Applying for Private health insurance (PKV) requires three things: a valid ID card or passport, a German address, and proof that your income is above the income threshold. Employees prove income with a signed work contract valid for at least 12 months. Freelancers and self-employed applicants prove income with signed client contracts or letters of intent plus bank statements from the last 3 months. Without acceptable proof of income, an application for Private health insurance (PKV) cannot be accepted.
What income documents do I need if I'm employed by a German company?
It depends on how long you've been resident in Germany.
Resident for more than 12 months. You don't need to submit your employment contract.
Resident for less than 12 months. Upload your signed employment contract. It has to show
The start date of your employment.
Validity for at least 12 months from the start date of your Private health insurance (PKV) policy.
A salary above the income threshold.
Signatures from both you and your employer.
What income documents do I need if I'm self-employed or working for an employer outside Germany?
Your income has to meet the threshold our provider sets, which is separate from the legal income threshold that applies to employees of a German company. We currently accept applications from self-employed applicants and people working for an employer abroad earning above EUR 25,000 a year from that work.
Proof needed depends on how long you've been resident in Germany. Either way, you state your income amount during the application.
Resident for more than 12 months. In most cases, you can skip submitting income proof.
Resident for less than 12 months. Submit the documents listed below.
The documents are:
Required — work contracts or letters of intent. If you work with multiple clients, submit one contract for each client. Each contract must be signed by you and your client, state the start date, duration, rates, and working hours, and show that your expected income meets the income threshold for the next 12 months.
Required — bank statements from the last 3 months. These statements show a consistent income flow. Proof of savings is not accepted as income.
Optional — supporting documents. You can add invoices, paychecks, business plans, recent tax assessments, or BWA statements (Betriebswirtschaftliche Auswertung, a German business performance report).
What income documents do I need if I work for an employer outside Germany?
For Private health insurance (PKV) purposes, you're treated as self-employed, even though you have an employer, so the same income rules and similar documents apply.
Whether you need to submit proof depends on how long you've been resident in Germany, on the same terms as a self-employed applicant. Where the documents above ask for client contracts, your signed employment contract serves that purpose.
What income documents do I need if I live on pension or investment income?
Your income has to meet the threshold our provider sets (60k in 2026).
When proof is requested, we accept documents that show regular income from your source, such as:
Investment or portfolio statements.
Rental contracts, along with bank statements showing the rent arriving.
A pension statement.
Proof of savings is not accepted as income, since what we need to see is income arriving regularly rather than a balance held. If you're not sure whether your income qualifies or which document to use, you can contact our support team for more assistance or additional resources.
What happens if my income is below the threshold or I can't provide proof?
Your application can't be accepted. If you're employed by a German company, a salary above the income threshold is a legal condition for joining Private health insurance (PKV) and can't be waived. If you're self-employed or working for an employer abroad, the threshold is set by our provider rather than by law, but it still has to be met.
What other documents do I need to apply for Private health insurance (PKV)?
We ask for two documents during the Private health insurance (PKV) application:
A valid ID card or passport.
A German address. If you don't have a German address yet, we use a placeholder address during your application.
How can I avoid delays when I submit my application documents?
Missing documents or unclear information delay the approval of a Private health insurance (PKV) application. Check that every document is complete, legible, and signed by all required parties before you submit it.