--- title: "Opportunity Card Health Insurance 2026 – Proof & Cost" url: https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/opportunity-card-health-insurance-germany-2026-requirement-cost/ description: "Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): which health-insurance proof the immigration office requires, what it costs (from €30/30 days) and which plan fits the job search. Legal basis Section 20a Residence Act. 2026." lang: en --- # Opportunity Card & health insurance 2026: which proof, what cost, which plan? Written by **Steffan Grund (https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/author/steffan-grund/)** — Versicherungsfachmann (BWV), insurance specialist · Reviewed 2026 Image: Opportunity Card applicant checking health-insurance proof for Germany (https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/assets/chancenkarte-krankenversicherung-CF9jnEoy.jpg) **Quick answer:** For the German Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte, Section 20a of the Residence Act) you must prove recognised health cover for the entire planned stay — already when you apply. Without employment subject to social insurance, statutory health insurance (GKV) is usually not accessible; the usual route is private “incoming” insurance. Suitable cover starts at about from €30/30 days (up to age 64). ## Does the Opportunity Card need health insurance — and from when? The Opportunity Card is a points-based job-search visa under Section 20a of the Residence Act and, in 2026, usually runs for up to one year. Proof is needed for both issuance and renewal: from day 1, without gaps and for the planned duration. Section 2(3) requires “adequate health cover”; Section 5(1) sets the general conditions for issuing a residence title. Without a job subject to social insurance, statutory GKV is usually not accessible. ## Which health insurance does the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) accept for the Opportunity Card? | Insurance type | For the Opportunity Card? | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | Travel health insurance | ✗ usually not | often a 90-day limit; does not cover the full stay | | Private incoming insurance (e.g. Care Economy) | ✓ usually accepted | full duration, instant PDF, no health check, from €30/30 days | | Statutory insurance (GKV) | ✗ usually no access before a job | only with employment subject to social insurance | ## What does Opportunity Card health insurance cost in 2026? | Situation | Plan | Entry price | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Job-search phase / flexible bridge | private incoming insurance (e.g. Care Economy) | from €30/30 days (up to age 64); insurable to 74 | daily, up to 2 years | | Foreseeably long stay / switch to residence permit after a job offer | Care Expatriate | from €58/month (ages 13–40) · from €68 (ages 41–60) | up to 5 years | | After employment subject to social insurance | GKV | ~14–18% of gross, split employer/employee (2026) | open-ended | **Health insurance for the Opportunity Card:** from €30/30 days (Care Economy, up to age 64, daily, no health check, instant PDF). **The immigration office usually accepts** private incoming insurance for the full stay for the Opportunity Card — not a 90-day travel policy. ## Travel, incoming or statutory insurance — which is right for the Opportunity Card? 1. 1 Cover for the entire planned stay (not just 90 days). 2. 2 Recognised insurer, instant PDF proof for the authority and visa. 3. 3 Outpatient + inpatient cover (+ repatriation). 4. 4 Seamless from day 1 — no gap between entry and job start. 5. 5 A plan to switch to GKV once a job subject to social insurance begins. ## Special cases: family, entry proof, over 64, mini-job ### Family Each person needs their own recognised proof; free family cover like in statutory GKV does not apply during the incoming-insurance phase. ### Entry and application The policy can be taken out in advance. The PDF proof is available instantly and can be attached to the application. ### Over 64 Care Economy is available up to 74, with a higher daily rate from 65. Care Expatriate is also available up to 74. ### Mini-job, self-employment, JAEG These situations can create exceptions from GKV liability. The correct classification should be checked individually. **Proof of funds is separate:** a blocked account or other financing proof is separate from health insurance. Use the current threshold — check with BMI/BAMF because it can change. ## Choose suitable proof for the Opportunity Card Care Economy · from €30/30 days: https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/care-economy/overview/ Care Expatriate · from €58/month (ages 13–40): https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/insurance-plans/care-expatriate/overview/ ## Related Opportunity Card and visa guides - Opportunity Card Germany guide: https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/health-insurance-foreigners-germany/ - Health insurance for a German visa: https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/health-insurance-schengen-visa-foreigners-germany/ - Health insurance for foreign retirees: https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/health-insurance-for-foreign-retirees-in-germany/ - German version of this guide: https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/ratgeber-krankenversicherung-deutschland/chancenkarte-krankenversicherung-2026-nachweis-kosten-tarif/ ## Frequently asked questions about Opportunity Card health insurance Which health insurance do I need for the Opportunity Card? Without a job, statutory GKV is usually not accessible; the usual route is private incoming insurance (e.g. Care Economy, from €30/30 days), which the immigration office accepts as proof. What does Opportunity Card health insurance cost? From €30/30 days (Care Economy, up to age 64). For longer residence-permit cases, Care Expatriate from €58/month (ages 13–40). Is a travel insurance enough? Usually not: travel insurance is mostly capped at 90 days, while the Opportunity Card runs longer. What minimum cover does the authority require? Adequate cover for the full duration (outpatient + inpatient). Unlike the Schengen visa there is no fixed €30,000 figure — comprehensive, recognised cover is what matters. Can I take out the insurance before entry? Yes, commonly: the policy can be arranged in advance, the PDF proof is available instantly and can be attached to the application. Are family members covered? No — each person needs their own recognised proof; free family cover like in the statutory GKV generally does not exist here. I'm over 64 — is that possible? Yes: Care Economy insures up to 74 (higher daily rate from 65); Care Expatriate up to 74. The price depends on the entry-age band. What happens if I find a job? With employment subject to social insurance you usually become GKV-liable (exceptions: mini-job/self-employment/JAEG); the incoming insurance was the bridge and can end to the day. Steffan Grund (https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/en/author/steffan-grund/) — Versicherungsfachmann (BWV), insurance specialist · Reviewed 2026 Comparing and applying through this portal is 100% free for you. Upon successful conclusion of a contract, we receive a commission from the insurer — the premium you pay is identical to the direct premium from the insurer. There are no surcharges, processing or mediation fees for you. Not legal or insurance advice; BAMF and the Ausländerbehörde are authoritative. ## Official sources - BAMF — job search in Germany: https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Arbeit/Hochschulabsolvent/hochschulabsolvent-node.html - Federal Foreign Office — visa service: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service - Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card: https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa-residence/opportunity-card ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung-Auslaender.de", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/", "logo": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/images/logo.jpg", "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+49-228-97735-44", "contactType": "customer service", "availableLanguage": [ "German", "English" ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Krankenversicherung-Auslaender.de", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/", "inLanguage": [ "de", "en" ], "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung-Auslaender.de" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "InsuranceAgency", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de", "alternateName": [ "Krankenversicherung Ausländer Deutschland", "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "Health insurance for foreigners in Germany", "Insurance for expats in Germany", "Insurance for international students in Germany" ], "logo": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/images/logo.jpg", "image": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/images/og/og-krankenversicherung-auslaender.webp", "areaServed": [ "DE", "AT", "EU" ], "audience": { "@type": "Audience", "audienceType": "Foreigners, expats, international students and visa applicants in Germany", "geographicArea": { "@type": "Country", "name": "DE" } }, "knowsAbout": [ "Krankenversicherung Ausländer Deutschland", "Schengen-Visum Krankenversicherung", "Studentische Krankenversicherung", "Expat Krankenversicherung", "Incoming-Versicherung", "Sperrkonto Deutschland" ], "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+49 228 97735-44", "contactType": "customer service", "availableLanguage": [ "German", "English" ] }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.youtube.com/@HealthInsuranceGermany", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25iduYZDlnN60L7D1WUQew" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/autor/steffan-grund/#person", "name": "Steffan Grund", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/autor/steffan-grund/", "image": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/assets/steffan-grund-400-DAssIZFO.webp", "jobTitle": "Versicherungsfachmann (BWV)", "knowsAbout": [ "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer in Deutschland", "Schengen-Visum Krankenversicherung", "GKV-Befreiung Studenten", "Aufenthaltstitel Krankenversicherung", "Incoming-Versicherung" ], "worksFor": { "@type": "InsuranceAgency", "@id": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de/#organization", "name": "Krankenversicherung für Ausländer", "url": "https://www.krankenversicherung-auslaender.de" } }, [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Opportunity Card & health insurance 2026: which proof, what cost, which plan?", "description": "Germany Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): which health-insurance proof the immigration office requires, what it costs (from €30/30 days) and which plan fits the job search. 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For longer residence-permit cases, Care Expatriate from €58/month (ages 13–40)." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is a travel insurance enough?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually not: travel insurance is mostly capped at 90 days, while the Opportunity Card runs longer." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What minimum cover does the authority require?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Adequate cover for the full duration (outpatient + inpatient). Unlike the Schengen visa there is no fixed €30,000 figure — comprehensive, recognised cover is what matters." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I take out the insurance before entry?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, commonly: the policy can be arranged in advance, the PDF proof is available instantly and can be attached to the application." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Are family members covered?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No — each person needs their own recognised proof; free family cover like in the statutory GKV generally does not exist here." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "I'm over 64 — is that possible?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes: Care Economy insures up to 74 (higher daily rate from 65); Care Expatriate up to 74. The price depends on the entry-age band." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What happens if I find a job?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "With employment subject to social insurance you usually become GKV-liable (exceptions: mini-job/self-employment/JAEG); the incoming insurance was the bridge and can end to the day." } } ] } ] ```