Health Insurance for Foreigners in Germany – Guests, Visitors and Incoming
Sources: EU Regulation 810/2009 Art. 15 (Schengen) · § 5 AufenthG · § 68 AufenthG (Verpflichtungserklärung) · HanseMerkur AVB · Care Concept AG · BAMF · Auswärtiges Amt
No insurance certificate — no embassy appointment, no boarding pass, no Schengen visa. That is the chain for every foreign visitor, tourist and guest coming to Germany. The German embassy and the Ausländerbehörde do not ask whether you have insurance — they require the certificate up front (EU 810/2009 Art. 15 for Schengen; § 5 AufenthG for longer stays).
For most short-stay guests the standard private path is Care Economy from €30 per 30 days (ages 0–49; up to 2 years), accepted for visitor and family-reunion stays. For a pure Schengen trip ≤ 92 days the lighter option is Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day with the mandatory €30,000 medical cover and repatriation.
Below we explain how the embassy verifies the certificate, when Care Economy beats a Schengen-only policy, and which tariff is honest for your age band — plus the long-stay fallback (Care Expatriate) if your visit turns into residence.
Schengen Insurance
Care Visa Protect by HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG
Schengen Visa Proof
Meets the €30,000 Schengen insurance requirement
PDF Certificate
Available after successful online application
Over 10,000 policies issued · Since 2009
Visiting Germany? Pick the certificate that fits your stay.
The four worries almost every foreign visitor to Germany has
Quick answer: "Can I just travel on my home-country travel insurance?" — Usually not for a German visa. Embassies require a German-recognised certificate with €30,000 cover and repatriation. Below are the four pain points we see again and again, and how each one is solved with the right Incoming tariff.
Avoid the mistakes that can delay your application
Visitor insurance may be too short
For multi-month or multi-year stays, Care Expatriate can be a better fit than short visitor coverage.
Statutory or private?
Freelancers, self-employed people and some incoming long-stay cases may need private incoming coverage instead of German statutory insurance.
Residence proof requested?
Care Expatriate can provide PDF confirmation after successful application for visa or immigration documents.
Renewal stress later
A longer coverage term can reduce repeated renewal pressure during projects, residence processes or long stays.
Quick reality check: what an uninsured visitor hospital stay 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.
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€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.
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€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.
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Up to 5 years
Short visitor cover may be too weak
For long stays, freelance work or residence documents, short visitor insurance may be too short or not the right proof.
- 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.
Why act before your embassy or arrival appointment
Why act before your residence documents are due
Long-stay proof can become urgent during visa, residence permit, project or relocation steps. Short visitor cover may not be enough.
Long stay, different proof
Care Expatriate can fit longer incoming stays up to 5 years, depending on age and selected plan.
Residence documents need clarity
Your proof should match destination, coverage period and long-stay purpose.
Do not wait for renewal stress
Preparing longer coverage early can reduce repeated extension pressure.
Private or statutory?
Freelancers, self-employed people and employees on assignment without German statutory insurance may need a different route than employees.
Get insured in 3 steps
10 minutes of effort. PDF certificate by email — forwardable to the German embassy, the Ausländerbehörde and your host.
Long-term stay covered in 3 steps
Care Expatriate can cover longer incoming stays up to 5 years, depending on age and selected plan.
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Choose your plan
Care Expatriate for expats, freelancers, self-employed people, employees on assignment without German statutory insurance, or seniors up to entry age 74.
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Complete the application
Enter passport, destination, stay details and requested coverage period online. Additional questions may apply depending on the plan.
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Submit your proof
Receive PDF confirmation after successful application and submit it to the embassy, consulate or immigration authority if requested.
What foreign visitors, tourists, family guests and Chancenkarte holders say about getting the visitor-visa insurance certificate, the Verpflichtungserklärung and choosing Care Economy for short stays in Germany
“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
Cameroon
“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
Russia
“Found the best solution and best service for health insurance for foreign visitors and guests in Germany.
Fast, simple and affordable.
Highly recommended!”
Michael
Germany
“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
Australia
Now choose your plan
Recommended visitor health insurance — by case
Care Economy
from only €30.00 / 30 days (coverage up to 2 years)
For guests, tourists, family visits, job seekers & the German Opportunity Card
- Proof of insurance for visas & immigration authorities within minutes
- Affordable coverage from €1.00 per day
- Doctor, hospital & dental emergency coverage
- Suitable for Schengen visas, the Opportunity Card & family visits
- Flexible coverage from 1 day up to 2 years
- Coverage in Germany, the EU & the Schengen Area
- 24/7 assistance + digital insurance card
- Age-based rates: from €1.00/day up to age 64 · from €2.95/day for ages 65–74
- Coverage term: 1 day to 2 years · entry age 0–74
- Reputable insurance carrier
Why Care Economy?
For anyone who needs fast, affordable proof of health insurance — ideal for guests, visitors, tourists, family visits or job seekers, with doctor/clinic coverage subject to the policy terms and benefits.
Why a 2-year coverage term?
More flexibility when plans are uncertain: if your visa, trip or stay is extended, you avoid last-minute renewal stress and reduce the risk of a coverage gap.
- 🏛️ HanseMerkur Insurance Group Hamburg – Advigon Insurance AG
- 📄 Instant proof of insurance for visas & immigration authorities (PDF)
- 🔒 Doctor, clinic, dental emergency & repatriation coverage
- 🏷️ From €30 / 30 days · up to 2 years possible
→ Complete the application, receive your instant PDF, submit your proof
Care Visa Protect
from only €0.85 / day (1–92 days possible)
For Schengen visas, tourists, family visits & business travel
- Proof of insurance for visas & immigration authorities quickly available (PDF)
- Meets Schengen visa insurance requirements
- Affordable coverage from €0.85/day (minimum premium applies)
- Doctor, hospital, prescription medication & dental emergency coverage
- For Germany, Austria, the EU/Schengen Area, Liechtenstein or Switzerland
- Ideal for short stays, family visits, tourists & business travelers
- Multiple-visa option: several trips up to a total of 92 days/year
- Must be purchased before entry
- Age-based rates: from €0.85/day up to age 64 · from €2.60/day for ages 65–74
- Coverage term: 1–92 days · entry age 0–74
Why Care Visa Protect?
For foreign visitors with a Schengen visa who need fast, affordable proof of insurance for an embassy, visa office or immigration authority — suitable for tourists, family visits and short business trips.
Why a 92-day coverage term?
Ideal for typical short stays and Schengen trips: enough coverage for a visit, vacation or business trip — without buying long-term insurance.
- 🏛️ HanseMerkur Travel Insurance AG, Hamburg
- 📄 Instant proof of insurance for visas & immigration authorities (PDF)
- 🔒 Doctor, clinic, dental emergency & repatriation coverage
- 🏷️ From €0.85 / day · coverage up to 92 days
→ Complete the application, receive your instant PDF, submit your proof
Care Economy — all prices by age & tier
Quick answer: Care Economy — the recommended private Incoming tariff for foreign visitors, tourists and Chancenkarte holders in Germany — is a single tariff priced per day, with two age bands (up to 64 / 65–74) and an optional deductible. Entry rate is €1.00/day (≈ €30 per 30 days) for ages up to 64 with deductible, short contracts. The full daily-rate matrix below shows every combination, up to 730 days (≈ 2 years). The PDF certificate is typically accepted by German embassies and the Ausländerbehörde.
| 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which insurance do German embassies accept for visitor visas?
Care Visa Protect (Schengen) and Care Economy (national / longer visits) — both meet the EU 810/2009 minimum of €30,000 medical cover and include repatriation.
How long can I stay on Care Economy as a visitor?
Care Economy can be booked for 1 day up to 2 years, ideal for tourist, family-visit and Chancenkarte stays in Germany.
Does the visitor insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No. Both Care Economy and Care Visa Protect cover acute illness and emergencies only — pre-existing conditions and pregnancy are excluded by the insurer.
Over 10,000 policies issued · Since 2009
Ready to apply? Pick the visitor plan that fits your stay.
Visiting longer than 2 years or turning the visit into residence? Care Expatriate (up to 5 years) is the long-stay fallback under § 5 AufenthG.