+49 228 97735-44· German & English spoken
    Health Insurance for Foreigners in Germany
    All tariffsFind a tariff
    Find a tariff
    Care Visa Protect (visa appointment, embassy phase)from €0.85/day (up to 92 days)

    Health Insurance before Study Start in Germany: Visa Date, Entry Date and Enrolment Date — How to Avoid Coverage Gaps

    Sources: EU-VO 810/2009 Art. 15 · § 5 AufenthG · § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 13 SGB V · § 199a SGB V (M10) · DAK-Gesundheit · HanseMerkur AVB

    A foreign student in Germany has to coordinate three different start dates: the visa-application date, the entry / arrival date and the immatriculation date. Each one needs a different recognised tariff — getting the handover wrong is the most expensive mistake foreign students make. The embassy phase is covered by Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day (up to 92 days) (EU-VO 810/2009 Art. 15-compliant, min €30,000 cover, up to 92 days, PDF certificate within minutes).

    On the day of entry, switch to Care College from €27.50/month (up to 5 years) — the recognised tariff for the Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt, language school and Studienkolleg. On the day the university confirms the study place, switch again to DAK-Studenten (under 30, statutory) or Care Student from €101.54/month (up to 5 years) (over 30 / GKV-exempt) — the M10 notification then starts under § 199a SGB V (full workflow in the M10 enrolment proof guide).

    Below: the three-date timeline (visa → entry → immatriculation), the most common gap-day mistakes that trigger Ausländerbehörde rejection or retroactive GKV charges under § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 13 SGB V, the cover-handover checklist, the Sprachkurs / Studienkolleg bridge and the full Care Visa Protect price table.

    Student Coverage

    DAK-Gesundheit or HanseMerkur student options

    Enrollment Proof

    M10 notification for eligible university enrollment flows

    Visa & University Documents

    Receive confirmation for visa or enrollment steps where applicable

    4.9/5

    Over 10,000 policies issued · Since 2009

    Embassy appointment booked? Get Care Visa Protect in 5 minutes — PDF certificate within seconds.

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

    Four start-date mistakes that block the visa or trigger retroactive GKV charges

    Quick answer: "Why was my visa rejected / why did I get a GKV bill for months I was not insured?" — most cases share one of four issues: the long-stay tariff starts only on the first day of the semester, leaving the entry-to-semester window uninsured; only Care Visa Protect is bought for the whole study; the embassy tariff ends before the long-stay tariff begins; or DAK is taken before immatriculation, before M10 applies.

    Avoid the mistakes that can delay your application

    Enrollment can stall without M10

    DAK Student and Care Student support electronic M10 notification for eligible university enrollment flows.

    Under 30 or over 30?

    DAK Student fits many students up to age 29; Care Student can fit private student coverage up to age 39.

    Private or statutory confusion

    Choosing the wrong route can create extra steps. Check statutory, private and exemption rules before applying.

    Language school is different

    Care College is better for language school, Studienkolleg, DSH and educational stays — not M10 university enrollment.

    What a single uninsured day after entry actually costs

    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.

    🎓

    1 missed M10

    Enrollment can get stuck

    For university enrollment, the wrong insurance route can delay the electronic M10 notification to your university.

    • 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.

    Visa appointment fixed — get the certificate before the deadline

    Why act before university enrollment

    University enrollment can depend on the right insurance route. Waiting too long can delay M10 notification or create extra steps.

    🎓

    M10 timing matters

    DAK Student and Care Student can support M10 university enrollment flows where applicable.

    📄

    Wrong route creates delays

    Language school, Studienkolleg and DSH usually need Care College, not the university M10 route.

    ⚡

    Apply before enrollment pressure

    Prepare insurance proof before the university or visa office asks for it urgently.

    ✅

    Under 30 or over 30?

    DAK Student and Care Student serve different student situations. Check age and eligibility before applying.

    Three handovers, zero gap days — in 3 steps

    10 minutes online. Care Visa Protect issues the PDF certificate within minutes for the embassy. Care College takes over on the day of entry. DAK-Studenten or Care Student starts on the day of immatriculation — and the M10 notification is filed automatically.

    Ready for university enrollment in 3 steps

    DAK Student or Care Student for university enrollment, M10 notification and proof of coverage.

    1. Choose your student plan

      DAK statutory student cover up to age 29 · Care Student private student cover up to age 39. For language school or Studienkolleg, use Care College.

    2. Complete the application

      Enter your passport, university/program and stay details. M10 applies to DAK Student and Care Student university enrollment flows.

    3. Receive your proof

      Receive visa or insurance proof after application; where applicable, the electronic M10 notification can be sent to the university.

    What students say about Care Visa Protect for the embassy phase before study start in Germany

    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 — all brackets across the three start dates

    Quick answer: Three start dates, three recognised tariffs: Care Visa Protect (from €0.85/day) for the visa application, Care College (from €27.50/month) from arrival until the study place is confirmed, then DAK-Gesundheit (~€135.52/month) for under-30s or Care Student (€101.54/month) for over-30s and GKV-exempt students from immatriculation.

    Care Visa Protect — visa-application phase (1–92 days)

    EU-VO 810/2009 Art. 15-compliant with €30,000 medical cover and repatriation — accepted at every German embassy:

    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.

    Care College — arrival phase (Sprachkurs / Studienkolleg)

    Bridges the gap from arrival until the university confirms the study place — from €27.50/month (up to age 29) and from €33.50/month (age 30+):

    Care College
    Basic
    BestsellerComfort
    Premium
    Deductible / yr
    120,–
    Deductible / yr
    0,–
    Deductible / yr
    0,–
    Months 1–24 monthup to 29 yrs (€ / month) 27,50 34,– 48,–
    Months 1–24 monthfrom 30 yrs (€ / month) 33,50 50,– 75,–
    From 25th monthup to 29 yrs (€ / month) 49,50 57,– 73,–
    From 25th monthfrom 30 yrs (€ / month) 55,– 73,– 99,–

    All prices per month/person in euros. Deductible applies per insurance year. Maximum entry age 40. As of 2026.

    DAK-Gesundheit — from immatriculation (under-30s)

    All three GKV variants include automatic M10 notification — they only take effect from immatriculation:

    Insured benefits
    DAK-Gesundheit
    BestsellerDAK + Garantietarif 120
    DAK + Fit & Travel
    up to age 23 €145.52 / month €145.52€135.52 / month €145.52 / month
    up to age 29, childless €150.65 / month €150.65€140.65 / month €150.65 / month
    up to age 29, with 1 child €145.52 / month €145.52€135.52 / month €145.52 / month
    Bonus / extra benefit — saves €120/year free for under 39

    Contribution incl. long-term care insurance (childless from age 23). Garantietarif 120: €120 contribution refund per year if no claims are filed. Fit & Travel: free for insured persons under 39. Entry age up to 29, term for the duration of studies (max. 14 specialist semesters / age 30). As of 2026.

    Care Student — from immatriculation (over-30 / GKV-exempt / PhD)

    CCS €35 + PVN €58.04 + Pflege €8.50 = €101.54/month total — GKV-equivalent under § 257 SGB V:

    Care Student
    Health insurance
    for students
    Compulsory long-term care
    for students
    		 Total
    12–29 years 69,62 € / month 31,92 € / month 101,54 € / month
    30–39 years 95,68 € / month 31,92 € / month 127,60 € / month

    All prices per month/person in euros. Health insurance deductible: €300 per calendar year. Entry age 12–39, term up to 60 months. Premium guarantee for the full term. As of 2026.

    Sources: DAK-Gesundheit contribution statement 2025, Care Concept AG tariff tables 2024/25, HanseMerkur AVB. The exact price is calculated in the online application.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When should the health insurance actually start — visa date, entry date or semester start?

    It starts on three different dates. Care Visa Protect (from €0.85/day, min €8.50, valid up to 92 days) covers the embassy phase from the visa-application date. On the day of entry into Germany, Care College (from €27.50/month up to age 29 and from €33.50/month for age 30+, Basic months 1–24) takes over for the visa-and-arrival window, including Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt and language school. On the day the university confirms the study place, switch to DAK-Studenten (~€135.52/month with Garantietarif 120, under 30) or Care Student (€101.54/month, over 30 / GKV-exempt) — the M10 notification then starts the official enrolment cover.

    What happens if my long-stay tariff starts a few days after I arrive?

    It is the most expensive mistake foreign students make. Every day without recognised cover after registration in Germany can be billed retroactively by GKV under § 5 Abs. 1 Nr. 13 SGB V (auffangpflicht), and the Ausländerbehörde can reject the residence permit on grounds of insufficient insurance evidence (§ 5 AufenthG). The safe rule: the long-stay tariff (Care College, DAK-Studenten or Care Student) starts on the day of entry, not on the first day of the semester. Care Visa Protect is fine for the embassy phase but not as long-stay cover.

    Can I just take Care Visa Protect for the whole study?

    No. Care Visa Protect (from €0.85/day, max 92 days) is a Schengen / short-stay tariff under EU-VO 810/2009 Art. 15. It is not GKV-gleichwertig and not accepted by German universities for enrolment. For the language-course / Studienkolleg phase before immatriculation use Care College (from €27.50/month). Once the university confirms the study place, switch to DAK-Studenten (~€135.52/month, under 30) or Care Student (€101.54/month, over 30 / GKV-exempt) so that the M10 electronic notification can be filed under § 199a SGB V.