Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In Germany

Checked on 23 October 2026

How do I get health cover when I move to Germany?

In Germany, everyone who is domiciled there must have health insurance, either statutory (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) or private (private Krankenversicherung, PKV). If you fall under the statutory scheme, you freely choose your Krankenkasse (health insurance fund) among the open funds, and it gives you your card, the elektronische Gesundheitskarte (eGK). The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is only for a temporary stay: once you have settled, you need a German fund.

Costs: Statutory insurance: 14.6% of income subject to contributions + supplementary contribution specific to each fund (2026 average: 2.9%)
Timeframes: Varies by fund

Steps

Determine your scheme. If you are an employee, you fall in principle under the statutory scheme. Above an annual salary of €77,400 (2026 threshold, Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze), an employee is no longer compulsorily insured in the statutory scheme and can choose private insurance.
Choose your Krankenkasse. You can choose the AOK of your place of work or residence, any Ersatzkasse, a BKK or IKK open to everyone under its statutes, the Knappschaft, or your spouse's fund.
Tell your employer which fund you have chosen: they register you and deduct your share of the contribution from your salary.
Receive your eGK card and show it at the doctor's, at the hospital and at the pharmacy.
If you remain insured in another EU or EEA country, in Switzerland or in the United Kingdom (pensioner paid by that country, posted worker, cross-border worker), ask your home fund for form S1. You register with this form with a German Krankenkasse of your choice, which gives you an eGK.

Documents

Identity document and, generally, your Meldebescheinigung (certificate of residence): the exact list depends on the fund.
Form S1 if your cover remains the responsibility of another country (pension, posting, cross-border work).
EHIC, valid only for care during a temporary stay (before settling, or while travelling).

Costs and timelines

Contribution to the statutory scheme (2026): general rate of 14.6% of income subject to contributions (14.0% without entitlement to sickness allowance), plus a supplementary contribution (Zusatzbeitrag) set by each fund; the published average for 2026 is 2.9%.
Employees: the contribution, supplementary contribution included, is shared equally between you and your employer.
2026 ceiling: contributions are calculated on €5,812.50 per month at most (€69,750 per year).
Commitment: you remain in principle bound to your fund for twelve months. If it raises its Zusatzbeitrag, you have a special right to cancel.
Private insurance: premiums set by each insurer.

Common pitfalls

Staying on the EHIC after settling. It covers a temporary stay, and only care within the public system. Once domiciled in Germany, the insurance obligation applies.
Comparing only the Zusatzbeitrag. Funds also differ in their services; the base rate of 14.6% is the same everywhere.
Switching to private insurance without advice. The choice between the statutory scheme and private insurance commits you in the long term: get advice before leaving the statutory scheme.
Forgetting the family. The statutory scheme insures your spouse or registered partner and your children free of charge (Familienversicherung) if they live in Germany, do not have their own compulsory insurance, are not mainly self-employed and have a regular total income of at most one seventh of the Bezugsgröße per month (about €565 in 2026, calculated on €3,955; the limit is €603 for a family member in a Minijob). Children are covered up to age 18, 23 if they do not work, 25 if they are in studies or training, with no age limit in case of disability if the child cannot support themselves. Exception: if the other parent (spouse or partner of the member) is not a member of any fund, regularly earns more than you and more than one twelfth of the annual limit of €77,400 per month (€6,450 with the 2026 threshold), the children are not covered (§ 10 SGB V). Declare them to your fund.

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: same obligation as Germans as soon as you are domiciled. If you remain insured in your country (S1), you register with a German fund of your choice, which manages your care on behalf of your country.
Swiss citizens: same logic: Swiss EHIC for a temporary stay, S1 if Switzerland remains responsible, otherwise affiliation in Germany.
British citizens (Scots included): third-country nationals since Brexit, but the Withdrawal Agreement and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement maintain coordination for health: the British card (GHIC or EHIC) is valid for a temporary stay, and a person insured in the United Kingdom who lives in Germany registers, like a European, with a German fund of their choice.

Official sources (10) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in Germany.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

For a Schengen short-stay visa, you must show travel medical insurance covering urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment and repatriation (including in case of death), valid in all Schengen countries, with at least €30,000 of cover (Visa Code, Article 15). For long stays, the EU directives ask for sickness insurance covering the risks normally covered for nationals of the destination, for example for students, family members, Blue Card holders and long-term residents. The exact proof, and whether you must buy private insurance or can join the public system, depend on the destination.

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In Germany

Checked on 23 October 2026

How do I get health cover when I move to Germany?

Costs: Statutory insurance: 14.6% of income subject to contributions + supplementary contribution specific to each fund (2026 average: 2.9%)
Timeframes: Varies by fund

Steps

Determine your scheme. If you are an employee, you fall in principle under the statutory scheme. Above an annual salary of €77,400 (2026 threshold, Jahresarbeitsentgeltgrenze), an employee is no longer compulsorily insured in the statutory scheme and can choose private insurance.
Choose your Krankenkasse. You can choose the AOK of your place of work or residence, any Ersatzkasse, a BKK or IKK open to everyone under its statutes, the Knappschaft, or your spouse's fund.
Tell your employer which fund you have chosen: they register you and deduct your share of the contribution from your salary.
Receive your eGK card and show it at the doctor's, at the hospital and at the pharmacy.
If you remain insured in another EU or EEA country, in Switzerland or in the United Kingdom (pensioner paid by that country, posted worker, cross-border worker), ask your home fund for form S1. You register with this form with a German Krankenkasse of your choice, which gives you an eGK.

Documents

Identity document and, generally, your Meldebescheinigung (certificate of residence): the exact list depends on the fund.
Form S1 if your cover remains the responsibility of another country (pension, posting, cross-border work).
EHIC, valid only for care during a temporary stay (before settling, or while travelling).

Costs and timelines

Contribution to the statutory scheme (2026): general rate of 14.6% of income subject to contributions (14.0% without entitlement to sickness allowance), plus a supplementary contribution (Zusatzbeitrag) set by each fund; the published average for 2026 is 2.9%.
Employees: the contribution, supplementary contribution included, is shared equally between you and your employer.
2026 ceiling: contributions are calculated on €5,812.50 per month at most (€69,750 per year).
Commitment: you remain in principle bound to your fund for twelve months. If it raises its Zusatzbeitrag, you have a special right to cancel.
Private insurance: premiums set by each insurer.

Common pitfalls

Staying on the EHIC after settling. It covers a temporary stay, and only care within the public system. Once domiciled in Germany, the insurance obligation applies.
Comparing only the Zusatzbeitrag. Funds also differ in their services; the base rate of 14.6% is the same everywhere.
Switching to private insurance without advice. The choice between the statutory scheme and private insurance commits you in the long term: get advice before leaving the statutory scheme.
Forgetting the family. The statutory scheme insures your spouse or registered partner and your children free of charge (Familienversicherung) if they live in Germany, do not have their own compulsory insurance, are not mainly self-employed and have a regular total income of at most one seventh of the Bezugsgröße per month (about €565 in 2026, calculated on €3,955; the limit is €603 for a family member in a Minijob). Children are covered up to age 18, 23 if they do not work, 25 if they are in studies or training, with no age limit in case of disability if the child cannot support themselves. Exception: if the other parent (spouse or partner of the member) is not a member of any fund, regularly earns more than you and more than one twelfth of the annual limit of €77,400 per month (€6,450 with the 2026 threshold), the children are not covered (§ 10 SGB V). Declare them to your fund.

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: same obligation as Germans as soon as you are domiciled. If you remain insured in your country (S1), you register with a German fund of your choice, which manages your care on behalf of your country.
Swiss citizens: same logic: Swiss EHIC for a temporary stay, S1 if Switzerland remains responsible, otherwise affiliation in Germany.
British citizens (Scots included): third-country nationals since Brexit, but the Withdrawal Agreement and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement maintain coordination for health: the British card (GHIC or EHIC) is valid for a temporary stay, and a person insured in the United Kingdom who lives in Germany registers, like a European, with a German fund of their choice.

Official sources (10) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in Germany.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

In Germany

How do I get health cover when I move to Germany?

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics

Healthcare

In Germany

How do I get health cover when I move to Germany?

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics