Schengen Travel Insurance: The €30,000 Rule and How to Get It Right

Every Schengen visa application needs travel medical insurance – and a wrong policy is an easy reason for a refusal. Here is how to get it right.

The official requirements

• Minimum cover of €30,000
• Covers emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including for medical reasons or death)
• Valid in all Schengen countries
• Covers the entire duration of your stay – every day of your trip

How to check your policy

1. The certificate shows your name exactly as in your passport.
2. Dates match your itinerary – add a buffer day or two if you can.
3. The territory says "Schengen" or "Europe" (not only one country).
4. Medical and repatriation cover is at least €30,000.
5. No excess or deductible that the embassy may object to (some embassies are strict about this).

Single trip or annual?

Tip: if you hope to receive a multiple-entry visa, your insurance usually only needs to cover the first trip – but you must hold valid insurance for every later trip too.

Common insurance mistakes

• Policy covering only part of the trip
• Territory limited to one country
• Name misspelled
• Buying from an unknown provider the embassy does not accept

Get a Schengen-approved policy with your application

We arrange Schengen-compliant insurance as part of our service, matched exactly to your itinerary. Start your Schengen visa or read the full document checklist.