Quick answer
A Schengen visa needs travel medical insurance of at least €30,000, about ₹30.6 lakh, covering emergency treatment, hospitalisation and medical repatriation, valid in every Schengen country for every day of your stay. Overseas policies from Indian insurers usually qualify. Choose USD 50,000–100,000 for real protection; it costs only a little more. Check age limits, pre-existing disease terms and winter sports cover.
Key takeaways
- Minimum €30,000 medical cover, valid across all 29 Schengen countries, for the whole trip.
- The policy must include hospitalisation, emergency treatment and repatriation for medical reasons or death.
- A 10-day policy for an adult under 40 typically costs ₹700–1,500; premiums rise steeply after 60.
- Buy it before your visa appointment; most Indian insurers refund the premium if the visa is refused.
- Make sure UK, Ireland or Cyprus legs, and skiing, are covered if they're part of your plans.
What does the Schengen insurance rule require?
The EU's visa rules set the minimum for every short-stay Schengen visa. Your policy must:
- Cover at least €30,000 for emergency medical expenses
- Include hospitalisation, emergency treatment and repatriation for medical reasons, and repatriation of remains in case of death
- Be valid in all Schengen countries, not just the one you apply to
- Cover every day of your intended stay
- Come from an insurer the consulate accepts; policies from established Indian insurers generally are
At the time of review the Schengen area has 29 countries, including Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, with Bulgaria and Romania full members since 2025. Ireland, Cyprus and the UK are not part of it. See the Schengen visa guide for the rest of the application.
Why is €30,000 the floor, not the target?
€30,000 sounds large until you price a serious emergency in Europe. Indicative costs for visitors without European health cover, at the time of review:
| Situation | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Emergency department visit and X-ray, Paris or Rome | €300–800 (₹30,000–80,000) |
| Overnight admission for a cardiac scare | €3,000–8,000 (₹3–8 lakh) |
| Surgery for a broken leg after a fall | €8,000–20,000 (₹8–20 lakh) |
| Stroke or heart attack with a week in intensive care | €30,000–60,000 or more |
| Air ambulance from Europe to India | Can exceed USD 100,000 |
Switzerland is the most expensive of all. For a young adult, a policy with USD 50,000–100,000 of cover usually costs only a few hundred rupees more than the bare minimum, so the extra headroom is cheap. Medical evacuation is where the large numbers sit.
What does it cost?
Indicative premiums from Indian insurers at the time of review, per person, for USD 50,000–100,000 of medical cover with no declared pre-existing disease:
| Age | 10 days | 21 days |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40 | ₹700–1,500 | ₹1,200–2,500 |
| 41–60 | ₹1,000–2,500 | ₹1,800–4,000 |
| 61–70 | ₹2,000–4,500 | ₹3,500–7,500 |
| 71–80 | ₹4,000–10,000 | ₹7,000–15,000 |
Family floater plans can work out cheaper for couples with children. Some insurers cap the entry age for standard plans at 70, 80 or 85; for parents, see travel insurance for senior citizens.
What else should you check before you buy?
Dates and validity
Cover the full stay, plus a day either side in case flights move. For a multiple-entry visa, the consulate usually asks for insurance for your first trip, with a signed undertaking that you'll buy cover for later trips.
The deductible
Many policies apply a deductible of USD 0–250 per claim. Consulates rarely object, but for families with young children or older parents, a low deductible is worth having in Europe, where even small clinic visits are expensive.
Pre-existing conditions
Declare diabetes, blood pressure, thyroid or heart conditions. Most policies cover a pre-existing disease only in life-threatening emergencies, up to a sub-limit. An undeclared condition is the most common reason claims are rejected.
Adventure and winter sports
Skiing in Switzerland or Austria, paragliding in Interlaken and glacier hikes are often excluded unless you buy an add-on. Read the exclusions if your itinerary goes beyond cable cars and viewpoints.
Non-Schengen legs
If your Europe tour includes London, Dublin or Cyprus, make sure the policy's geography covers them. Choose a Europe-wide plan or a worldwide plan excluding the USA and Canada, rather than a Schengen-only plan.
Cashless claims
Check whether the insurer has a 24-hour assistance partner in Europe that can guarantee payment to hospitals directly. Paying upfront and claiming later is possible, but hard on a credit card limit.
Buy the policy after your dates are fixed but before your visa appointment. It goes into your file, and the visa officer checks the dates, the countries covered and the €30,000 figure.
What should the policy document show?
Visa officers read the policy schedule, not the brochure. Before you print it, check that it shows:
- Your name exactly as in your passport, and your passport number
- Start and end dates that match your itinerary
- Medical cover of at least €30,000, or the equivalent in US dollars
- Repatriation for medical reasons and repatriation of remains
- A geographical scope that includes all Schengen states
- The insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance contact
If anything is missing or unclear, ask the insurer for a visa letter or a corrected schedule. Most Indian insurers issue one on request within a working day.
What happens if your visa is refused?
Most Indian insurers cancel the policy and refund the premium, sometimes minus a small fee, if you send the refusal letter before the policy start date. Keep the policy number and refusal letter together so the request is quick.
What if your dates change?
If the visa comes through but your travel dates move, ask the insurer to endorse the new dates before you travel. Most allow a date change free or for a small fee as long as the policy hasn't started. Carry the updated schedule, since border officers can ask to see valid insurance on entry.
Worked example
A Delhi couple aged 62 and 58, with their son aged 30, apply for a 12-day Switzerland, France and Italy holiday from 10 to 21 June. They buy individual policies covering 9 to 22 June with USD 100,000 of medical cover. The father declares his hypertension and picks a plan that covers pre-existing conditions in emergencies. The total premium for all three is about ₹5,000–10,000. Each policy lists all Schengen countries and clearly exceeds the €30,000 minimum, so the file goes in complete.
Compare plans through our travel insurance service.
Frequently asked questions
How much insurance cover is needed for a Schengen visa?
Can I buy Schengen travel insurance from an Indian insurance company?
Does Schengen travel insurance cover the UK?
Is the premium refunded if my Schengen visa is refused?
Do children need separate Schengen travel insurance?
What happens if my travel dates change after I buy the policy?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
