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The best travel insurance for Schengen visa: Requirements & options
Find all the key information on which Schengen travel health insurance is best for your next adventure. Keep reading!
Traveling to Europe is a dream for millions of people around the world. But before packing their bags, many travelers need to apply for a Schengen visa. One of the most important requirements is having travel medical insurance that meets Schengen rules. Without it, the visa application will be rejected, no matter how complete the rest of the documents are.
In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know to choose the best travel medical insurance for your Schengen visa. We’ll explain who needs it, the requirements it must meet, compare some of the best options available, and show you how to stay connected once you arrive in Europe.
Who needs insurance to obtain a Schengen visa?
Travel medical insurance is required for anyone applying for a Schengen visa to visit Europe. In Latin America, travelers from Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic need a Schengen visa. Citizens of countries like Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile can travel to Europe without a visa for short stays. However, if they plan to stay for more than 90 days or travel for work or study, they’ll need to apply for a long-stay (Type D) visa, and travel medical insurance will also be required.
Outside of Latin America, the list is much longer. Travelers from most countries in Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Asia need a Schengen visa to enter Europe.
Short-stay travelers (Type C visa): This is the most common Schengen visa, used for tourism, business, or transit. Your travel medical insurance must cover your entire trip, from the day you enter the Schengen Area until the day you leave.
Long-stay travelers (Type D visa): If you’re staying in Europe for more than 90 days to study, work, or join family members, you’ll need a Type D visa. In most cases, you’ll also need more comprehensive health coverage, such as international health insurance or an expat health insurance plan, depending on the country you’re moving to.
Health insurance requirements for the Schengen visa
Not every travel insurance policy qualifies for a Schengen visa. To get your visa approved, you need travel medical insurance that provides at least $35,000 in medical coverage, includes emergency medical repatriation, and is valid throughout the entire Schengen Area.
Specifically, the insurance must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum medical coverage of $35,000: Insurance policies with coverage below $35,000 are automatically rejected. However, many experts recommend choosing higher coverage for extra peace of mind.
- Repatriation and medical evacuation included: The policy must cover the insured person’s return to their country of origin in the event of serious illness or death.
- Valid in all Schengen Area countries: If the itinerary includes multiple countries, the insurance must be valid in all of them.
- Valid for the entire stay: The policy must begin on or before the day of arrival and end on or after the day of departure.
- No deductible: The policy must provide 100% coverage with no deductible.
- Insurance letter or certificate: The insurer must issue an official document stating the coverage amounts to be submitted to the consulate.
The best insurance plans for obtaining a Schengen visa
The market offers several valid options, but they don’t all offer the same ease of online purchase, customer service, or level of coverage for the same price. Below are the three best travel insurance options for 2026 to get a Schengen visa.
1. IATI Basic
IATI is a Spanish travel insurance company that focuses on travel insurance. Many travelers and experts consider it one of the best value options for a Schengen visa. Its Basic plan covers up to about $170,000, which is more than enough to meet the requirements and gives access to hospitals and doctors across the Schengen Area without extra costs.
Key features:
- Medical coverage up to $170,000 (meets and exceeds the Schengen requirement)
- Repatriation included
- 24-hour telephone assistance
- Coverage for emergency dental expenses
- Valid in the 29 countries of the Schengen Area
Price: Starting at approximately $1.40 per day for short stays, making it one of the most affordable options on the market.
How to book: You can buy it directly at iatiseguros.com. The whole process is 100% online: you choose your destination, travel dates, and plan, and you instantly receive your insurance certificate by email. IATI is the most affordable option with solid coverage and the only one with no age limit.
Availability: Available to travelers from all over the world, with no restrictions based on country of origin.
2. Heymondo
Heymondo has changed the industry by focusing on user experience. Its main advantage is its assistance app, which lets you manage issues, make free VOIP calls, and chat with doctors 24/7 directly from your phone.
It offers three main plans: Travel Peace of Mind, Travel Top, and Travel Premium. For a Schengen visa, any of the three meets the minimum requirements.
Key features:
- Medical coverage starting at $280,000 (well above the minimum)
- Assistance app with video medical consultations included
- Direct payment to the hospital (no need to pay upfront)
- Luggage and trip cancellation coverage in higher-tier plans
- 24/7 assistance
Price: The basic plan starts at approximately $1.70 per day, depending on the destination and duration.
How to purchase: At heymondo.com. You’ll receive the certificate immediately after payment, and it’s valid for submission to the consulate.
Availability: It’s available for travelers from Latin America, Europe, and most countries around the world. Heymondo is a popular overall recommendation thanks to its balance of price, coverage, and app features, as well as its direct hospital payment system.
3. Chapka Cap Schengen
Chapka is a French insurance company with a plan made for Schengen visa travelers called Cap Schengen. Its main advantage is speed: you receive your insurance certificate by email within minutes after buying it.
Cap Schengen meets the minimum $35,000 coverage required by law to enter Europe from outside the EU. For longer stays, Chapka also offers Cap Europa, an extended plan for trips over 90 days.
Key features:
- $35,000 in medical coverage (meets the minimum requirement)
- Repatriation and medical evacuation included
- Hospitalization expenses covered
- Personal liability coverage abroad
- Dedicated app for managing incidents, processing reimbursements, and accessing 24-hour assistance from anywhere
Price: This is generally the most affordable option of the three, especially for short stays. The price varies depending on the length of stay and the number of travelers.
How to book: You can get it at chapkaseguros.com. The process is simple: choose your reason for travel, enter your dates, country of origin and destination, and fill in your personal details to receive the policy instantly.
Availability: Available to travelers from any country. It is particularly popular among Latin American travelers due to its simple booking process and competitive pricing.
The top-rated insurance for obtaining a Schengen visa
We compare the options to help you choose the one that best suits your needs based on user reviews and features.
| Feature | IATI Basic | Heymondo | Chapka Cap Schengen |
| Medical coverage | $170,000 | $280,000 | $35,000 |
| Repatriation | Included | Included | Included |
| No deductible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Management app | Basic | Advanced | Basic |
| 24-Hour medical chat | No | Yes | No |
| Estimated price per day | Starting at $1.40 | Starting at $1.70 | Starting at $1 |
| User ratings | 4.2 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 4.3 out of 5 |
All three insurance options meet visa requirements, but they differ in what they offer beyond the minimum. IATI is the cheapest and covers up to about $170,000, but has more limited digital features. Chapka is an affordable option, good for tight budgets, but only covers the minimum $35,000. Heymondo balances price, higher coverage, and technology, with an app offering 24/7 video doctor consultations and direct hospital payments.
With over 13,000 reviews on Trustpilot and a 4.6 out of 5 rating, Heymondo is one of the highest-rated insurance providers on the market. Users consistently highlight its fast customer support, transparent reimbursement process, and the usefulness of its app in real emergency situations.
Heymondo is the recommended insurance. It easily exceeds Schengen requirements, offers one of the most complete experiences on the market, and is consistently backed by thousands of real users. For anyone looking to secure their visa and travel with peace of mind, it’s the strongest choice in 2026.
How can I get unlimited internet when traveling within the Schengen Area?
Having internet in Europe is a necessity. You need it for maps, bookings, emergencies, and contacting your insurance. But many travelers make a costly mistake: they rely on roaming without checking prices or arrive in Europe without a data plan.
One of the most practical and modern solutions is Holafly’s Europe eSIM. Unlike physical SIM cards, it can be activated instantly on your phone before you leave, with no need to visit a store or swap cards. It offers unlimited data in more than 30 European countries and is useful for both short and long stays.
If you’re staying for a while or need a more stable, cost-effective option, Holafly’s monthly plans are designed for longer stays. They give you a monthly data plan you can easily manage through the app, so you can browse without worrying about running out of data.
Frequently asked questions about the best health insurance policies for the Schengen visa
No. The insurance must meet specific requirements: a minimum coverage of $35,000, including repatriation, validity across all Schengen countries, no deductible, and coverage for the entire stay. If any of these conditions are not met, the visa may be denied.
It’s best to buy it before booking your consulate appointment, since the insurance certificate is one of the required documents. Experts also recommend applying for your Schengen visa about three months in advance to avoid delays.
It must cover all Schengen countries. If your trip includes multiple destinations, make sure the policy clearly states it’s valid throughout the Schengen Area or lists the specific countries you’ll be visiting.
It depends on the insurer. Some, like AXA Schengen, offer a refund if your visa is denied. Before buying, make sure to check each policy’s cancellation and refund terms.
Generally, no. It’s unlikely that a national health insurance plan will be accepted abroad. The consulate requires a specific international policy that clearly states coverage within the Schengen Area.
Yes. For stays longer than 90 days (Type D visa), you usually need international health insurance or expat insurance that provides continuous coverage and can be renewed.
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