United Kingdom: 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 is mandatory to obtain this visa. It covers your medical expenses and assistance costs during your stay. However, choosing the right one is essential, as not all insurance policies offer the same level of protection.

Prices, coverage, exclusions, certificate… after comparing dozens of Schengen visa insurance plans available in the UK, 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 repatriation and 24/7 assistance.
• It must be valid in all Schengen countries, even if you only plan to visit one.
• It costs between £13 and £20 for a one-week trip, depending on your age and level of coverage.
• It offers basic coverage that does not replace standard travel insurance, which provides broader and better benefits.
• Credit card insurance almost never meets the Schengen visa requirements set by embassies.
• Get your travel insurance certificate 100% online, securely and in less than 5 minutes on HelloSafe's 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 hospitalisation costs will be covered, even for foreign travellers without local health coverage.

It is essential to obtain the visa granting access to the Schengen area, which can be issued for the following reasons: tourist travel, business trip, family visit, short-term training, internship, paid activity (with temporary work authorisation).

2. Who is concerned?

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

Example: An Indian student invited by his brother living in Germany 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, in the case of 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.

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 mandatory requirement 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 purchasing your policy, 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 (health-related or repatriation of remains)
• Validity across the entire Schengen area
• 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 — for trips up to 90 days (visa C)
• Long-stay plans — for trips from 90 to 365 days (visa D)
• Multi-entry plans — for travellers entering and leaving the Schengen area multiple times during their stay

7. How to get the certificate?

The certificate is issued immediately after subscribing, often by email. It complies with consular requirements and must be printed to include in 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 travellers 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 hospitalisation abroad – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers unexpected healthcare expenses abroad (consultations, hospitalisation, prescribed medication, urgent tests).
• Excess: from £0 to £90 depending on the plan.
• Reimbursement limit: usually 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 limit, the higher the cost. €30,000 is enough for the visa but may be limited for serious emergencies.
• 💡Expert tip: healthcare costs in Schengen countries can be expensive. A limit higher than €30,000 is recommended for better protection, especially in case of hospitalisation 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.
• Excess: none in most plans.
• Reimbursement limit: actual costs (no limit if approved by the insurer).
• Common exclusions: repatriation refused if not medically justified or not approved by the insurer.
• Impact on price: 🔸 Moderate – usually included in standard coverage.
• 💡Expert tip: choose insurers offering 24/7 assistance to handle emergencies quickly and organise 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.
• Excess: none.
• Reimbursement limit: from £430 to £1,300 depending on the plan and destination.
• Common exclusions: suicide, death in a non-covered country, failure to meet subscription conditions.
• Impact on price: 🔸 Moderate.
• 💡Expert tip: always check if funeral expenses are covered in addition to transportation costs.

4. Emergency dental treatment – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers dental care in case of sudden severe pain (e.g. infected cavity, abscess).
• Excess: from £0 to £70.
• Reimbursement limit: from £80 to £130 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 problems.

5. Personal liability abroad – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers material or bodily damage you may unintentionally cause to a third party.
• Excess: from £0 to £90.
• Reimbursement limit: up to £3,500,000 depending on the plan.
• Common exclusions: intentional damage, damage involving the use of a vehicle.
• Impact on price: 🔺 High, especially for higher coverage limits.
• 💡Expert tip: particularly useful 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.
• Excess: around £85.
• Reimbursement limit: from £430 to £860 depending on the plan – often limited to transported items and excluding valuables or jewellery.
• Common exclusions: valuables (jewellery, 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 as a paid option.
• 💡Expert tip: if this coverage is important to you, avoid basic plans that might exclude baggage cover. Also note that transit through large 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 cancelled for valid reasons (illness, death of a relative, unforeseen work reasons, etc.). Often offered as an option.
• Excess: from £17 to £45 depending on the plan (not always applied).
• Reimbursement limit: usually from £860 to £4,300 per person, depending on the plan.
• Common exclusions: cancellation without proof, pre-existing medical conditions, visa refusal, fear of travel.
• Impact on price: 🔺 Significant (can increase the premium by 15% to 30%).
• 💡Expert tip: if you book a long-haul flight, this coverage can be very useful as ticket prices are high. More generally, accommodation in the Schengen area is expensive, so being able to get these costs refunded 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 keep in mind before choosing your Schengen visa insurance.

How much does Schengen visa insurance cost?

The factors that influence the price

Several elements affect the price of Schengen visa insurance:

• Trip duration: the longer the stay, the higher the premium, as the insured risk increases over time.
• Traveller's age: insurers often apply higher rates for travellers over 60 or 70, considered higher risk.
• Level of coverage chosen: a basic plan meeting Schengen minimum requirements will cost less than a full plan including baggage, personal liability, etc.
• Number of countries visited: with some insurers, you may pay more if you plan to visit non-Schengen countries like the UK or Cyprus in addition to the Schengen area.
• Country of residence: some insurers adjust their rates depending on the traveller's country of origin and perceived risk level.
• Insurer and available options: each company has its own pricing and refund policies. Additional options like trip cancellation or teleconsultation can increase the final price.

Here are some examples of average Schengen visa insurance prices:

* These rates 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 know the average prices, here are some smart tips to optimise your contract 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. Medical coverage limits are usually too low.

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.