What the rule says
The rules for Schengen visas are set out in the EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009). Under its Article 15, applicants must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance. It must cover any costs that may arise during your stay in the Schengen countries in connection with:
- repatriation for medical reasons,
- urgent medical attention,
- emergency hospital treatment,
- death.
The same article says the insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen area, cover the entire intended stay and have minimum cover of €30,000. In principle, you should take out the insurance in your country of residence, and the consulate checks whether claims against the insurer could be recovered in a Schengen country. Holders of diplomatic passports are exempt.
If you are applying for a multiple-entry visa
For a multiple-entry visa, the Visa Code does not require insurance for the visa's whole validity. You show insurance covering your first intended visit, and you sign the statement in the application form confirming that you know you need travel medical insurance for later stays as well.
That signature is not a formality: every new trip on the visa needs its own valid insurance meeting the same conditions. It is sensible to carry the policy with you at the border too.
Check the policy before you buy
- Is the cover stated clearly as at least €30,000 (or the equivalent)?
- Is the territorial scope the whole Schengen area, not a single country?
- Do the start and end dates cover the whole trip, including departure and return days?
- Are repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment and death covered?
- Do the name and passport details match your passport exactly?
- Can the insurer pay the hospital or doctor directly, rather than only reimbursing you afterwards?
- Does the consulate of your destination country list any extra insurance requirements?
Common mistakes
- Dates that fall short. The policy must cover your departure and return days in full. Germany's missions in Türkiye point out that policies start and end at 12:00 noon, so they ask for cover starting the day before departure and ending the day after return.
- A single-country policy. Even though you apply to one country, the insurance must be valid across the whole Schengen area.
- A lower limit. Anything below €30,000 does not meet the Visa Code minimum.
- Reimbursement only. Germany's missions do not accept policies where you pay first and are refunded later; the insurer must be able to pay the hospital or doctor directly.
- Changed plans. If your travel dates change, update the policy dates too; every document in your file should show the same dates.
For keeping your dates and route consistent, see our guides to the document checklist and which country to apply to.
What to bring to your appointment
- Your travel medical insurance policy (original or printout, as the consulate requires)
- A photocopy of the policy, if the country's document list asks for one
- Proof of payment if you submit a printout of the policy (Germany's missions ask for this explicitly)
- Flight reservation and accommodation documents matching the policy dates
- For a multiple-entry visa, the application form with the insurance statement signed
The consulate has the final say. The minimum requirements in the Visa Code are the same for every Schengen country, but details such as how to submit the policy can vary. Check your destination country's current document list before buying insurance; the consulate handling your application decides whether the cover is adequate.
Official sources
We checked the information on this page against the official sources below. Always confirm the current rules there before you apply.