5 years)

    Care Expatriateworldwide without USA, Canada and Mexico
    Basic
    BestsellerComfort
    Premium
    Deductible / yr
    150,–
    Deductible / yr
    150,–
    Deductible / yr
    500,–
    Deductible / yr
    0,–
    Deductible / yr
    500,–
    Deductible / yr
    1.000,–
    Entry age:0–12 (€ / month) 64,– 104,– 81,– 191,– 149,– 117,–
    Entry age:13–40 (€ / month) 58,– 84,– 63,– 181,– 141,– 109,–
    Entry age:41–60 (€ / month) 68,– 103,– 77,– 256,– 201,– 156,–
    Entry age:61–74 (€ / month) 246,– 322,– 248,– 432,– 336,– 263,–

    All prices per month/person in euros. Deductible applies per insurance year. As of 2026.

    Fiktionsbescheinigung bridge — Care Economy (1 day–2 years)

    Care Economy
    Duration
    Bestsellerup to 64
    up to 64
    Bestseller65+
    65+
    no deductible with deductible no deductible with deductible
    up to 90 days €1.18/day €1.00/day €3.48/day €2.95/day
    91–180 days €1.59/day €1.35/day €4.37/day €3.70/day
    181–365 days €2.30/day €1.95/day €5.84/day €4.95/day
    366–730 days €2.83/day €2.40/day €9.32/day €7.90/day

    All prices per day/person in euros. Minimum premium €10 per person and term. Deductible is the share you pay yourself. Entry age 0–74. As of 2026.

    Pre-application visit — Care Visa Protect (Schengen ≤ 92 days)

    Care Visa Protect Daily premium Multiple Visa
    (annual contract)
    up to age 64 €0.85/day €110/year
    65 – 74 years €2.60/day €215/year

    Prices per person. Minimum premium €8.50 per trip. Maximum benefit €50,000 (well above the Schengen minimum of €30,000). Deductible €0. Must be purchased before travel. As of 2026.

    FAQ — Document folder for retirees at the Ausländerbehörde

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What documents does a foreign retiree need to bring to the Ausländerbehörde appointment in Germany?

    A typical residence-permit folder contains 10–12 items: (1) valid passport with at least one year remaining; (2) one biometric passport photo (35 × 45 mm); (3) the Anmeldung (Meldebescheinigung from the Bürgeramt); (4) tenancy contract or proof of accommodation; (5) proof of secured livelihood — pension certificate, bank statements showing regular income, or a sponsor declaration (Verpflichtungserklärung, § 68 AufenthG); (6) marriage / birth certificates for family reunion (apostille + certified German translation); (7) recognised health-insurance certificate from day 1 — typically <a href="/en/insurance-plans/care-expatriate/overview/" class="text-primary underline underline-offset-2">Care Expatriate from €68/month (41–60) · €246/month (61–74)</a>; (8) the application form filled out and signed; (9) the fee (€56–€100, varies by Bundesland); (10) any prior visa or residence document. Bring originals and copies of everything.

    How much income or savings does the Ausländerbehörde require to consider the livelihood secured for a retiree?

    There is no single nationwide figure for retirees, but case officers use two benchmarks: monthly net pension above the local Sozialhilfe (basic welfare) need plus rent and health-insurance premium, and/or savings covering at least 12 months of the same. As an indicative anchor, the SGB II Regelbedarf for a single adult is €563/month in 2025; the actual amount accepted depends on the Bundesland and on whether a sponsor (Verpflichtungserklärung, § 68 AufenthG) is involved. The pension certificate, six months of bank statements, and the rental contract together usually satisfy the proof.

    Can the residence permit be denied for the wrong insurance certificate even if all other documents are perfect?

    Yes. § 5 AufenthG makes recognised health insurance a general issuance condition for any residence permit. Travel insurance with low caps, home-country policies, and certificates without a German insurer address are routinely refused — even when the case officer has all other documents on the desk. The safe answer is a recognised Incoming product: <a href="/en/insurance-plans/care-expatriate/overview/" class="text-primary underline underline-offset-2">Care Expatriate</a> for long-stay (up to 5 years per contract) or <a href="/en/insurance-plans/care-economy/overview/" class="text-primary underline underline-offset-2">Care Economy</a> as a 1-day–2-year bridge. PDF certificate in German + English by email within minutes; insurer is HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG (Hamburg).