What health insurance cover do I need for a German student visa?

For a national (D) student visa, the required cover and its duration are set by your German mission's leaflet (Merkblatt) for that visa category or by the Auslandsportal. The often-quoted €30,000 minimum cover is officially stated for Schengen (short-stay) visas, so don't treat it as the rule for a national study visa.

#Think in two periods

• From entry until enrolment: Check the checklist for which insurance (and for how many days) the mission accepts for this period. As an example, the leaflet of German missions in Türkiye for the language-course visa requires private health insurance valid for the entire visa period (365 days), covering outpatient and inpatient treatment, and says travel insurance is usually not sufficient. This has not been confirmed for the study visa.
• After enrolment: Students enrolled at a state or state-recognised university are, as a rule, compulsorily insured in statutory health insurance (GKV) until they complete their 30th year of life (§ 5(1) no. 9 SGB V).

#Do I have to switch to private insurance after 30?

No. Once you complete your 30th year, compulsory student insurance generally ends (exceptions apply if the type of education or family/personal reasons justify it). Your membership then automatically continues as voluntary GKV membership, unless you declare your exit within two weeks of your insurer's notice and prove other cover (§ 188(4) SGB V). Contributions for voluntary membership are calculated differently from the student rate – ask your insurer.

#Practical tip

Before buying a policy, read the mission's current checklist and make sure the start date, duration and scope (outpatient/inpatient) match what it requires.

Official information: tuerkei.diplo.de – health insurance