In this article
When travelling to the Schengen Area in Europe, visitors must be prepared to handle any unforeseen medical expenses in case of accidents or injuries.
To ensure financial support and peace of mind during their journey, travellers must obtain travel insurance when applying for a Schengen visa.
Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements
Medical insurance for a Schengen visa must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum coverage of medical costs: at least 30,000 EUR (equivalent to 32,500 USD as of February 2024).
- It should cover all member states of the Schengen Area.
- Cover any expenses arising with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent health attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death.
Europ Assistance, a leading travel insurance company and the popular comparison website vti.travel through its partners, offers the essential insurance certificate required for a Schengen visa application. vti.travel by Insurte allows you to compare prices and coverage options from multiple insurers to find the best policy for your needs.
Even though travel health insurance is worth having for all travellers to Europe, not everyone is required to have it. A travel insurance policy is mandatory only for travellers applying for a Schengen visa. This group of travellers is always required to have the needed coverage for the entire period of their stay in Europe, regardless if they go there for business, tourism, studying, holidays, or other reasons.
Foreign travellers visiting Europe who enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen zone can get their preferred European travel insurance policy if they want to, and while it is highly recommended – they are not required to.
The Schengen travel insurance plan “Schengen Plus by Europ Assistance“ provides the mandatory insurance certificate needed for a Schengen visa and offers extended coverage wherever you travel in the Schengen area or in the EU. The countries covered include the Schengen area, plus EU countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Ireland.
Travel Insurance Is a Must When Applying for a Schengen Visa
Extract from “Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009”, which entered into force on April 5, 2010:
“… Applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries shall prove that they own adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States.
The insurance shall be valid throughout the Schengen Area Member States territory and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30,000” (…)
Who Must Purchase Schengen Travel Health Insurance?
Anyone travelling temporarily to the Schengen Zone from a country subject to visa requirements, be it individual visitors or group visitors, tourists, or business travellers.
Who Provides Schengen Medical Insurance?
First and foremost, the health insurance policy you might already possess through your employment contract might cover international medical emergency expenses; however, there are usually limitations to what is covered. Therefore, one shall know what to expect and what not to expect when having a medical issue in Schengen territory.
Usually, travellers purchase an individual Schengen travel insurance policy for the days planned to spend in Europe at the rightful insurance provider.
Make sure the company you choose is licensed and accepted in the Schengen country you are planning to travel to.
We recommend buying Schengen visa insurance from Europ Assistance orthe European comparison website vti.travelpartner ofAXA, Allianz and Mutuaide.All these companies are accepted by European Embassies and Consulates worldwide. You can also cancel it free of charge if you present proof that your visa has been rejected.
How Much Does Schengen Insurance Cost?
Schengen travel insurance can be very affordable, with prices for a one-week insurance policy as low as €18 – €20. However, the cost of Schengen insurance ultimately depends on several factors – your age, how much coverage you want, the trip duration, as well as the specific insurance company.
Here are the travel insurance premiums from Europ Assistance.
| Duration of travel | Schengen (Schengen area only) | Schengen Plus (Extended protection Schengen + EU countries) |
| up to 7 days | 18 EUR | 28 EUR |
| up to 15 days | 30 EUR | 49 EUR |
| up to 31 days | 46 EUR | 73 EUR |
| up to 45 days | 56 EUR | 85 EUR |
| up to 63 days | 72 EUR | 99 EUR |
| up to 90 days | 88 EUR | 125 EUR |
| up to 105 days | 107 EUR | 159 EUR |
| up to 158 days | 165 EUR | 239 EUR |
| up to 365 days | 285 EUR | 429 EUR |
| Find out more | Find out more |
For more information about choosing the best and the cheapest Schengen insurance plan for your needs, please visit Europ Assistance or vti.travel.
Medical Insurance for Seniors
If you want to buy travel insurance for seniors, read our article ““.
Coronavirus & Travel Insurance Restrictions
The World Health Organization (WHO), on March 11, 2020, declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Do Medical Insurance Plans Cover COVID-19?
Yes, some Schengen insurance policies cover COVID-related illness, provided that when you travel, you respect the laws and regulations of your country’s government and the World Health Organization (WHO). COVID-19 insurance covers the following:
- Health emergencies related to COVID-19, including medical treatment, medication, and hospitalization.
- PCR test (sometimes).
Expenses related to quarantine requirements, such as accommodation, are not covered.
The amount of COVID insurance coverage depends on the specific policy. For example, AXA covers your medical and repatriation costs if you fall ill with COVID-19 and “related illnesses”, whereas MondialCare covers all medical consequences of contracting COVID-19 and a positive PCR test (but not a negative one).
On the other hand, under any circ*mstances, some insurance companies do not cover any expenses related to epidemics or pandemics, including COVID-19.
Visit vti.travel, the leading European comparison website in partnership with industry giants AXA, Allianz, and Mutuaide, to confidently browse and compare various insurance policies. With their selection of insurance policies that provide comprehensive coverage for Covid-19, all epidemics, and epidemic quarantine costs, you can enjoy your travels with complete peace of mind. Start comparing now on vti.travel!
Whether an insurance company covers COVID-19 will be stated in their policy features and terms and conditions, so make sure you read the fine print well.
What if the embassy asks for a Schengen insurance certificate with COVID protection?
If your insurance policy includes Schengen protection, it should state so on the certificate. If your insurance certificate does not explicitly state that you have COVID protection, you could ask your insurer to provide you with one that does.
Can I extend my travel insurance policy if I need to prolong my trip due to COVID-19 travel restrictions?
If your trip in Europe is extended due to COVID travel bans, and your travel insurance is about to expire, you can purchase a new insurance policy or renew your existing one. You will, of course, have to pay an additional charge. Check with your travel insurance company regarding their rules on the extension or renewal of a policy.
If I need to prolong my trip due to a closure of the airport or due to official travel restrictions, can I extend my insurance policy?
Each travel insurance company applies its own rules. Contact their customer service/support team to know the details. It should be possible to either get a refund for your current policy or be able to extend your current travel policy.
Helpful Tips About EuropeVisa Insurance
As aforementioned, before purchasing another travel insurance policy for your upcoming travel to Europe, ensure that the one you already have doesn’t cover or alleviate any international health emergency costs.
If your policy covers some international medical costs, carefully check the restrictions and limitations of the travel insurance policy.
If you are travelling by car in the Schengen region and cannot afford to pay crazy amounts of money in case of an unpredictable car accident – or you are not willing to give all that money away, you should consider purchasing combined travel insurance, including health matters as well as valuable possessions.
Depending on the travel destination, the risk of illness varies with the changes in the climate or the natural habitat (unfamiliar microbe residents). It’s highly recommended for people with preexisting conditions like allergies, for example, to carry their medical file from their physician describing the condition and the drugs prescribed to maintain it. In case one has a chronic disease, it’s wise to carry the prescribed drugs in the amount needed for the days spent travelling in Europe.
What Does Schengen Insurance Policy Usually Cover?
A good travel insurance policy for the Schengen area should cover the following costs:
- Medical emergency (accident or sickness) while in the Schengen Area
- Emergency evacuation
- Repatriation of remains
- Return of a minor
- Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit
- Overseas funeral expenses
- Usually, the insurers cover pregnancy-related expenses, if the travel occurs during the first trimester. After that, insurance coverage varies from insurer to insurer.
Travel Medical Insurance policies that fulfil Schengen Visa requirements can be purchased online directly on the website of Europ Assistance or on the European comparison website vti.travel, where you can compare prices and coverage options from industry leaders AXA, Allianz, and Mutuaide.
Can I Get a Schengen Visa Without Travel Insurance?
Every person applying for a Schengen visa to visit Europe must hold a valid travel insurance policy regardless of the reason for travel (tourism, leisure, business, studies or other).
Should Travel Visa Insurance Policy Cover All Schengen Area Countries?
Yes, a travel health insurance policy should cover all member states: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
What Is Presumably Excluded or Optional In a Common Schengen Insurance Policy?
Every travel insurance company is different; however, there are ones that offer to cover additional costs if necessary. If not, additional insurance must be purchased to cover explicit costs like:
- Preexisting conditions(e.g.Asthma,diabetes)
- Sports with an element of risk (e.g. skiing, scuba diving)
- Travel to high-risk countries (e.g. Due towar,natural disastersoracts of terrorism)
- Acute onset of pre-existing conditions – It means a sudden and unexpected occurrence of pre-existing medical conditions without any prior warning from a health care professional. If you have pre-existing conditions, get this coverage to protect you against any emergency that arises due to pre-existing conditions despite taking care.
How To Find Cheap Schengen Travel Insurance?
Finding the right cheap travel visa insurance for Europe calls for individual and more in-depth research. This means having to search online for the appropriate medical insurance policy. It is recommended that you compare products and companies before you decide which company has the cheapest and the best travel insurance for the Schengen visa.
Not to be confused about the price, as not all low-cost travel insurance policies contain low-quality services and not all expensive insurance plans offer a high-quality offer. That is why the safest way to choose amongst boundless offers of medical insurance companies properly is by choosing not the cheapest travel insurance but the policy which covers all the areas as required by the Schengen visa application requirements.
Why Do We Suggest You Choose Europ Assistance or Insurte as Your Medical Insurance Partner When Applying for a Schengen Visa?
- All these companies are top leaders in the travel insurance industry
- They meet all Schengen visa requirements
- Ideal for
- Visitors or guests (visitor visa)
- Business travellers (business visa)
- Tourists (tourist visa)
- Group visitors (visitor visa for travel groups)
- Immediately download your Insurance Certificate / Letter
- Reimbursem*nt in case of visa refusal (free of charge, subject to presentation of proof that a visa has been refused)
Getting your travel visa insurance from Europ Assistance or Vti.Travel by Insurte will allow you to enjoy your travel to the Schengen Area and Europe with peace of mind.
Which Nationals Are Required to Purchase Medical Insurance for a Schengen Visa?
Nationals and passport holders of any of the following countries must buy travel insurance to apply for a Schengen visa.
| Afghanistan | Gabon | Pakistan |
| Algeria | Gambia | Papua New Guinea |
| Angola | Ghana | Palestinian Authority |
| Armenia | Guinea | Philippines |
| Azerbaijan | Guinea-Bissau | Qatar |
| Bahrain | Guyana | Russia |
| Bangladesh | Haiti | Rwanda |
| Belarus | India | Sao Tome And Principe |
| Belize | Indonesia | Saudi Arabia |
| Benin | Iran | Senegal |
| Bhutan | Iraq | Sierra Leone |
| Bolivia | Jamaica | Somalia |
| Botswana | Jordan | South Africa |
| Burkina Faso | Kazakhstan | South Sudan |
| Burma/Myanmar | Kenya | Sri Lanka |
| Burundi | Kuwait | Sudan |
| Cambodia | Kyrgyzstan | Suriname |
| Cameroon | Laos | Swaziland |
| Cape Verde | Lebanon | Syria |
| Central African Republic | Lesotho | Tajikistan |
| Chad | Liberia | Tanzania |
| China | Libya | Thailand |
| Comoros | Madagascar | Timor-Leste |
| Congo | Malawi | Togo |
| Cote D’ivoire | Maldives | Tonga |
| Cuba | Mali | Tunisia |
| Dem. Rep. Of Congo | Mauritania | Turkey |
| Djibouti | Mongolia | Turkmenistan |
| Dominican Republic | Morocco | Uganda |
| Ecuador | Mozambique | Uzbekistan |
| Egypt | Namibia | Vietnam |
| Equatorial Guinea | Nepal | Yemen |
| Eritrea | Niger | Zambia |
| Ethiopia | Nigeria | Zimbabwe |
| Fiji | Northern Mariana’s | |
| North Korea | Oman |
What Is Travel Medical Insurance?
The concept of travel health insurance relates to covering your medical expenses in case of an injury or unexpected sickness that arises during your trip. Whether you need health insurance when travelling to a foreign country depends on the desired destination and the ability to personally cover any health care needs during your stay in a certain foreign country.
However, travel insurance is a must for most people, especially the elderly, who have predetermined medical conditions and are bound to constant therapy or, most importantly, if the traveller’s destination is an underdeveloped region.
Besides medical expenses, travel insurance will cover different losses suffered during the trip, including one’s own country and internationally. Unexpected happenings like lost luggage, cancellation of your flight at the last moment, travel agency or accommodation bankruptcy will ruin your trip. Therefore, a travel insurance policy is designed to provide cancellation insurance by means of a full or partial refund.
Whether you are travelling once or several times during a short period of time, the insurance policy will match and cover the exact number of days spent in the international territory, in this case, the Schengen territory, with the price ranging accordingly.
What Are the Common Restrictions and Limitations?
- As previously mentioned, travel insurance companies don’t cover preexisting conditions internationally. If you have a condition before your departure to Europe, you’ve consulted a doctor and are already on treatment, and you’ve decided to travel out of the country, in this case, you are not prone to any medical cost alleviations via your insurer. However, if one is proclaimed fit to travel having the condition under control, most commonly, travel insurance is ought to cover an unexpected emergency related to the condition when travelling in an international domain, an acute onset of the preexisting condition.
- Sports – Participation in high-risk activities such as extreme sports, e.g., scuba diving, skydiving, etc., can be excluded.
- War – Policies may exclude coverage for injuries caused by war when travelling to an endangered war zone.
- Duration – Many policies specify a time limit for coverage (e.g., 60 days), and the costs differ accordingly.
- Suicide in an international or domestic domain is excluded from any insurance policy for self-inflicted injuries.
- In the case of any substance abuse, drugs or alcohol, domestic or international, the medical expenses won’t be covered by your insurance policy.
How Do I Buy Schengen Medical Visa Insurance From the USA or UK?
If you apply for a Schengen visa in the USA or UK, you can book travel insurance online directly from Europ Assistance or vti.travel.
Once you purchase your Europe visa insurance policy, you can download the insurance policy letter that has to be submitted with the Schengen visa application.
For more information about European visa requirements and the application process for US, UK, Canadian and Australian residents, please read the following articles:
- How to apply for a Schengen visa from the UK
- How to apply for a Schengen visa from the USA
- How to apply for a Schengen visa from Canada
FAQ
Is Travel Health Insurance Mandatory for Visa-Free Third-Country Nationals Entering the Schengen Area?
Travel medical insurance is not mandatory for visa-free third-country nationals. Nonetheless, getting one is highly recommended if you travel to the Schengen countries.
Should We Choose Travel Insurance With a 0 Eur Deductible?
It is not a strict requirement to get a Schengen travel visa insurance with 0 EUR deductible; however, we strongly suggest that you get one without a deductible to be 100% sure that your Schengen visa application will not be rejected because of the travel insurance policy.
Are Diplomatic Passport Holders Exempt From the Requirement of Travel Insurance?
Yes, holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from the mandatory travel medical insurance requirement. They are not required to provide proof of insurance when travelling to the Schengen Area.
Is Travel Medical Insurance Mandatory for Seafarers Traveling to the Schengen Area?
No, travel medical insurance is not mandatory for seafarers travelling to the Schengen Area. Seafarers are exempt from the requirement of Schengen travel insurance based on their professional situation. Their existing medical insurance coverage, obtained due to their work activities, is considered adequate and fulfils the insurance requirement for their stay in the Schengen Area.
More Travel Insurance Guides
France Visa Insurance, Spain Visa Insurance, Germany Visa Insurance, Italy Visa Insurance, Switzerland Visa Insurance, Travel Insurance by Europ Assistance, Schengen Visa Insurance UK, Greece Visa Insurance, Portugal Visa Insurance, Netherlands Visa Insurance, Schengen visa insurance from Singapore
Did you find this page helpful?
Yes No
