Foundations · 01 Vetted pick · by Le Kang Duy

What is Schengen travel insurance, and why is it mandatory?

If you're applying for a Schengen visa — France, Germany, Italy, Spain or any other member state — travel insurance isn't an optional extra for peace of mind. It's a required document, and getting it wrong sends the file back before you ever reach an interview.

Travel Insurance · Updated 2026 · Tiếng Việt
Traveller with luggage and ticket at the airport, preparing a European trip
Getting ready to leave: compliant insurance is a required document, not a nice-to-have. Photo: Pexels.

The official requirement — one standard across all states

Every embassy and consulate in the Schengen area applies the same minimum standard, set in EU visa law (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 — the Visa Code, Article 15):

RequirementWhat it means
Minimum cover€30,000 for emergency medical expenses — a floor, not a recommendation
Scope of coverEmergency medical treatment and repatriation, including in case of death
GeographyValid in all Schengen states — not just the country issuing your visa
DurationCovers your entire planned stay

In other words: ordinary "travel insurance" often isn't enough. Many common packages carry medical limits below €30,000, or only cover selected countries — submitting one of those almost guarantees a request for additional documents or a refusal.

Why the requirement exists

It's not a rule invented country by country — it's a unified standard across the Schengen area. The purpose: make sure a visitor who falls ill or has an accident doesn't become a burden on the host country's public healthcare system. Because it applies to the whole area, cover valid in France is also valid when you move on to Germany, Italy or any other Schengen state on the same trip — provided the policy states area-wide validity rather than naming a single country.

Does LUMA's cover meet it?

Per LUMA's published Schengen product page and Table of Benefits:

One thing no insurer can promise Whether a visa is granted always rests with the embassy or consulate — never with the insurance company. Any wording that "guarantees" a visa outcome is a marketing claim, not a contract term.

Where to go next

Quote for your exact trip

Get a quote that meets the requirement — about a minute

Get a LUMA quote — 5 minutes

Certificate by email right after payment — print it or submit the PDF.

Sources