Cheapest Travel Insurance For Schengen Visa: What To Check Before You Buy

Looking for the cheapest travel insurance for a Schengen visa is normal. Nobody wants to overpay for a document they only need for a visa application.

But the cheapest policy is only useful if it actually meets Schengen visa requirements. A low-cost plan can still be accepted, but only if it covers the right amount, the right countries, and the full length of your trip.

For a Schengen visa application, travel medical insurance must generally cover at least €30,000, be valid across the Schengen Area, and cover the full duration of your intended stay. France-Visas also states that the insurance must include at least €30,000 coverage for medical repatriation, emergency treatment, and/or hospital treatment.

So the goal is not just to buy the cheapest plan. The goal is to buy the cheapest compliant plan.

If you are preparing your full Schengen file, start with Outbound Visa’s Free Visa Tools to organize your insurance, itinerary, passport, and supporting documents before submission.

What Schengen Travel Insurance Must Cover

Schengen travel insurance is usually checked as part of your visa file. If the insurance does not meet the requirement, your application may be delayed or the consulate may ask you to buy another policy.

A compliant policy should usually show:

The EEAS medical travel insurance form lists minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 and indicates that claims should be recoverable in a Schengen Member State. The European Commission’s Visa Code Handbook also says consulates are responsible for checking whether the travel medical insurance presented by the applicant is adequate before a final decision is made.

If your policy does not clearly show these points, do not assume the embassy will accept it.

Cheapest Does Not Always Mean Best

A cheap Schengen travel insurance policy can be fine if it meets the official requirements. But some low-cost policies may have gaps that create problems.

Before buying, check whether the policy:

• Covers at least €30,000

• Covers all Schengen countries

• Covers the full trip dates

• Includes emergency medical care

• Includes hospital treatment

• Includes medical repatriation

• Provides an official certificate

• Shows your name exactly as in your passport

• Shows policy dates clearly

• Has exclusions that affect your trip

The biggest mistake is buying a cheap “Europe travel insurance” plan that does not clearly say it covers the full Schengen Area or does not show the minimum coverage amount.

What A Good Insurance Certificate Should Show

When you submit your Schengen visa application, the insurance certificate should be easy for the visa officer to read.

It should clearly show:

• Applicant’s Full Name

• Policy Number

• Insurance Company Name

• Coverage Dates

• Coverage Area

• Medical Coverage Amount

• Emergency Medical Treatment Coverage

• Medical Repatriation Coverage

• Contact Details Of The Insurer

• Confirmation That The Policy Is Valid For Schengen Countries

The certificate matters as much as the policy itself. Even if the plan is technically compliant, a vague certificate can make your file harder to assess.

How Much Does Schengen Travel Insurance Usually Cost?

The cost depends on your age, nationality or residence country, trip length, coverage amount, destination, and whether you add extras like baggage or cancellation coverage.

As a practical estimate:

Do not choose only by price. Choose the cheapest policy that clearly meets the visa requirement.

If the cheapest plan does not include repatriation, does not cover all Schengen countries, or only covers part of your trip, it is not a good deal for a visa application.

Example 1: 7-Day France Trip

If you are applying for a Schengen visa to visit France for 7 days, your insurance should cover:

• Your full travel dates

• France and the entire Schengen Area

• At least €30,000 medical coverage

• Emergency medical treatment

• Hospital treatment

• Medical repatriation

For example, if your trip is from 10 June to 17 June, your insurance should cover at least that whole period. It is safer to match your insurance dates with your full itinerary, including arrival and departure days.

Example 2: France, Italy, And Switzerland In One Trip

If your itinerary includes France, Italy, and Switzerland, your insurance should not only say “France.”

It should be valid for the Schengen Area or all Schengen countries. A multi-country Schengen trip needs insurance that covers the whole Schengen Area, not just your first destination.

This matters because borderless travel inside Schengen means your policy should remain valid throughout the countries you visit.

Example 3: Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa

If you apply for a multiple-entry Schengen visa, the rule is slightly different.

The European Commission’s Visa Code Handbook states that for a multiple-entry visa application, the applicant should present proof of travel medical insurance covering the first intended stay. The applicant must also be aware of the need to have adequate insurance for later visits. German Missions in India also explain that applicants for multiple-entry visas need to prove insurance for the first intended visit and sign the related statement in the application form.

In simple terms: for the application, your insurance usually needs to cover the first planned trip, but you should have insurance for every future Schengen trip too.

Example 4: Family Applying Together

If a family applies together, every traveller should be covered.

A family policy can work if the certificate clearly lists each person’s name and coverage details. If it only shows one main policyholder and does not clearly list the dependants, the visa file may look incomplete.

For family applications, check that:

• Every family member is named

• Coverage dates apply to everyone

• Coverage amount meets the requirement

• The area covered includes all Schengen countries

• Children are included if travelling

Do not assume one parent’s policy automatically covers the whole family unless the certificate clearly says so.

What Cheap Policies Often Miss

Some budget plans look acceptable at first but fail when you check the details.

Watch out for:

• Coverage Below €30,000

• Only One Country Covered Instead Of Schengen Area

• Insurance Dates Shorter Than Trip Dates

• No Medical Repatriation

• No Emergency Hospital Treatment

• High Deductible Or Excess

• No Clear Insurance Certificate

• Applicant Name Missing Or Misspelled

• Adventure Sports Excluded

• Pre-Existing Conditions Excluded

• Policy Not Valid For Visa Purposes

• Claims Not Recoverable In A Schengen Member State

A cheap plan is not a problem by itself. An unclear or incomplete policy is the problem.

Should You Buy The Cheapest Plan Or A More Complete Plan?

For the visa application, the main requirement is travel medical insurance. Extra benefits like baggage delay, trip cancellation, missed connection, or flight delay may be helpful, but they are usually not the core visa requirement.

A cheaper basic medical plan may be enough if it meets Schengen requirements.

A more complete plan may be better if:

• Your trip is expensive

• You have multiple flights

• You are travelling with family

• You have prepaid hotels or tours

• You are travelling in winter

• You plan skiing or adventure activities

• You want baggage, cancellation, or delay coverage

• You have health concerns that need better coverage

For visa purposes, make sure the medical and repatriation requirements are covered first. Add extras only if they make sense for your trip.

When Should You Buy Schengen Travel Insurance?

Buy it before your visa appointment because you usually need to submit proof of insurance with your application.

Your policy dates should match your planned travel dates. If your visa appointment is delayed or your travel dates change, check whether the insurer allows date changes or refunds.

Before buying, check:

• Can the policy dates be changed?

• Is there a refund if the visa is refused?

• Is the certificate issued immediately?

• Does the certificate mention Schengen coverage?

• Is the policy accepted for visa applications?

• Does it cover all travellers in the application?

If your travel dates are still uncertain, choose an insurer with flexible date-change or refund rules where possible.

Can Credit Card Travel Insurance Be Used?

Sometimes, but only if it meets Schengen requirements.

The European Commission’s Visa Code Handbook notes that some credit cards include travel insurance and may be accepted as valid insurance if the coverage conforms with Visa Code criteria.

However, credit card insurance can be tricky because the certificate may not clearly show all required details.

If you want to use credit card insurance, make sure the certificate clearly states:

• Your name

• Coverage amount of at least €30,000

• Validity in all Schengen countries

• Full travel dates

• Emergency medical coverage

• Medical repatriation coverage

If the credit card insurer cannot issue a Schengen-compliant certificate, buy a separate travel medical insurance policy.

Common Mistakes When Buying Schengen Travel Insurance

A lot of applicants buy insurance too quickly and only check the price.

Avoid these mistakes:

• Buying insurance that starts after your arrival date

• Buying insurance that ends before your departure date

• Choosing “Europe” coverage that excludes some Schengen countries

• Buying a plan with less than €30,000 medical coverage

• Forgetting medical repatriation

• Submitting a receipt instead of the insurance certificate

• Using a policy under the wrong name

• Not including children or dependants

• Buying adventure travel insurance only after submitting the visa file

• Assuming travel insurance guarantees visa approval

Travel insurance is mandatory for many Schengen visa applications, but it does not guarantee approval. Your visa decision still depends on the full file, including itinerary, funds, accommodation, purpose of travel, and return ties.

If you are still preparing these documents, read our Schengen Visa Requirements guide.

What To Submit With Your Visa Application

For the insurance part of the application, submit:

• Insurance certificate

• Policy schedule or summary of benefits, if needed

• Proof of coverage dates

• Proof of coverage area

• Proof of medical coverage amount

• Proof of repatriation coverage

• Names of all insured travellers

Some visa centres may not need the full policy wording, but it is useful to keep it with you in case the officer or visa centre asks.

If your passport photo also needs formatting, use Outbound Visa’s Free Passport Photo Converter. You can also compare similar visa insurance questions in the Outbound Visa Forum.

Before You Buy: Schengen Insurance Checklist

Before paying, check whether the policy says:

• Minimum €30,000 Medical Coverage

• Valid In All Schengen Countries

• Covers The Full Stay

• Includes Emergency Medical Treatment

• Includes Hospital Treatment

• Includes Medical Repatriation

• Shows Your Name Correctly

• Lists Every Traveller If Applying As A Family

• Provides A Certificate For Visa Submission

• Allows Date Changes Or Refunds, If Your Travel Dates Change

• Matches The Embassy Or Visa Centre Checklist

If your case is less straightforward, such as a long trip, multiple-entry request, family application, previous refusal, or unclear itinerary, Smart VisaAssist can help with a basic document readiness check. For more complex cases, Visa Concierge can help review whether your insurance, itinerary, proof of funds, and documents are consistent before submission.

FAQ

Is Travel Insurance Required For A Schengen Visa?

Yes, travel medical insurance is generally required for Schengen visa applicants. It should cover at least €30,000, be valid throughout the Schengen Area, and cover the full intended stay.

What Is The Minimum Insurance Coverage For A Schengen Visa?

The common minimum is €30,000 for medical-related coverage, including emergency treatment and medical repatriation.

Can I Buy The Cheapest Schengen Travel Insurance?

Yes, if it meets all Schengen requirements. Cheap is fine if the policy is compliant.

Does Schengen Travel Insurance Need To Cover All Schengen Countries?

Yes. It should be valid across the Schengen Area, not only the country where you apply.

Should Insurance Cover My Arrival And Departure Days?

Yes. Your insurance should cover your full stay, including arrival and departure days.

Is Travel Insurance Required For Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa?

At the time of application, you usually need to show insurance for your first intended stay and acknowledge that you need insurance for later Schengen visits too.

Can Credit Card Insurance Be Used For A Schengen Visa?

Sometimes. It may be accepted if the certificate clearly meets Schengen requirements, including coverage amount, area, dates, emergency medical treatment, and repatriation.

Does Travel Insurance Guarantee Visa Approval?

No. Travel insurance is only one required document. Your visa decision depends on the full application.

What If My Visa Is Refused?

Check your insurer’s refund policy. Some insurers offer refunds if your visa is refused, but rules vary by provider.

Bottom Line

The cheapest travel insurance for a Schengen visa is only a good choice if it is fully compliant. It should cover at least €30,000, be valid across all Schengen countries, cover your entire stay, and include emergency medical treatment and repatriation.

Do not buy based on price alone. Check the certificate, policy dates, coverage area, coverage amount, and exclusions before submitting it with your visa file.

A clean, compliant insurance certificate makes your application easier to assess and helps avoid unnecessary delays.

Sources

France-Visas — Frequently Asked Questions
https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en-US/web/france-visas/faq

EEAS — International Medical Travel Insurance Form
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Schengen%20MTI%20Form.pdf

European Commission — Visa Code Handbook, Commission Implementing Decision C(2024) 4319
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/1d79f44d-49ba-4847-951e-129f924b1051_en?filename=Commission+Implementing+Decision+C%282024%29+4319-annex_en.PDF

German Missions In India — Schengen Visa FAQs
https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/schengen-visa-faq-2610538

European Commission — Applying For A Schengen Visa
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en