The Federal Republic of Germany is the number one destination in the overall segment of health-oriented and medical tourism. It is estimated that an approximate number of 250 thousand people from 177 countries receive medical treatment in Germany annually. These patients are mainly from neighbouring countries as France, the Netherlands and Poland. The country benefits around €1.2 million per year from medical tourism.
Citizens of many countries can travel to Germany without applying for a visa. Please check the website of your country’s German embassy for more information.
The visa most easily obtained for those requiring medical treatment in Germany is a Schengen tourist visa or a Type C visa for medical treatment.
Each applicant will be required to complete an application form, including children. For people who are undergoing medical treatment or need medical advice, please do not hesitate to contact the clinic for support in all matters relating to your visa application.
A German medical Visa is a permit that allows its holder to enter Germany to seek and receive medical treatment. This visa gives the right to foreigners to get any kind of medical service they need inside Germany, as long as they can afford it financially.
Eligibility of a Medical Visa to Germany
Even though many can enter and seek medical services in Germany without having to follow any procedure in advance, many others cannot. Due to the German travelling and immigration policies, many will need to obtain a visa before getting on a trip to a Western European country. It is ideal to state that about 62 nationals can visit Germany and stay for 90-180 without a visa. These nationals are members of the European nation and those with a reciprocal visa treaty with Germany. The list of these countries is available on the German immigration office website.
Furthermore, the applicant may have to obtain a National Medical visa, even if you belong to one of the countries mentioned on the site.
You will only be exempt from obtaining a visa for medical treatment in this case are only if you are a national of one of the following: EU / EEA / EFTA, Australia, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Canada, And New Zealand. The Republic of South Korea and the United States of America.
How to apply
To get a medical visa to Germany international patients will follow the steps below
- Make a Medical Appointment: Before applying for a visa, arrange a medical appointment or treatment with a German healthcare facility. Secure all the necessary documentation related to the treatment.
- Prepare Documentation: Gather the required documents as outlined in the previous section.
- Submit Application: Submit your visa application to the German embassy or consulate in your home country. It’s important to apply at least 3 to 6 weeks before your intended travel date, as processing times may vary.
- Attend Visa Interview: In some cases, you may be required to attend a visa interview where you will present your documents and explain your medical needs. Be prepared to answer questions related to your health condition and the treatment in Germany.
- Visa Approval: After reviewing your application, the embassy or consulate will make a decision. If approved, you will receive a medical visa for Germany.
Where to Apply for a Medical Treatment Visa
Depending on how the German embassy has regulated visa application submission in your country, you may have to apply for a German medical visa at:
- The German Embassy in your home country
- A German consulate in your home country
- A visa center to which the German embassy has outsourced visa submission
However, it is the German embassy the only one responsible for visa application processing, regardless of your nationality or visa type.
Germany Medical Treatment Visa Application, Documents and Requirements
Foreign nationals going to Germany for medical treatment will be required to do the visa application with the following.
- A Well filled application form is downloaded online. Please be careful to choose the right form, since the short-stay visa form differs from the long-stay visa form. Take care to give the correct information. Print the form twice and sign both copies at the end.
- Two passport photographs. These photos should be identical and taken within the last three months according to the visa requirement.
- Valid passport. Your passport should be no older than 10 years and with a validity of three months beyond your planned date of return to your home country.
- A copy of your passport’s data page (A4 size copy).
- Europe Travel Health Insurance. A letter issued by your health insurance company confirms you have travel insurance, which covers any medical emergency or hospitalization with a minimum of €30,000.
- Flight reservations, rail tickets, and others.
- Leave letter of your company. If you are an employee, you should submit this letter to your employer, which confirms the dates of your leave.
- Documents confirming the applicant’s need for health treatment, are as:
- Certificate from a medical doctor confirming the need for specific medical treatment in Germany
- Certificate from a medical doctor confirming that necessary treatment can be provided by a clinic/hospital in Germany
- Proof of an appointment made at this clinic/hospital
- Proof of advance payment of the treatment / financial arrangements with the medical doctor in Germany
- Correspondence between the sending medical doctor and the receiving medical doctor
- A guarantee letter from the applicant to assure the patient’s capacity to cope with the extra medical costs (when expecting unforeseen costs of medical treatment to happen)
- confirmed Accommodation in the Medical Clinic
- Proof of accommodation. If you are going to stay at a hospital throughout your whole period in Germany, you should submit a confirmation by this hospital to prove that. If not, then you should submit either a hotel booking or a rental contract, where you will be staying.
- Proof of civil status: this is applicable if the Patient will need assistance from personnel whose visa will be tied to his or her visa. Here Marriage certificate of the Spouse, the birth certificate of the children
- Proof of financial status: In addition to the documents regarding health treatment listed above, you will have to submit proof you are capable of covering any other expenses. You can do so through a bank statement or letter of sponsorship through which another party confirm they will be covering your expenses. According to your employment status, you also need to submit:
- If employed: Pay slips of the past three months, employment contract and leave permission.
- If self-employed: Certificate of Proprietorship or other proof of ownership (proof of land title, proof of income from agriculture (sales form) etc.)
- If studying: proof of enrollment and no objection letter from the university.
- If retired: pension statement of the latest 6 months.
On the other hand, if you are applying to get a visa for your minor child who needs medical services offered in Germany, you should also submit the following documents:
- Birth Certificate. Provide this certificate in original, accompanied by a copy.
- Letter of Consent from the other parent. A formal document from the other parent, translated into English or German language and notarized, stating he/she has no objection about their child travelling with you only, if applicable.
- Letter of Consent from both parents. A formal document from you and the other parent of your child, translated in an English or German language and notarized, stating they have no objection to your child travelling with a third person, if applicable.
- Death certificate of the other parent. In case the other parent of your child has passed away.
Germany Medical Visa Fee
The fee you need to pay for a Medical visa to Germany depends on the period you need to remain in Germany to fully receive your treatment.
If you are coming to Germany to receive your treatment for a shorter period than three months, then you will have to pay a fee of €60. If you are under the age of 12, you will need to pay a reduced fee of €35. There are some categories, which should pay, either a reduced fee or are exempt from paying the fee at all.
On the other hand, if you intend to remain in Germany for more than 3 months under a long-stay visa, you will have to pay a fee of €75.
Note that these fees are non- non-refundable.
Visa Processing Time
A German embassy anywhere in the world, takes from 10 to 15 days to process a visa application. Delays may happen at times when the embassy is accepting a lot of applications. However, if your health condition has suddenly worsened, and you urgently need a visa, your application may be processed more quickly than normal.
Germany Medical Visa Validity
When it comes to visa validity, how long you will be permitted to remain in Germany, depends on the visa you have applied for.
If you have applied for a short-stay visa, you can either get a visa with an appointed number of days i.e. 15 days, or get a multiple-entry visa. The multiple entry visa permits you to enter and leave Schengen as many times as you want, as long as you do not stay more than 90 days within six months.
On the other hand, if you get a long-stay visa, you may be permitted to remain in Germany for up to 12 months. After the expiration of your visa, if you need to remain in Germany for a longer period to complete your treatment, you can apply for a visa extension.
Germany Medical Visa Extension
You can extend your medical treatment visa only in case your health has not improved and you need to receive medical treatment further, which you cannot receive in your home country. To do so you should obtain documents from the hospital where you receive this treatment, and the doctors that treat you. These documents must confirm your need to remain in Germany longer than the validity of your visa.
Please take care to apply for a visa extension before the expiration of your current visa. If your visa expires first, you will no longer be able to apply for an extension.