Travel insurance for a Schengen application is one of the few insurance purchases where the paperwork matters as much as the cover. Applications get returned for certificate wording far more often than for genuinely inadequate cover.
Here is what the requirement actually is, and what to check before you submit.
The standard requirement across Schengen states is travel medical insurance that:
That last item is the one people miss. Medical cover alone is not sufficient — repatriation and evacuation must be explicitly included.
The certificate you attach to the application should clearly state:
Practical tip: if your travel dates shift after the certificate is issued, get a reissued certificate rather than submitting one with the old dates. A mismatch between your itinerary and your cover period is a common reason for a returned application.
Add a small buffer. A common approach is to have cover begin the day you depart and end a day or two after your planned return, which absorbs minor flight changes without leaving a gap.
If you are applying for a multi-entry visa, note that the insurance requirement applies to your first intended trip. For subsequent trips you are expected to hold valid cover at the time of travel, and some consulates ask you to sign a declaration to that effect.
It is easy to treat the policy as a box to tick, but the cover is genuinely useful:
Read these before you assume you are covered:
Two variants are worth knowing about:
Student travel cover runs for the length of a study programme rather than a short trip, and often includes benefits like study interruption and cover for a parent to visit in an emergency.
Annual multi-trip cover suits people making several business trips a year. It covers an unlimited number of trips within a twelve-month period, each up to a maximum duration, and usually costs less than three or four separate single-trip policies.
Travel cover can normally be arranged and the certificate issued the same working day, which matters when an appointment slot is close.
Send us your travel dates, destination and passport name and we will issue a compliant certificate. Request a quote or message us on WhatsApp.
The standard requirement is medical cover of at least EUR 30,000, valid throughout the Schengen area for the full duration of the intended stay, and covering emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, repatriation and medical evacuation.
No. The insurance certificate is part of the application documents, so it must be arranged before you submit. Cover is normally issued to match your intended travel dates.
Many travel policies sold for visa applications can be cancelled with a refund if the visa is refused, on production of the refusal letter. Confirm this before buying, as terms differ between insurers.
General guidance only takes you so far. Send us your details and we will come back with specifics.
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