Australia: what are the best Schengen visa insurance options in 2025?

Are you planning to visit a country in the Schengen Area and need a visa? If so, you should know that Schengen travel insurance is mandatory to obtain your visa. It covers your medical expenses and assistance services while travelling. But not all policies offer the same value—so it’s important to choose the right one.

Price, coverage, exclusions, certificate—after comparing dozens of Schengen visa insurance options available in Australia, here’s everything you need to know to choose the best one for your trip.

Schengen visa insurance: key facts

• 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 emergency assistance.
• It must be valid in all Schengen countries, even if you’re only visiting one.
• It typically costs between AUD 25 and AUD 40 for one week of travel, depending on your age and the coverage level.
• It provides basic coverage and does not replace a full travel insurance policy, which offers broader protections.
• Credit card insurance rarely meets the visa requirements set by Schengen embassies.
• You can get your official insurance certificate online in under 5 minutes, securely through the HelloSafe website.

Why take out Schengen visa insurance?

1. What is it for?

Schengen visa insurance is required to protect both travellers and European healthcare systems.
It ensures that medical expenses, repatriation, or hospitalisation costs are covered—even for foreign visitors without local coverage.

It is essential to obtain a visa for entry into the Schengen Area, which may be granted for purposes such as tourism, business travel, family visits, short-term training, internships, or temporary paid work with prior authorisation.

2. Who needs it?

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 applies to tourists, family visitors, or business travellers coming from a non-EU country.

Example: A Chinese student invited by a friend in Germany for a two-week stay must provide a Schengen insurance certificate with their visa application.

Good to know

Some foreign nationals are exempt from the type C visa—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 a diplomatic mission card
• Citizens of non-Schengen European countries (such as Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Ireland)
• Citizens of countries with special agreements with the Schengen zone, including the United States, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Israel, and many others

⚠️ Around sixty countries are exempt from the Schengen visa. You can find the full 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 obtain a type A visa (e.g. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, etc.). However, this does not require Schengen visa insurance.

3. Is it mandatory?

Yes. You must provide a valid insurance certificate that clearly shows you are covered by a policy meeting the minimum required guarantees. This is a mandatory condition for your visa application to be processed.

4. What area must be covered?

The insurance must cover all Schengen countries, even if you are only travelling to one (e.g. just 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?

• Coverage of emergency medical expenses up to €30,000
• Coverage for medical repatriation or repatriation of remains
• Valid in all Schengen countries
• Valid for the entire duration of the stay in the Schengen area
• An insurance certificate must be submitted with your visa application

6. Are there different types of coverage?

Yes, there are usually three main types:

• Short-stay plans – up to 90 days (type C visa)
• Long-stay plans – from 90 to 365 days (type D visa)
• Multiple-entry plans – for travellers who enter and exit the Schengen Area several times

7. How do I get the certificate?

The certificate is issued immediately after you purchase the policy, often by email. It meets consular requirements and must be printed and included with your visa application.
⚠️ Keep in mind that the validity and duration of your Schengen visa insurance must match the length of your stay in the area. You’ll need to enter your travel dates when purchasing the policy.

Good to know

Schengen visa insurance is a requirement for travellers who wish to enter the Schengen Area. This zone is made up of 29 European countries that have abolished internal border checks. Here is the list:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

What does Schengen visa insurance cover?

Here are the benefits typically included in Schengen visa insurance policies. For each one, I’ll indicate whether it’s an essential or optional guarantee, the usual coverage limits, and how it can affect the overall price of your insurance.

1. Medical expenses and hospitalisation abroad – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers unexpected healthcare costs abroad (consultations, hospitalisation, prescriptions, emergency exams)
• Excess: from AUD 0 to AUD 160 depending on the plan
• Coverage limit: usually from AUD 49,000 to AUD 800,000 for premium contracts
• Common exclusions: pre-existing conditions, non-urgent care, comfort treatments, mental health issues
• Impact on price: 🔺 Very high – the higher the coverage, the more expensive the policy. AUD 49,000 is the legal minimum, but might not be enough for serious emergencies
• 💡Expert tip: healthcare costs in Europe are high. Opt for coverage beyond AUD 49,000, especially if your trip is long or if you have any medical risk factors

2. Medical repatriation – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers transport to your home country or a better-equipped facility if you face a serious health issue
• Excess: usually none across most plans
• Coverage limit: actual costs covered, from AUD 0 up to full reimbursement if medically approved
• Common exclusions: non-medically justified repatriation, lack of approval from the insurer
• Impact on price: 🔻 Moderate – often bundled in standard packages
• 💡Expert tip: choose insurers with 24/7 assistance to handle logistics and emergencies—this is crucial if you're alone or far from major hospitals

3. Repatriation of remains – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers the transport of the body to the home country, including coffin or embalming costs
• Excess: none
• Coverage limit: from AUD 800 to AUD 2,400, depending on destination and provider
• Common exclusions: suicide, death in an uncovered country, breach of policy conditions
• Impact on price: 🔻 Moderate
• 💡Expert tip: make sure the policy also includes funeral-related costs, not just the transport itself

4. Emergency dental treatment – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers dental care for sudden acute pain (e.g. infected cavity, abscess)
• Excess: from AUD 0 to AUD 130
• Coverage limit: from AUD 140 to AUD 230, depending on the policy
• Common exclusions: dentures, cosmetic procedures, non-urgent treatments
• Impact on price: 🔻 Low
• 💡Expert tip: skip this coverage if you have no current dental issues—it rarely justifies a price increase

5. Personal liability abroad – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers bodily or property damage you may accidentally cause to a third party
• Excess: from AUD 0 to AUD 160
• Coverage limit: from AUD 3,000,000 to AUD 6,700,000, depending on the plan
• Common exclusions: intentional harm, vehicle-related incidents
• Impact on price: 🔺 High, especially with higher coverage caps
• 💡Expert tip: consider this if you're staying with friends or renting accommodation like Airbnb, where accidental damage can occur

6. Lost, stolen or delayed luggage – 🟡 Optional

• Description: compensation for personal belongings lost, stolen, or damaged during your trip
• Excess: around AUD 160
• Coverage limit: from AUD 800 to AUD 1,600, often excluding valuables like jewellery or electronics
• Common exclusions: valuables (jewellery, cash, official documents), unchecked or unattended bags, delays under 12–24h
• Impact on price: 🔺 Medium to high, usually included in premium plans or as a paid add-on
• 💡Expert tip: if luggage protection matters to you, avoid basic plans. Note that connections via airports like Paris, Brussels or Frankfurt increase the risk of baggage issues

7. Trip cancellation or interruption – 🟡 Optional

• Description: reimburses non-refundable expenses if you cancel or cut short your trip for valid reasons (illness, family emergency, work-related issues)
• Excess: from AUD 30 to AUD 85 depending on the policy (not always applied)
• Coverage limit: from AUD 1,600 to AUD 8,300 per person, depending on the plan
• Common exclusions: change of mind, known pre-existing conditions, incomplete documentation
• Impact on price: 🔺 Significant – may increase your premium by 15 to 30%
• 💡Expert tip: this is especially worth considering for long-haul flights from Australia or if you’ve prepaid costly accommodation in Schengen countries. It can offer real peace of mind

Warning

Some ultra low-cost insurance policies (under AUD 16) offer no assistance services 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 to keep in mind when selecting a Schengen visa insurance policy.

How much does Schengen visa insurance cost?

The factors that influence the price

Several elements affect the cost of Schengen visa insurance:

• Trip duration: the longer your stay, the higher the premium, as the insured period is extended
• Traveller’s age: insurers often charge more for travellers over 60 or 70, due to increased health risks
• Level of coverage: a basic policy meeting Schengen requirements costs less than a premium plan with baggage, liability, or cancellation cover
• Number of countries visited: some insurers charge more if you plan to visit non-Schengen destinations like the UK or Cyprus
• Country of residence: pricing may vary based on the traveller’s origin. For Australians, the premium can be slightly higher than for Europeans
• Insurer and options: each provider has its own pricing model. Add-ons like telehealth or cancellation coverage can significantly raise the cost

Here are some average Schengen insurance prices:

* These prices are indicative only, as many factors can affect the final cost.

How to save money on your Schengen visa insurance?

Now that you have an idea of the typical prices, here are some smart tips to reduce the cost of your insurance without compromising on essential coverage.

Expert tip

Don’t rely on your credit card insurance. While some premium Australian cards like Visa Platinum or Mastercard World offer travel insurance, these policies rarely meet the specific requirements of Schengen visa applications. 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.

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