AnkyroTravel insuranceSchengen visa
Travel insurance for a Schengen visa.
A Schengen visa needs travel medical cover of at least 30,000 euros, valid in every Schengen country, with repatriation. Here is what passes, and what doesn’t.
The rules
What the Schengen area asks of visitors.
Checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Entry rules change, so check again before you fly.
- At least 30,000 euros of cover
The policy must pay for medical costs, emergency and hospital care, and medical repatriation. The minimum is 30,000 euros.
Source: vistos.mne.gov.pt - Valid in every Schengen country
The cover must work in all Schengen states, not just the one you apply to. It must run for your whole stay, including transit. It does not need to match the full length of the visa.
Source: vistos.mne.gov.pt - Repatriation, including after death
The EU asks for cover for emergency care, hospital stays and repatriation, including if the traveller dies.
Source: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Multiple-entry visas
If you get a multiple-entry visa, you sign a statement on the form. It says you know you need travel medical insurance for each later trip too.
Source: vistos.mne.gov.pt - Who needs a visa
Citizens of India, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Africa, Nigeria, Turkey and many more need one. Citizens of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan and others don’t, for up to 90 days in any 180.
Source: vistos.mne.gov.pt - ETIAS is not running yet
ETIAS is not in operation and no applications are taken. The EU will give the start date several months ahead. The Entry/Exit System, with fingerprints and a photo at the border, has run fully since 10 April 2026.
Source: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
What care costs
If something goes wrong, this is the bill.
What a visitor pays without insurance. Prices vary by hospital and change every year.
- France: 23 euros a day in hospital
Even patients with an EHIC pay a flat fee of 23 euros a day for a hospital stay, plus the share the state does not pay. Without an EHIC, you pay the full bill.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Germany: 10 euros a day in hospital
Adults with an EHIC pay 10 euros a day in hospital, for up to 28 days a year. A single room or the head doctor costs extra, in full.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu - Spain: private care is paid in full
Public care is free with an EHIC. If a hotel calls a private doctor, you pay the full price and the card does not refund it.
Source: employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu
What to look for
Choosing travel cover for Schengen visa.
Ankyro checks each of these on every plan, so you don’t have to read the fine print.
- The 30,000 euro line in writing
The certificate should show the amount, the word Schengen, and medical repatriation. Consulates check the paper, not the brochure.
- All Schengen countries named
A plan for “Europe” or for 1 country can fail. Check it covers all 29 Schengen states.
- Dates that match your trip
Cover must start on the day you enter and end the day you leave, transit included. Add a day or 2 if your flights might change.
- The excess and the exclusions
A high excess or a long list of excluded activities can leave you paying anyway. Read the exclusions before you buy.
Before you land
Sort these before you fly.
- Call 112
It is the free emergency number in every EU country. Ask for an ambulance and give your location.
- Mobile data
EU roaming rules only cover SIM cards from EU countries. Plans from outside the EU often charge a lot, so many visitors buy an eSIM data plan before they fly.
- Fingerprints at the border
The Entry/Exit System takes your fingerprints and photo on your first entry. Allow extra time at the airport.
- Keep the policy on your phone
Save the certificate and the insurer’s 24 hour assistance number. Call them before you go to a private clinic, if you can.
Common mistakes
3 we see all the time.
- 01Buying cover for 1 country or with less than 30,000 euros. The visa can be refused.
- 02Leaving out medical repatriation. It is required, and it is the most expensive part of a bad trip.
- 03Paying a website for an ETIAS. It is not running yet and no applications are taken.
Questions
People also ask.
How much travel insurance do I need for a Schengen visa?+
At least 30,000 euros. It must cover medical costs, emergency and hospital care, and medical repatriation, in all Schengen countries, for your whole stay.
Does Schengen travel insurance have to cover all countries?+
Yes. The policy must be valid in every Schengen state, even if you only plan to visit 1.
Do I need ETIAS to travel to Europe in 2026?+
No. ETIAS is not in operation yet and no applications are taken. The EU will announce the start date several months ahead.
Do US citizens need travel insurance for Europe?+
Not for a visa, as US citizens can visit without one for up to 90 days in any 180. It is still wise. Your home health plan may pay little abroad, and a flight home on a stretcher is costly.
Other trips
Going somewhere else?
Visiting Singapore? Care is excellent and expensive. Living here and going abroad? MediShield Life does not pay overseas. Here is what to check.
03MalaysiaVisiting Malaysia? Public hospitals charge foreigners full price. Living here and going abroad? Your cover at home stays at home. Here is what to check.
04ThailandThailand doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But hospitals want a payment guarantee before they treat you, and private care is not cheap. Here is what to know.
05JapanJapan doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But visitors pay the full bill, and unpaid bills can get you refused entry next time. Here is what to know.
06USA visitorsThe US doesn’t ask visitors for insurance. But a few days in hospital can cost more than a car. Here is what care costs, and what a visitor plan must cover.
07Bali and IndonesiaIndonesia doesn’t ask tourists for insurance yet. But a broken leg in Bali can cost over 160 million rupiah, and serious cases can need a flight out. Here is what to know.
08Dubai and the UAEDubai’s law says visitors must be insured, and the 5-year tourist visa asks for proof. Care is good but private, and an unpaid bill can stop you leaving.
09VietnamVietnam doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. But private hospitals cost a lot, and a motorbike crash can stop you leaving the country. Here is what to know.
10SpainPublic care in Spain is free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, dental care and the flight home are not. Here is what the card leaves to you in Spain.
11MexicoMexico doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Private hospitals in big cities are good, but most want payment first, and Medicare won’t pay.
12FranceCare in France is not free, even with an EHIC or GHIC. You pay upfront, claim back part, and the flight home is never covered. Here is what to check.
13ItalyThe EHIC and GHIC work in Italy’s public system, but you still pay fees, most medicines and any private doctor. Here is the Italian bill the card leaves you.
14GermanyWith an EHIC or GHIC, most care in Germany costs little. Private extras, mountain rescue and the flight home are on you. Here is what to check.
15PortugalPublic care in Portugal is mostly free with an EHIC or GHIC. Private clinics, medicines and the flight home are not. Here is what to check before you fly to Portugal.
16Costa RicaCosta Rica doesn’t ask tourists for insurance. Only first emergency care is free, private clinics want payment first, and extensions have their own rules.
17ColombiaMost tourists need no visa and no policy for Colombia. If you do need a visa, insurance is part of it. Private clinics want payment first.
18South KoreaKorea doesn’t ask tourists for insurance, and the national scheme is not for short trips. Hospitals expect you to pay on the spot, then claim.
19Australia working holidayThe 417 and 462 visas don’t make you buy health insurance. But you pay every medical bill yourself, unless your passport gets you limited Medicare. Here is who is covered and what to buy.
20New Zealand working holidayMost working holiday visas for New Zealand require medical and hospital insurance for your whole stay, and you can be asked for proof when you land. Here is who is exempt and what to buy.