What insurance do you need for a Schengen visa?

For your next trip to one or several Schengen Area countries, Europ Assistance explains how to easily apply for a visa and, once you’ve arrived, fully enjoy your trip. 

What is a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa is a short stay visa that allows citizens of other countries to freely move between Schengen Area countries for work or leisure. Let’s unpack this sentence so that you can determine whether or not you need a Schengen visa and Schengen visa insurance:
- The Schengen Area is a free movement zone in Europe. It includes 26 countries between which you can travel freely, without border control. But be careful, “Schengen” does not necessarily mean “European Union”. Some countries are part of the European Union, but not the Schengen Area, including Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia. And on the other hand, some countries are not part of the European Union, but are part of the Schengen Area. This is the case for Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. To avoid confusion, here is the list of countries that are members of the Schengen Area: 
Austria - Belgium - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - France - Germany - Greece - Hungary - Iceland - Italy - Latvia - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Malta - Norway - The Netherlands - Poland - Portugal - Czech Republic - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland. 
- “Short stay” means a maximum of 90 days. Depending on the schedule of your trip, you may receive a single entry, double-entry or multiple entry visa. 
- All citizens of outside countries that do not have a visa exemption agreements must apply for a Schengen visa. The application must contain the following documents: flight schedule, identification, proof of address where you will stay, travel medical insurance...

Schengen visa insurance criteria

Travel medical insurance is required in order to obtain a Schengen visa. When you apply for a Schengen visa, you will need proof of travel insurance, regardless of your reason for travel (tourism, business, studies or other). But careful, that doesn’t mean that you should just choose any travel insurance. Don’t pick the first, cheapest travel insurance you find. Make sure that it meets the requirements for a Schengen visa. 

The law requires that anyone applying for a Schengen visa have a “sufficient and valid travel medical insurance policy to cover fees that may be incurred for medical repatriation, emergency medical care and/or emergency hospital care or death during the stay within the territory of Member States...” This means that Schengen visa travel insurance must fulfil 4 criteria: 
1. Be valid throughout the entire trip and in all Schengen Area countries. All of them, not only the countries mentioned in your travel itinerary. 
2. Cover a minimum of 30,000 euros in medical expenses. 
3. Cover repatriation expenses.
4. Cover emergency medical and hospital care as well as death expenses if necessary.

Where should I get insurance?

To complete your Schengen visa application, start by checking the insurance policies that you already have. Credit cards, work contracts or multi-risk home insurance... Some contracts may cover your trips abroad. But careful, make sure to check the coverage and limitations of these plans, because they are often not sufficient for a Schengen visa. It is important to remember that Schengen visa travel insurance must meet several criteria. This is why it is better to use a travel specialist.

Europ Assistance’s expertise for your Schengen visa

Choosing Europ Assistance for your Schengen travel insurance means that you won’t have to worry about your visa application. 
- Your proof of insurance is available for download as soon as you sign up for your contract. Perfect for quickly applying for your visa. 
- You can confirm the validity of your Europ Assistance Schengen travel insurance online on our embassies and consulates page. All you have to do is check our website, so the consulate can process your application more quickly. 
- When your application is being reviewed, you can be sure that your travel insurance will not be the reason it gets rejected because our Europ Assistance Schengen visa insurance is recognised and accepted by Schengen embassies and consulates the world over. There is one reason for this: our Schengen insurance policy complies with European regulations and fulfils all Schengen visa requirements. 
- Finally, if your Schengen visa application is not accepted, we will reimburse you

Perfect if you plan to visit one or several Schengen Area countries for personal or professional reasons, your Europ Assistance Schengen Insurance is known for efficiency and quality at an affordable price.

Schengen visa insurance options for a successful trip

With Europ Assistance Schengen visa travel insurance, you have emergency travel insurance 24/7 in all Schengen Area countries for the time period of your choice. 

You can choose between two Schengen visa insurance policies: 
- A policy starting at 3 euros per person that fulfils all Schengen visa requirements: coverage of medical expenses up to 30,000 euros in case of illness or accident in one of the Schengen Area Member States; coverage of repatriation expenses and planning for the insured person in case of death.
- A policy starting at 5 euros per person with supplemental coverage and a wider coverage zone: coverage of medical expenses up to 60,000 euros in case of illness or accident in one of the Schengen Area Member States as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and the United Kingdom; coverage of repatriation expenses and planning for the insured person in case of death; coverage of expenses for extending your stay if it is medically prescribed (for a maximum of 5 days); coverage of return costs for the person accompanying the insured party; coverage of the return trip for any person under the age of 14 to their country of residence.
 

Europ Assistance benefits for travelling with peace of mind

Whichever option you choose, Europ Assistance is committed to making your life easier. When you travel to the Schengen Area, you will enjoy significant financial benefits such as: 
- Deductible exoneration. With the Europ Assistance travel insurance policy, medical expenses are reimbursed starting at the first euro. In other words, you will have no expenses to pay. 
- Direct payment of medical expenses. Europ Assistance, a leader in assistance, is affiliated with a network of approved medical facilities and  professionals. If needed, and subject to the doctors’ agreement, you will have access to an approved institution. In which case, you will have nothing to pay, Europ Assistance will take care of everything.