India: what are the best Schengen visa insurances in 2025?

Are you planning to visit a country within the Schengen Area and need a visa? Please note that a specific travel insurance is mandatory to obtain this visa. It covers your medical expenses and assistance during your stay. However, choosing the right insurance is essential because not all offers are equal.

Price, guarantees, exclusions, certificate – after comparing dozens of Schengen visa insurance policies available from India, here is a complete guide with everything you need to know to choose the best one for you.

Schengen Visa Insurance: Key Takeaways

• 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 visit one country
• It costs between ₹1,350 and ₹2,100 for a one-week trip, depending on your age and the level of coverage chosen.
• It offers limited coverage and does not replace travel insurance, which provides more extensive and better-covered 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 the HelloSafe website.

Why take out Schengen visa insurance?

1. What is it for?

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

It is essential to obtain the visa to access the Schengen area, which may be granted for one of the following reasons: tourist travel, business trip, family visit, short training, internship, exercise of a paid activity, after obtaining a temporary work permit.

2. Who needs it?

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

Example: An Indian student invited by his brother in Germany for two weeks must include a Schengen insurance certificate in his visa application.

Good to know

Some foreign nationals are exempt from the type C visa requirement—and therefore from Schengen visa insurance—for stays under 90 days:

• People holding a residence permit or long-stay visa issued by a Schengen country
• Holders of diplomatic mission cards
• Citizens of non-Schengen European countries (such as Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Ireland, etc.)
• Nationals 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 full list on the European Commission website.

Also, for airport transit without leaving the international area of the terminal, some foreign nationals must obtain a type A visa (e.g. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, etc.). However, a Schengen visa is not required in this case.

3. Is it mandatory?

Yes. Presenting a valid insurance certificate, clearly stating that you are covered by a policy meeting the minimum required guarantees, is a prerequisite for your visa application to be processed.

4. What area must be covered?

The insurance must cover all Schengen countries, even if your trip is limited to just one (e.g., only France or Spain).

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

5. What are the minimum requirements?

• Coverage of emergency medical expenses up to €30,000
• Coverage for medical repatriation or repatriation of remains
• Valid in the entire Schengen area
• Valid for the entire duration of the stay in the Schengen area
• Certificate must be submitted at the time of the visa application

6. Are there different types of plans?

Yes, there are generally three main types:

• Short-stay plans – up to 90 days (visa type C)
• Long-stay plans – from 90 to 365 days (visa type D)
• Plans for multiple entries into the Schengen Area

7. How to get the certificate?

The certificate is issued immediately after purchase, often by email. It meets consular requirements and must be printed and included 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 purchasing your policy, you’ll need to enter your travel dates.

Good to know

Schengen visa insurance is a requirement for travelers wishing to enter the Schengen Area. This zone includes 29 European countries that have abolished internal border controls. 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 typically included in Schengen visa insurance plans. For each one, I’ve indicated whether it is essential or optional, the usual coverage limits, and how it may affect the overall price of your insurance.

1. Medical expenses and hospitalization abroad – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers unexpected healthcare costs abroad (consultations, hospital stays, prescribed medicines, urgent tests)
• Franchise: from ₹0 to ₹8,500 depending on the plan
• Plafond de remboursement: usually from ₹2,700,000 to ₹45,000,000
• Exclusions courantes: pre-existing conditions, comfort treatments, non-urgent care, mental health issues
• Impact sur le prix: 🔺 Very high – the higher the limit, the more expensive the policy. ₹2,700,000 coverage meets the minimum visa requirement but may fall short in serious cases
• 💡 Expert tip: healthcare in the Schengen Area is expensive. Opt for a higher coverage than the visa minimum—especially for longer stays or if you’re traveling with dependents

2. Medical repatriation – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers transport to your home country or a better-equipped medical facility in case of serious health issues
• Franchise: none in most policies
• Plafond de remboursement: actual costs covered, from ₹0 to ₹unlimited depending on insurer approval
• Exclusions courantes: repatriation denied if not medically justified or not approved by the insurer
• Impact sur le prix: 🔸 Moderate – usually part of the basic coverage package
• 💡 Expert tip: choose insurers offering 24/7 assistance to handle emergencies without delay or paperwork on your end

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

• Description: covers the cost of returning the body to the home country, including coffin or embalming fees
• Franchise: none
• Plafond de remboursement: from ₹45,000 to ₹135,000 depending on the destination and the plan
• Exclusions courantes: suicide, death in a non-covered country, non-compliance with policy terms
• Impact sur le prix: 🔸 Moderate
• 💡 Expert tip: make sure your plan also covers funeral costs, which are not always included by default

4. Emergency dental care – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers urgent dental treatment for sudden acute pain (e.g. infected cavity, abscess)
• Franchise: ₹0 to ₹7,000
• Plafond de remboursement: from ₹8,000 to ₹13,500 depending on the plan
• Exclusions courantes: prosthetics, cosmetic care, non-urgent procedures
• Impact sur le prix: 🔻 Low
• 💡 Expert tip: skip this coverage if you have good oral health and no history of dental emergencies

5. Personal liability abroad – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers physical or material damage you may cause to others during your stay
• Franchise: ₹0 to ₹8,500
• Plafond de remboursement: up to ₹360,00,000 depending on the policy
• Exclusions courantes: intentional damage, incidents involving motor vehicles
• Impact sur le prix: 🔺 High, especially with higher coverage limits
• 💡 Expert tip: recommended if you're staying with relatives or renting Airbnb-type accommodations during your trip

6. Lost, stolen or delayed baggage – 🟡 Optional

• Description: compensation for personal belongings lost, stolen or damaged during your trip
• Franchise: around ₹8,500
• Plafond de remboursement: from ₹45,000 to ₹90,000 depending on the plan – often excludes valuables or jewelry
• Exclusions courantes: valuables (jewelry, cash, official documents), unchecked or unattended luggage, delays under 12 or 24 hours
• Impact sur le prix: 🔺 Medium to high, usually included in premium plans or paid add-ons
• 💡 Expert tip: if baggage protection matters to you, skip budget plans. Risk of baggage loss is higher with connections through major hubs like Paris, Brussels, or Frankfurt.

7. Trip cancellation or interruption – 🟡 Optional

• Description: reimbursement of prepaid expenses if your trip is canceled for valid reasons (illness, death of a relative, unforeseen work issues)
• Franchise: from ₹1,700 to ₹4,200 depending on the policy (not always applied)
• Plafond de remboursement: from ₹90,000 to ₹450,000 per person depending on the plan
• Exclusions courantes: cancellation without proof, known medical conditions, change of mind, visa refusal without formal justification
• Impact sur le prix: 🔺 Significant – can raise your premium by 15 to 30%
• 💡 Expert tip: highly useful for long-haul flights from India, as airfare and accommodation costs in Schengen countries are high and hard to recover if plans change suddenly

Warning

Some very low-cost insurance plans (less than ₹900) offer no assistance and only minimal coverage with unclear terms. Always check the general conditions carefully before purchasing.

How to choose the right Schengen visa insurance?

Here are the key criteria you should keep in mind before selecting your Schengen visa insurance.

How much does Schengen visa insurance cost?

Factors that influence the price

The cost of Schengen visa insurance depends on several key factors:

• Trip duration: the longer the stay, the higher the premium, as the insurer covers a longer period of risk.
• Traveler’s age: insurers often apply surcharges for travelers over 60 or 70, who are considered higher risk.
• Level of coverage: a “basic” plan that meets only Schengen requirements will be cheaper than a comprehensive package with baggage, liability, etc.
• Number of countries visited: some insurers may charge more if you plan to visit additional countries like the UK or Cyprus outside of the Schengen Area.
• Country of residence: pricing may vary based on the traveler's home country. Visitors from India may pay slightly more than those from neighboring regions, depending on the insurer's risk model.
• Insurer and options: each provider has its own pricing structure. Add-ons like trip cancellation or teleconsultation may increase the final cost.

Here are some examples of Schengen visa insurance prices:

* These prices are for reference only, as many factors influence the final premium.

How to pay less for your Schengen visa insurance?

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

Expert tip

Don’t rely on your bank card insurance. While some premium cards like HDFC Diners Black or SBI ELITE may offer travel coverage, these usually don’t meet the specific requirements of Schengen visa insurance. In most cases, the medical expense coverage limits are far 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.