Schengen Visa Travel Insurance Requirements (2026)

Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 requires travel medical insurance covering: expenses for repatriation on medical grounds, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment, and death-related expenses (repatriation of remains). The coverage must be valid throughout the Schengen territory, cover the entire stay/transit period, and have minimum coverage of €30,000.

The famous €30,000 requirement means your insurance certificate must clearly show at least €30,000 in medical coverage. This covers urgent medical treatment, hospitalization, and repatriation. Some consulates may ask for higher amounts, but €30,000 is the legal minimum under Article 15. If your certificate doesn't clearly display this amount, it may be rejected.

Repatriation in this context means: (1) Medical repatriation—transport back to your home country for medical reasons if you cannot be treated locally or need ongoing care; (2) Repatriation of remains—costs associated with returning your body to your home country in case of death. Both should be explicitly mentioned on your insurance certificate.

For single-entry visas, you need insurance covering your entire intended stay. For multiple-entry visas, you must provide proof of insurance covering the first planned trip when applying, plus sign a declaration acknowledging you must have valid insurance for all subsequent trips during the visa validity period.

Apply to the consulate of: (1) The country where you'll spend the longest time, OR (2) If equal time in multiple countries, the first country you'll enter. This matters for insurance because some consulates have slightly different document presentation preferences (language, format, etc.), though the core insurance requirements are the same across all Schengen states.

The certificate should clearly state it covers 'Schengen area,' 'all Schengen Member States,' 'EU/EEA territory,' or similar wording. If it just says 'Europe' without mentioning Schengen/Member States, you risk rejection. Request a custom letter from your insurer with explicit Schengen wording if needed.

No. EHIC/GHIC only covers public healthcare access for EU/EEA citizens—it's not travel medical insurance. It doesn't cover repatriation, private care, or the minimum €30,000 requirement. You need separate travel insurance that meets Article 15 requirements, regardless of your EHIC/GHIC status.

Insurance-related rejections usually happen because: coverage under €30,000 or not clearly shown, missing repatriation wording, territory says 'Europe' not 'Schengen/Member States', dates don't match your itinerary, or the certificate looks unofficial. Fix the documentation issue and reapply with a compliant policy and properly formatted certificate.

You must buy insurance BEFORE applying for the visa—the certificate is required as part of your application documents. This means you're paying for insurance before knowing if you'll be approved. Most policies offer refunds if your visa is rejected, but confirm this before purchasing.

No. This guide covers short-stay Schengen visas (Type C, up to 90 days in any 180-day period). National long-stay visas (Type D) have different requirements—often requiring local/long-term health insurance from the destination country rather than travel insurance. Don't assume short-stay Schengen insurance works for long-stay applications.

Some policies allow extensions mid-trip, but this depends on the insurer. For visa purposes, your initial certificate must cover your entire intended stay as stated in your application. If your plans change after arrival, contact your insurer about extensions—but visa extensions are a separate process with their own insurance requirements.

Many Schengen-compliant policies offer refunds if your visa is rejected. Check this before purchasing—it should be in the policy terms or cancellation policy. You'll typically need to provide the visa rejection letter as proof. Some policies have non-refundable portions or administration fees.