Executive summary

This research guide explains everything a visa applicant or advisor needs to know about the travel medical insurance required for a Schengen visa: the legal basis, the exact technical elements that must appear on the insurance certificate, how to choose compliant insurers, sample price ranges, step-by-step purchase and documentation workflow, special cases (children, multi-entry, long-stay applicants), and common pitfalls to avoid.

Core legal requirement: Schengen visa applicants must present travel medical insurance that covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalization and medical repatriation with a minimum cover amount of €30,000, valid throughout the Schengen Area for the entire stay. See official guidance from the European Commission and national visa centres. European Commission — Applying for a Schengen visa.

1. Legal basis & official definitions

The Schengen rules and EU visa code require applicants to hold adequate travel medical insurance that covers emergency medical care, hospitalization and repatriation (including in the event of death). The European Commission's visa pages and national consulates consistently state the requirement and the minimum cover amount. European Commission — Applying for a Schengen visa.

National visa centres and consulates restate this standard in their document checklists (for example VFS Global and many embassy guidance PDFs). For instance, VFS Global explicitly states that travel insurance for Schengen visa applications is mandatory. VFS Global — Travel insurance guidance.

Key statutory points (summary):

• Medical coverage including emergency medical treatment and hospitalization is mandatory. European Commission — Visa policy.
• Minimum coverage: €30,000 for medical expenses, including repatriation. (This threshold is repeated across EU guidance and insurer Schengen products.) AXA Schengen — €30,000 coverage description.
• Validity: the insurance must be valid for the entire duration of the intended stay in the Schengen Area and must cover all Schengen member states. Europ Assistance — Schengen Insurance.

2. Exact certificate requirements — what must appear on the insurance certificate

Consulates and visa centres typically expect a certificate/attestation (a one-page document or PDF) that includes a set of clear elements. The following checklist is built from embassy PDFs and insurance providers' example certificates (AXA / Allianz / Europ Assistance) and visa-centre instructions (VFS). Major insurers publish sample certificates so consulates can validate them. AXA — certificate guide; Allianz — Schengen insurance.

Mandatory fields (practical checklist)

• Full name of the insured person — must match the passport.
• Name of the insurer / underwriting entity and contact details (phone/email/address).
• Policy number (unique identifier).
• Start and end dates of coverage (explicit dates) — must cover entire stay.
• Geographic scope — explicit phrase such as: “Covers the entire Schengen Area” or list showing coverage of all Schengen states. Europ Assistance sample.
• Guaranteed minimum coverage amount — explicitly stated as ≥ €30,000 for medical expenses, repatriation and emergency assistance. AXA — €30,000 coverage.
• Statement that the policy covers emergency medical repatriation (including in the event of death) and medical evacuation.
• Signature or digitally-signed confirmation and date of issue (or an electronically generated certificate page with insurer branding and validation code).
• Policy language — English or the official language requested by the consulate; many insurers supply certificates in English plus several EU languages. Europ Assistance — multi-language certificates.

Pro tip: consulates accept standard insurer templates (AXA/Allianz/Europ Assistance) as long as all mandatory elements are clearly visible on the PDF certificate. If a certificate lacks explicit wording about the geographic scope or the minimum amount, consulates may reject it even if underlying coverage appears adequate.

3. Step-by-step: purchase workflow and preparing your visa file

This step-by-step covers the practical operations from quote to submission.

Step 1 — Plan dates and primary entry country

Decide your exact travel dates and which Schengen country will be your main destination or first point of entry. Insurance must cover entire period. If your travel plans change after applying, you may need to show amended coverage at the border. (Embassy or consulate instructions vary.) European Commission — visa checklist.

Step 2 — Select an insurer that issues immediate certificates

Choose a provider that issues a downloadable, immediately valid certificate after purchase. Major global providers (AXA Schengen, Allianz, Europ Assistance) provide instant certificates suitable for visa files. AXA-Schengen, Allianz Travel, Europ Assistance.

Step 3 — Buy policy & download certificate

Purchase online; immediately download the certificate PDF. Check every field against the mandatory checklist above. If anything is missing, request an updated certificate from the insurer’s support team — do not assume consulate will accept a certificate missing required text.

Step 4 — Print and include the certificate in your visa application

Include one printed copy (some centres also accept only PDF upload). VFS and other centres often require both printed and uploaded copies. Always check the local visa centre checklist (VFS/consulate) for document delivery modality. VFS Global travel insurance guidance.

Step 5 — Keep policy number and insurer contacts handy

At the embassy or border, staff may call the insurer to verify policy authenticity. Carry the insurer’s emergency assistance phone number on your phone during travel.

4. How to choose an insurer — strict selection criteria

When selecting an insurer, use the following criteria to ensure the certificate will be accepted and that you have genuine protection.

Hard requirements (must-have)

• Certificate explicitly states €30,000 minimum coverage. AXA — €30,000.
• Certificate covers all Schengen states or explicitly “Schengen Area”.
• Immediate certificate issuance (downloadable PDF) and clear policy number.
• Insurer contact details and an emergency assistance number on the certificate.

Important preferences (recommended)

• Large, established insurer or assistance network (AXA, Allianz, Europ Assistance, Inter Partner Assistance) for better on-the-ground coordination.
• Language support in English + the language of the consulate country (useful for dispute resolution).
• Reimbursement for visa refusal — many Schengen products offer partial refund if visa refused (check T&Cs). AXA refund policy.
• Transparent exclusions and a clear pre-existing conditions policy (if relevant).

Example insurers commonly accepted by embassies and visa centres include AXA Schengen, Allianz Travel and Europ Assistance; each publishes sample certificates and visa-compliance pages. Examples: AXA, Allianz, Europ Assistance.

5. Price examples & budget planning

Prices vary by applicant age, nationality, duration of stay, single vs multi-trip and coverage select. The table below offers indicative sample ranges (market averages as of 2025 from major insurers' advertised prices). These examples are for planning only — always get a live quote.

Sources and insurer price pages: AXA Schengen, Allianz Travel, Europ Assistance. Actual quotes depend on nationality, age and duration. See AXA/Allianz/Europ Assistance for live quotes. AXA, Allianz, Europ Assistance.

6. Special cases & how to handle them

Children and family applications

Children normally need individual policy listings or a family certificate that names each insured person. Consulates differ; many accept one family policy listing all travellers. Ask insurer for a certificate that lists every traveller by full name as shown on passports.

Multiple-entry Schengen visas / long stays

For multi-entry or long-stay visas, you may need annual multi-trip insurance or special long-stay health insurance (for stays exceeding 90 days, different rules apply and national authorities may require local/long-term health cover). Consult the consulate for long-stay visa requirements. European Commission — Visa policy.

Applicants already covered by EU public health insurance (EHIC/SHI)

Visitors who legitimately hold an EU European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or are covered under an EU national scheme may have different entitlements — but non-EU nationals applying for a Schengen visa from abroad generally cannot rely on EHIC. The EHIC is for residents of EU/EEA member states; it does not replace visa medical insurance for third-country nationals. European Commission — EHIC.

Applicants with pre-existing medical conditions

Some Schengen products exclude pre-existing conditions or require supplemental coverage. If you have significant pre-existing conditions, choose an insurer with clear policies on pre-existing conditions or consider a specialist product. Always keep medical reports or letters if the consulate asks.

7. Common pitfalls & how to avoid them

1. Certificate lacks explicit €30,000 wording — consulate may refuse file even if underlying policy covers the amount. Remedy: request corrected attestation with explicit wording. AXA — €30k requirement.
2. Dates mismatch — policy start or end date not matching travel dates. Remedy: buy policy with correct dates or request amendment.
3. Wrong name format — ensure name matches passport exactly (including order of middle names).
4. Geographic scope missing — if certificate doesn't say "Schengen Area" or list countries, consulate might reject it.
5. Using travel insurance that is not an international assistance provider — choose well-known assistance networks to avoid verification issues.
6. Trying to rely on domestic health insurance — most domestic policies do not meet Schengen criteria; check with insurer and ask for explicit certificate.