Who Needs Schengen Visa Insurance?

What Is Schengen Visa Insurance?

A Schengen visa is a permit that allows travelers from outside the European Union to freely enter the Schengen agreement countries for up to 90 days. One of the requirements of a Schengen visa is proof of medical insurance, which covers you in case you need medical care, hospitalization or to be repatriated back to your home country while traveling in the area.

Schengen visa insurance provides this coverage and, often, will include other travel coverage, like lost baggage, trip interruptions and travel delays.

What Countries Are Included in the Schengen Area?

There are 29 countries that are part of the Schengen Borders Agreement, which allows for free movement between member countries without internal border checks or additional paperwork. Only four of the Schengen countries are located outside the European Union.

The current list of Schengen countries includes:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czechia/Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Bulgaria and Romania are the newest Schengen region members, joining the agreement in 2025.

Learn more: What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Who Needs Schengen Visa Insurance?

Generally speaking, if you're a non-European Union national and plan to visit a Schengen agreement country for up to 90 days in a 180-day period, you will need a Schengen visa—and the appropriate required medical insurance.

There are some exceptions, though. Citizens of the United States, for example, are exempt from Schengen visa requirements, as are those from Japan, Brazil, Australia, South Korea and Canada, among others. Some diplomats, refugees, students and members of the armed forces may be exempt, too.

Starting in late 2026, U.S. citizens and others traveling from exempt areas will need to apply through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before they can travel to many European countries.

Learn more: What to Know About ETIAS Requirements

Schengen Visa Insurance Requirements

Having medical insurance is one of several requirements you must meet before you can be approved for a Schengen visa.

Specifically, you must have insurance that covers:

• The entire Schengen region: The coverage must include all 29 countries in the Schengen agreement.
• The full duration of your stay: Your coverage must last from the arrival to departure dates of your visit. Remember that Schengen visas are only for stays of up to 90 days.
• Covers at least 30,000 euros in medical expenses: This must include costs incurred for hospitalization, emergency medical care, prescriptions or repatriation back to your home country if required

Often, you will need to get an additional Schengen visa insurance policy to procure this coverage. In some cases, your existing medical insurance policy or travel insurance policy may suffice, but you'll need to check to verify. If it does, you'll need to provide a proof of coverage document from your insurance company when applying for your visa.

Tip: Even if you aren't required to have a Schengen visa and the insurance it demands, you may still want coverage just to be safe. In fact, the U.S. State Department recommends that travelers buy short-term health insurance before leaving the country.

How Much Does Schengen Visa Insurance Cost?

The cost of Schengen visa insurance depends on what coverage you choose, the insurance provider you purchase your policy through and how much coverage you need. Your age can also be a factor. Generally speaking, travel insurance costs between 4% to 8% of a trip's total cost.

Costs for a Schengen visa insurance policy vary from about $14 for a week of coverage to $314 for an annual coverage plan. To get the best deal on Schengen visa insurance, shop around and apply for quotes with several travel insurance companies.

Learn more: Average Cost of Travel Insurance

How to Get Schengen Visa Insurance

You can apply for and secure Schengen visa insurance online through one of the many travel insurance companies that offer this type of coverage.

When applying, you will need the following information:

• Your travel dates
• The country you'll be traveling to (or the country where you'll spend the most time, if you're planning a multi-country trip)
• Your age or birth date
• Your country and state of residence
• Trip cost

Remember that Schengen visas only require a minimum amount of medical coverage, but you may want to add additional coverage depending on your travel plans. Trip cancellation, lost baggage, travel delays and 24/7 traveler assistance are all types of coverage you might explore as well.

The Bottom Line

Before you travel to a Schengen country, make sure you're clear on any visa and subsequent insurance requirements you may be held to. It can take up to 45 days to get approved for a Schengen visa, so having the proper coverage and documentation ready at application time is critical, particularly if your trip is approaching.