United States: what are the best Schengen visa insurance policies in 2025?

Are you planning to visit a country in the Schengen area and need a visa? Be aware that a specific travel insurance policy is mandatory to obtain this visa. It covers your medical expenses and assistance costs during your stay. However, choosing the right policy is crucial, as not all plans offer the same protection.

Prices, coverage, exclusions, certificate... after comparing dozens of Schengen visa insurance plans available for travelers from the USA, here is everything you need to know to help you choose the best one.

Schengen visa insurance: key points to remember

• It is mandatory to obtain a short-stay visa (type C).
• It must cover at least €30,000 in medical expenses.
• It must include medical repatriation and 24/7 assistance.
• It must be valid in all Schengen countries, even if you are only visiting one.
• It costs between $16 and $25 for a one-week trip, depending on your age and the level of coverage chosen.
• It provides basic coverage and does not replace standard travel insurance, which offers more comprehensive benefits and better protection.
• Credit card insurance almost never meets Schengen visa requirements requested by embassies.
• Get your travel insurance certificate 100% online, securely and in less than 5 minutes on the HelloSafe website.

Why should you take out Schengen visa insurance?

1. What is it for?

Schengen visa insurance is required to protect both visitors and European healthcare systems. It ensures that medical expenses, repatriation, or hospitalization costs will be covered, even for foreign travelers without local health coverage.

It is essential to obtain the visa granting access to the Schengen area, which can be issued for one of the following reasons: tourism, business trip, family visit, short-term training, internship, or paid activity (with prior work authorization).

2. Who is concerned?

Anyone residing outside the European Union and applying for a short-stay Schengen visa (type C, meaning less than 90 days) must take out this insurance. This includes tourists, family visitors, or business travelers coming from a non-EU country.

Example: A Chinese student invited by his sister living in France for two weeks must provide a Schengen insurance certificate with his visa application.

Good to know

Some foreign nationals are exempt from a type C visa — and therefore from Schengen visa insurance — for stays of less than 90 days:

• Holders of a residence permit issued by a Schengen State.
• Holders of a diplomatic mission card.
• Citizens of European countries outside the Schengen area (Cyprus, United Kingdom, Ireland, etc.).
• Citizens of countries with specific agreements with the Schengen area such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Israel, and many others.

⚠️ About sixty countries are exempt from a Schengen visa. You can find the complete list on the European Commission website.

Also, for airport transit without leaving the international zone of the terminal, some foreign nationals must apply for a type A visa (e.g. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, etc.). However, it is not necessary to obtain a Schengen visa in these cases.

3. Is it mandatory?

Yes. Providing a valid insurance certificate, clearly stating that you have subscribed to a policy offering at least the required guarantees, is a prerequisite for processing your visa application.

4. What area must be covered?

The insurance must cover all Schengen countries, even if your stay only concerns a single country (e.g. only France or Spain).

When subscribing, you will need to provide your travel dates and the country or countries you plan to visit.

5. What are the minimum requirements?

• Emergency medical expenses covered up to €30,000
• Medical repatriation coverage (health-related or repatriation of remains)
• Validity in all Schengen countries
• Validity for the entire duration of the stay in the Schengen area
• Certificate to be provided when applying for the visa

6. Are there different types of plans?

Yes, there are generally several types of plans available:

• Short-stay plans – up to 90 days (visa C)
• Long-stay plans – from 90 to 365 days (visa D)
• Multi-entry plans – for travelers entering and leaving the Schengen area multiple times during their stay

7. How to get the certificate?

The certificate is issued immediately after subscription, often by email. It meets consular requirements and must be printed and included with your application.

⚠️ Keep in mind that the validity and duration of your Schengen visa insurance must match the length of your stay in the area. When subscribing, you will need to provide your travel dates.

Good to know

Schengen visa insurance is a requirement for travelers wishing to enter the Schengen area. This area is made up of 29 European countries that have abolished border controls between them. Here is the list:

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

What does Schengen visa insurance cover?

Here are the benefits provided by Schengen visa insurance plans. For each of them, I have indicated whether it is considered essential or optional. I have also included the typical coverage limits and the impact of the benefit on the overall price of the insurance.

1. Medical expenses and hospitalization abroad – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers unexpected healthcare expenses abroad (consultations, hospitalizations, prescribed medication, urgent exams)
• Deductible: from $0 to $110 depending on the plan
• Reimbursement limit: generally from €30,000 (legal minimum) to €500,000 or even €1,000,000 for premium plans
• Common exclusions: pre-existing conditions, comfort treatments, non-urgent care, mental health disorders
• Impact on price: 🔺 Very high – the higher the coverage limit, the higher the price. €30,000 is enough for the visa but may be insufficient in serious emergencies
• 💡 Expert tip: medical care in Schengen countries can be expensive. Choosing coverage higher than €30,000 is recommended for better protection, especially in case of hospitalization or a long stay

2. Medical repatriation – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers transportation to your home country or to a more suitable medical facility in case of a serious health issue
• Deductible: none in most plans
• Reimbursement limit: actual expenses (no limit if approved by the insurer)
• Common exclusions: repatriation refused if not medically justified or without prior approval from the insurer
• Impact on price: 🔸 Moderate – usually included in standard coverage
• 💡 Expert tip: choose insurers offering 24/7 assistance to handle emergencies and organize your repatriation if necessary

3. Transport of remains in case of death – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers the repatriation of the body to the home country and associated costs like coffin or preparation
• Deductible: none
• Reimbursement limit: from $540 to $1,620 depending on the plan and destination
• Common exclusions: suicide, death in a non-covered country, failure to meet insurance conditions
• Impact on price: 🔸 Moderate
• 💡 Expert tip: always check if funeral expenses are included in addition to the transportation of the body, as these costs can vary significantly depending on the country

4. Emergency dental treatment – 🟠 Optional

• Description: covers dental care in case of sudden severe pain (e.g. infected cavity, abscess)
• Deductible: from $0 to $85
• Reimbursement limit: from $100 to $160 depending on the plan
• Common exclusions: dentures, cosmetic treatments, non-urgent care
• Impact on price: 🔻 Low
• 💡 Expert tip: no need to pay extra for this coverage if you have good oral health and no recent dental issues

5. Personal liability abroad – 🟠 Optional

• Description: covers material or bodily damage you may unintentionally cause to a third party
• Deductible: from $0 to $110
• Reimbursement limit: up to $4,300,000 depending on the plan
• Common exclusions: intentional damage, damage involving the use of a vehicle
• Impact on price: 🔺 High, especially with higher coverage limits
• 💡 Expert tip: highly recommended if you are staying with friends, family, or in Airbnb rentals during your trip

6. Lost, stolen or delayed luggage – 🟠 Optional

• Description: compensation in case of loss, theft or damage to your personal belongings during the trip
• Deductible: around $110
• Reimbursement limit: from $540 to $1,080 depending on the plan – often limited to transported items and excluding valuables or jewelry
• Common exclusions: valuables (jewelry, cash, official documents), unchecked or unattended luggage, delays under 12 or 24 hours
• Impact on price: 🔺 Medium to high – often included in premium plans or available as an extra option
• 💡 Expert tip: if this coverage is important to you, avoid low-cost plans that may not cover baggage. Also, passing through major international airports like Paris, Brussels or Frankfurt increases the risk of luggage loss

7. Trip cancellation or interruption – 🟡 Optional

• Description: reimbursement of expenses incurred if the trip is canceled or interrupted for valid reasons (illness, death of a relative, unforeseen work reasons, etc.). Often offered as an option
• Deductible: from $20 to $55 depending on the plan (not always applied)
• Reimbursement limit: usually from $1,080 to $5,400 per person depending on the plan
• Common exclusions: cancellation without proof, known medical conditions, visa refusal, fear of travel
• Impact on price: 🔺 Significant – can increase the premium by 15% to 30%
• 💡 Expert tip: if you are booking a long-haul flight, this coverage can be very useful because ticket prices are high. In general, as accommodation in the Schengen area is expensive, being able to get these costs refunded easily if needed can offer real peace of mind

Warning

Some very low-cost insurance plans (under $10) offer no assistance and only minimal unclear coverage. Always check the terms and conditions carefully before purchasing.

How to choose the right Schengen visa insurance?

Here are the key criteria you should carefully consider before choosing your Schengen visa insurance.

How much does Schengen visa insurance cost?

The factors that influence the price

The price of Schengen visa insurance depends on several factors:

• Trip duration: the longer your stay, the higher the premium, as the insured risk increases over time.
• Traveler's age: insurers often apply higher rates for travelers over 60 or 70, considered higher risk.
• Coverage level chosen: a basic plan covering only the Schengen visa minimum requirements will be cheaper than a comprehensive plan that includes baggage, liability, etc.
• Number of countries visited: some insurers charge more if you plan to visit non-Schengen countries in addition to the Schengen area.
• Country of residence: prices may vary depending on the traveler's country of origin.
• Insurer and options: each company has its own pricing rules. Additional options like trip cancellation or teleconsultation may increase the final price.

Here are some examples of average Schengen visa insurance prices:

* These prices are provided as an indication only, as many factors influence the final price.

How to pay less for your Schengen visa insurance?

Now that you have an idea of the prices, here are some smart tips to optimize your policy without compromising essential coverage.

Expert tip

Do not rely on your credit card insurance. While it’s true that some premium cards, such as Visa Platinum or Mastercard World Elite, offer insurance benefits, these included coverages rarely meet the specific requirements needed to obtain a Schengen visa.

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and an experienced entrepreneur in the insurance and personal finance sector, Antoine uses his experience and in-depth knowledge of the market to help Internet users make the right choices. With an MBA in economics, he is a committed expert whose mission is to make personal finance and insurance issues simple and understandable. With a rich career marked by the creation of innovative companies, Antoine's ambition has always been to bring transparency to complex issues and to give power back to consumers. With HelloSafe, he continues to translate this vision by providing accurate advice, impartial comparisons and detailed explanations of travel insurance. He has analysed hundreds of contracts to reveal the best options available on the market.