Health insurance for students from China in Germany is regulated in two places: in the compulsory insurance rules for students and in the visa process. Chinese students need proof of health cover for their visa application before they arrive. This guide explains both routes, the deadlines for an exemption, and a worked example with 2026 contribution figures.
Short answer: Students in Germany are generally required to hold statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV) until they turn 30, unless an exemption applies. A worked example gives about 112 euros per month for health insurance in 2026 (assumption: supplementary contribution of 2.9 percent). The diplomatic mission (Auslandsvertretung) sets the proof required for the visa. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Students are generally compulsorily insured in the statutory health insurance until they turn 30 (§ 5 para. 1 no. 9 SGB V).
- An exemption is only possible if you can prove that you have other coverage for illness. The application must reach your health insurer within three months of the start of compulsory insurance (§ 8 SGB V).
- The Federal Foreign Office requires proof of health insurance for national visas. With statutory insurance, an incoming or travel insurance covering the first three months in Germany is enough for the transition period. With private insurance, cover must last for the entire visa period (status: August 2026).
- In the worked example, health and long-term care insurance together come to about 143 to 148 euros per month (assumption: you do not live with your parents, status: September 2026).
- Compulsory student insurance generally ends when you turn 30. After that, the rules for voluntary or private insurance apply, with different contributions.
When are you compulsorily insured as a student from China?
Compulsory insurance starts when you enrol at a university. It applies to students up to the age of 30 who are not already compulsorily or family-insured through another route (§ 5 para. 1 no. 9 and para. 7 SGB V). If you already have compulsory insurance in Germany, for example through vocational training, the student insurance does not apply.
A special case is the preparatory college (Studienkolleg). According to the Federal Foreign Office, statutory insurance does not yet apply there. For that period you must show a private incoming insurance that covers the visa period or runs until the start of your studies.
Which exemption is possible, and what are the deadlines?
If you already have other cover, you can apply for an exemption from compulsory statutory insurance (§ 8 SGB V). The exemption only takes effect once you prove that other cover for illness exists. Whether cover from your home country counts as equivalent is decided by the health insurer in each case. Do not rely on informal advice: ask for written confirmation. An overview of offers for international students is available in Krankenkasse für internationale Studierende.
Three points are decisive:
- The application must be submitted to the health insurer within three months of the start of compulsory insurance.
- The exemption takes effect from the start of compulsory insurance if no benefits have been claimed by then. Otherwise it starts in the calendar month after the application.
- Once granted, an exemption cannot be revoked. Consider the step carefully before you apply.
Which routes are open to you? A comparison
| Route | Suitable for | What you must prove | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory health insurance as a student | Students up to the age of 30 | Enrolment at a university | From enrolment |
| Exemption with other cover | Students with equivalent cover for illness | Other entitlement to cover for illness | Application within three months |
| Private health insurance | Under-30s who want private cover (only with an exemption) and students aged 30 or over | Cover for the full visa period, not limited to emergencies | Clarify before the visa application |
| Voluntary statutory insurance | People who are no longer subject to the student obligation | Application to the health insurer | After the obligation ends |
Sources for these figures are listed at the end of this guide. The overview does not replace a check of your individual situation.
What does statutory insurance cost? A worked example
Contributions for students are based on an assessment base derived from the BAföG living allowance (§ 236 SGB V). For students who do not live with their parents, this base is 855 euros per month. The student contribution is 7/10 of the general rate of 14.6 percent, which gives 10.22 percent (§ 245 SGB V). Your insurer’s supplementary contribution is added in full. For more detail, see Studentische Krankenversicherung 2026 (in German).
| Component | Amount per month | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health insurance without supplementary contribution (855 euros x 10.22 percent) | 87.38 euros | January 2026 | GKV-Spitzenverband |
| Supplementary contribution as an average (assumption 2.9 percent) | 24.80 euros | September 2026 | Federal Ministry of Health |
| Long-term care insurance (855 euros x 3.6 percent) | 30.78 euros | January 2026 | GKV-Spitzenverband |
| Long-term care insurance with childless surcharge from age 23 (855 euros x 4.2 percent) | 35.91 euros | January 2026 | GKV-Spitzenverband |
Here is how to calculate it step by step:
- Assessment base: 855.00 euros per month (assumption: you do not live with your parents).
- Health insurance without supplementary contribution: 855.00 x 10.22 percent = 87.38 euros.
- Supplementary contribution (assumption 2.9 percent): 855.00 x 2.9 percent = 24.80 euros.
- Total health insurance: 87.38 + 24.80 = 112.18 euros.
- Long-term care insurance: 855.00 x 3.6 percent = 30.78 euros. From age 23, without a child, the surcharge applies: 855.00 x 4.2 percent = 35.91 euros.
- Total without the childless surcharge: 112.18 + 30.78 = 142.96 euros. Total with the surcharge: 112.18 + 35.91 = 148.09 euros.
Your actual amount depends on your health insurer, your living situation and your age. As a student you bear the long-term care contribution yourself.
When does private health insurance suit you, and when does it not?
Private health insurance can be a sensible choice if you want to meet the visa requirement with cover for the full visa period, or if you want to insure specific services individually. Each option has advantages and drawbacks that depend on your circumstances.
- Private insurers usually accept applicants only after a health check.
- The premium depends on your age at entry and on the tariff, and it can change over time.
- Without an exemption, private insurance is not an option for students under 30.
For a personal assessment of your situation, you can contact Academycon’s advice service.
What does the diplomatic mission require in the visa process?
Proof of health insurance is one of the documents you submit with your visa application. The Federal Foreign Office describes the general requirements but does not list individual missions. Which documents the mission in China requires, and in what form, is set out in its guidance for student visas. Read it completely before you apply, because experience reports from others may be out of date.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to join statutory health insurance as a student from China?
Until you turn 30, you are generally compulsorily insured in statutory health insurance as a student. A private policy is only possible under the age of 30 with an exemption. What matters, therefore, is whether you can prove equivalent cover and file the application on time.
Can my insurance from China be used for the exemption?
It can, if the policy gives you an entitlement to cover for illness that your health insurer recognises as equivalent. The insurer checks this case by case. Ask for the decision in writing before you rely on it, and keep all documents. The three-month deadline applies in any case.
Is a travel insurance enough for the visa?
For the transition period until statutory insurance starts, the Federal Foreign Office accepts an incoming or travel insurance that is valid in Germany for the first three months. If you want to stay privately insured, you need cover for the full visa period that is not limited to emergencies. A pure travel insurance is generally not enough for that.
Does the cover also apply at the preparatory college?
According to the Federal Foreign Office, statutory insurance does not yet apply at the preparatory college. A private incoming insurance must be shown that covers the visa period or runs until the start of your studies. Clarify the exact duration with the diplomatic mission and your university.
What does voluntary insurance cost once the student obligation ends?
From the end of the student obligation, voluntary members are assessed on a minimum assessment base of 1,318.33 euros per month (status: January 2026, GKV-Spitzenverband). With the reduced rate of 14.0 percent and a supplementary contribution of 2.9 percent, health insurance comes to 222.80 euros. Including long-term care insurance without the childless surcharge, the total is about 270 euros per month (assumption: supplementary contribution 2.9 percent).
What to do now
- Check your age and the date of your enrolment. This determines which insurance obligation applies to you.
- Ask the responsible diplomatic mission for its guidance on student visas and note which health insurance proofs it requires.
- Decide whether you stay in statutory insurance or apply for an exemption. You must apply within three months of the start of compulsory insurance.
- Ask your current insurer for written confirmation of the benefits it covers before you submit the application.
- Clarify open questions with your university’s international office. For a personal assessment, Academycon’s advice service is also available.
Related reading
- Health Insurance for International Students in Germany
- Public or Private Health Insurance for International Students
- Studying in Germany from China: health insurance, blocked account and visa 2026
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z
- Krankenversicherung für Studierende aus Indien in Deutschland
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Health insurance cover for national visa applications (in German, status: August 2026); § 5 SGB V, compulsory insurance (in German, retrieved October 2026); § 8 SGB V, exemption (in German, retrieved October 2026); GKV-Spitzenverband, Fact sheet on contribution calculation parameters 2026 (in German, status: January 2026); Federal Ministry of Health, Contributions to statutory health insurance (in German, status: September 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
