To apply for a German blue card visa, you must have long-term German health insurance — either public health insurance (GKV) or comprehensive private health insurance (PKV) — starting on your employment date. Because that coverage only begins on your first day of work, you also need expat health insurance to bridge the period between your arrival and your employment start date. At the visa appointment, you present proof of both your expat coverage and your upcoming public or private coverage.
What health insurance do I need for a German blue card visa?
For a German blue card visa, you must have long-term German health insurance from your employment start date — either public health insurance (GKV) or comprehensive private health insurance (PKV). Which option applies depends on your income: if your annual gross salary is above €77,400 (the 2026 threshold), you can choose either public or private health insurance; if it is below that threshold, you are generally required to have public health insurance. Because this coverage only starts on your first day of employment, you also need expat health insurance to cover the gap between your arrival in Germany and your employment start date.
How does expat health insurance help meet blue card visa requirements?
Expat health insurance covers accidents, emergencies, and new illnesses that begin after the policy starts, which fulfills the legal requirement to hold continuous health insurance in Germany. It works as a temporary bridge for the period between your arrival in Germany and the start of your employment, until your public or private health insurance takes over.
What documents do I need to show at my blue card visa appointment?
For your visa appointment, you need to present 2 documents:
Your Anlage 6, which is the official proof of your expat health insurance covering the period from your arrival until your public or private health insurance begins.
Proof that your public or private health insurance will start on your employment start date.
We recommend setting up the switch to public or private health insurance in your account as soon as you sign up for expat health insurance, so both documents are ready before your appointment.
How do I sign up for expat health insurance and set up the switch to public or private health insurance?
To have both required documents ready for your visa appointment, complete these steps:
Select your expat health insurance policy.
Choose the option to switch to public or private health insurance.
Complete the required questions and sign-up process, selecting your employment start date as the start date of your public or private health insurance.
We manage the cancellation of your expat health insurance and coordinate the coverage dates so there is no gap or overlap.
Can I apply for public or private health insurance without expat health insurance?
Yes. If you already have another insurance policy covering your arrival period, you can apply directly for public or private health insurance. You can start the application even before you have a German address, provided you have an employment contract.
Where can I find more information or a quote for private health insurance?
You can get personal quotes and coverage details for comprehensive private health insurance (PKV) here. Signing up online is quick, and your coverage can begin on your selected date once your application is confirmed. For more detail, see the private health insurance FAQs. You can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
What documentation will I receive, and how do I get my social security number (SVNR)?
After you sign up for any health insurance policy, you receive confirmation-of-coverage documents. You can submit these to your visa office to support your blue card visa application.
Your social security number (SVNR) is not generated when you sign up for expat health insurance. It is generated only once you enroll in public or private health insurance, after which it is sent to you automatically within a few weeks. If you sign up for public health insurance (GKV) through us, we can also request the SVNR electronically, which can speed up the process.