Schengen visa insurance: €30,000 minimum, all Schengen countries, the whole stay
To get a Schengen visa you must show travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 of cover, valid in all Schengen countries for the whole stay, covering urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment and repatriation for medical reasons or death (Article 15 of the EU Visa Code, read on 7 November 2026).
Source: Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code), consolidated text of 2 February 2020, Article 15 (Publications Office of the European Union, read on 7 November 2026).
Not immigration or insurance advice. These are the words of the official pages on the date we read them. Consulates can ask for more, and each consulate decides whether your policy is acceptable: check with the consulate or visa centre where you apply before you buy.
The rule, word for word (Article 15)
- What it covers (15(1)):
Applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of 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.
- Multiple-entry visas (15(2)):
Applicants for a multiple-entry visa shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit.
In addition, such applicants shall sign the statement, set out in the application form, declaring that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent stays.
- Where and how long (15(3)):
The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit.
The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30 000.
When a visa with limited territorial validity covering the territory of more than one Member State is issued, the insurance cover shall be valid at least in the Member States concerned.
- Where to buy it (15(4)):
Applicants shall, in principle, take out insurance in their country of residence. Where this is not possible, they shall seek to obtain insurance in any other country.
When another person takes out insurance in the name of the applicant, the conditions set out in paragraph 3 shall apply.
- What the consulate checks (15(5)):
When assessing whether the insurance cover is adequate, consulates shall ascertain whether claims against the insurance company would be recoverable in a Member State.
- Exemptions (15(6)-(7)):
The insurance requirement may be considered to have been met where it is established that an adequate level of insurance may be presumed in the light of the applicant’s professional situation. The exemption from presenting proof of travel medical insurance may concern particular professional groups, such as seafarers, who are already covered by travel medical insurance as a result of their professional activities.
Holders of diplomatic passports shall be exempt from the requirement to hold travel medical insurance.
The European Commission's page lists among the documents: Medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death).
Sources: Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Visa Code), consolidated text of 2 February 2020, Article 15 (Publications Office of the European Union, read on 7 November 2026); European Commission, Applying for a Schengen visa (European Commission, read on 7 November 2026).
What the Visa Code does not say: it names no approved insurers and says nothing about refunds if the visa is refused; some consulates publish their own lists of accepted insurers, so check the page of the consulate or visa centre where you apply.
Compare Schengen visa insurance by country of residence
AffiliateArticle 15 asks you, in principle, to take out the insurance in the country where you live, with at least €30,000 of cover, valid in all Schengen countries for your whole stay. Choose the country where you live: HelloSafe shows the policies its insurers sell to residents of that country, if any. Check the cover, the dates and the certificate before you pay.
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Buying insurance does not guarantee a visa: the consulate decides, and we have not checked any policy against a consulate's requirements.
Before you apply
Questions people ask
What are the Schengen visa insurance requirements?
Article 15 of the Visa Code asks for travel medical insurance covering repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment and death, valid in all Schengen countries for your whole stay, with at least €30,000 of cover.
How much cover do I need for a Schengen visa?
At least €30,000 (Article 15(3) of the Visa Code).
Do I need insurance for the whole validity of a multiple-entry visa?
No: Article 15(2) asks multiple-entry applicants to prove insurance for their first intended visit, and to sign a statement that they know they need insurance for later stays.
Can I buy Schengen insurance outside my country of residence?
Article 15(4) says applicants should in principle take out insurance in their country of residence and, where this is not possible, in any other country.
Is Schengen visa insurance refundable if my visa is refused?
The Visa Code does not say: refunds depend on the terms of each policy. Read them before you buy.
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