Schengen visa applicants must prove travel medical insurance with minimum cover of 30,000 euros, valid in every Schengen state for the whole stay and covering medical repatriation, urgent care, emergency hospital treatment and death, under Article 15 of the EU Visa Code. UK citizens visiting for 90 days or less need no visa.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 10 NOVEMBER 2026
- Article 15 of the EU Visa Code sets minimum travel medical insurance cover of 30,000 euros for Schengen visa applicants.
- The policy must cover medical repatriation, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment and death.
- It must be valid throughout the Member States for the whole intended stay or transit.
- Multiple-entry visa applicants need cover for the first visit and a signed statement about later stays.
- UK citizens need no visa for stays of 90 days or less in any 180-day period, so the visa insurance rule does not apply to them.
Schengen visa insurance at a glance
| Item | Detail | Source |
| Minimum cover | 30,000 euros | EU Visa Code |
| Must cover | Medical repatriation, urgent care, emergency hospital treatment, death | EU Visa Code |
| Where valid | All Schengen Member States | EU Visa Code |
| UK citizens, short stays | No visa for up to 90 days in 180 | GOV.UK |
| Schengen countries | 29 | GOV.UK |
Source: EU Visa Code, Article 15
KEY FACTS
- Minimum cover: 30,000 euros (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, Article 15).
- Risks covered: medical repatriation, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment or death (EU Visa Code).
- UK citizens: no visa for 90 days or less in any 180-day period (GOV.UK).
- Schengen area: 29 countries; Cyprus is not in it (GOV.UK).
- UK GHIC: free, valid up to 5 years, not a replacement for travel insurance (NHS).
What the EU Visa Code requires
Travel medical insurance for Schengen visas is set by Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, the EU Visa Code, adopted on 13 July 2009. Applicants for a uniform visa for one or two entries must prove they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance.
The insurance must cover any expenses that might arise from repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment or death during the stay. The minimum cover is 30,000 euros. The insurance must be valid throughout the Member States and cover the whole period of the intended stay or transit.
Where a visa with limited territorial validity covers more than one Member State, the insurance must be valid at least in those states.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum cover | €30,000 |
| Risks covered | Repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment or death |
| Where valid | Throughout the Member States (at least the states covered by a visa with limited territorial validity) |
| How long | The whole intended stay or transit |
| Multiple-entry visas | Cover for the first intended visit, plus a signed statement on the application form about later stays |
| Where to buy | Normally in the country of residence; elsewhere if that is not possible |
Source: Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, Article 15
Who the rule applies to
The insurance rule applies to people who need a Schengen visa, including visa nationals living in the UK who travel to the Schengen area. GOV.UK states that UK citizens can make visa-free short trips to the Schengen area if they stay 90 days or less in any 180-day period, as tourists or for other listed reasons such as business for a UK employer or a short course.
GOV.UK states that the 90 days are a rolling total across all Schengen countries. GOV.UK lists 29 Schengen countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Cyprus is not in the Schengen area, and Ireland is outside these rules.
GOV.UK states that UK citizens may need a visa or permit to work in the Schengen area or to stay longer than 90 days.
| Traveller | Position |
|---|---|
| Schengen visa applicant (single, double or multiple entry) | Proof of travel medical insurance required with the application |
| UK citizen on a short visit | No visa for stays of 90 days or less in any 180-day period, so the visa insurance rule does not apply |
| Seafarer | Requirement may be treated as met where insurance can be presumed from the professional situation |
| Diplomatic passport holder | Exempt |
Source: EU Visa Code; GOV.UK
Single, double and multiple-entry visas
Where a visa allows one or two entries, the travel medical insurance must cover the stay or stays planned under that visa. This requirement applies to applicants for single-entry and double-entry visas.
Applicants for a multiple-entry visa must prove travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit. They must also sign a statement, set out in the application form, declaring that they are aware of the need for travel medical insurance for later stays.
Where the policy is bought and who is exempt
Under the Visa Code, applicants in principle take out insurance in their country of residence. Where that is not possible, they seek insurance in any other country. Where another person takes out the insurance for the applicant, the same conditions apply.
When assessing whether cover is adequate, consulates check whether claims against the insurance company would be recoverable in a Member State. The requirement may be treated as met where adequate insurance can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation, with seafarers given as the example.
Holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from the travel medical insurance requirement.
GHIC and travel insurance
The UK Global Health Insurance Card gives access to state healthcare in the countries it covers on the same basis as a resident, which may be free or may carry the local resident's charge. The NHS says the GHIC does not cover flights back to the UK for medical reasons, treatment in private medical facilities or ski and mountain rescue.
The NHS states that the UK GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance and points to private travel and medical insurance for the whole trip. A UK GHIC is free and lasts for up to 5 years. The NHS warns that unofficial websites may charge a fee for applying.
| Point | UK GHIC |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Validity | Up to 5 years |
| What it gives | State healthcare on the same basis as a resident, free or at the local resident's charge |
| Medical repatriation to the UK | Not covered |
| Private medical treatment | Not covered |
| Ski or mountain rescue | Not covered |
| Replacement for travel insurance | No, according to the NHS |
Source: NHS: UK Global Health Insurance Card
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
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Frequently asked questions
How much cover does Schengen travel insurance need?
Under Article 15 of the EU Visa Code, Schengen travel insurance must provide at least 30,000 euros of cover. It must cover medical repatriation, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment and death.
Do UK citizens need Schengen travel insurance?
UK citizens do not need Schengen travel insurance for a visa. GOV.UK says they can visit the Schengen area without a visa for 90 days or less in any 180-day period, so the visa insurance rule does not apply. The NHS says a GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance.
Does the insurance have to cover every Schengen country?
Yes. The Visa Code says the insurance must be valid throughout the Member States for the whole stay, or at least in the states covered by a visa with limited territorial validity.
What about multiple-entry Schengen visas?
For multiple-entry Schengen visas, applicants show insurance for the first intended visit. They also sign a statement on the application form confirming they know insurance is needed for later stays.
Who is exempt from the insurance requirement?
Holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from the insurance requirement. The requirement may be treated as met where insurance can be presumed from the applicant's job, such as seafarers.
SOURCES
- Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code), Article 15, accessed 10 November 2026
- GOV.UK: Travelling to the EU and Schengen area, accessed 10 November 2026
- NHS: Apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), accessed 10 November 2026
