The minimum, set by the Schengen Visa Code. Not a suggestion, not per-country, not negotiable. It is the floor of medical coverage your policy must provide for the visa to be granted. Most files that fail on insurance don't fail on the amount, they fail on one of the other three conditions below.
All four, not just the number.
At least €30,000
Minimum medical coverage. Many Indian policies quote in USD; aim for USD 50,000 or more to clear €30,000 comfortably with currency movement.
Medical, hospitalisation, repatriation
Must cover emergency treatment, hospital admission, and medical repatriation (being brought home, or the cost of returning remains). A pure trip-cancellation policy does not qualify.
Valid in all Schengen states
The certificate must say it covers the entire Schengen Area, not only the country you're applying to. "Worldwide excluding…" wording is where people get caught.
Your full stay
Cover every day from entry to exit. Dates must match or exceed your travel dates. A one-day gap at either end can sink the file.
Buy only from an approved insurer.
Schengen states apply a common list of approved Indian travel insurance companies. A policy that meets all four conditions but comes from a company not on the list still means starting over. The current list includes, among others S1:
- Bajaj Allianz General
- HDFC ERGO General
- ICICI Lombard General
- Tata AIG General
- Reliance General
- SBI General
- Star Health & Allied
- Go Digit General
- Niva Bupa Health
- IFFCO-Tokio General
- Cholamandalam MS General
- Future Generali India
- Universal Sompo General
- Zuno General
- National Insurance
- New India Assurance
- Oriental Insurance
- United India Insurance
This list changes. Always confirm your chosen insurer appears on the current official list at S1 before buying. Some consulates (notably Switzerland) publish their own narrower list, so also check the country checklist you're applying under.
Read the certificate, not the ad.
Whatever you buy, open the policy certificate (the PDF, not the marketing page) and confirm each line is actually printed on it:
Premium ranges from India, 2026.
For a healthy adult under 60, a compliant €30,000 policy is cheap relative to the trip. Figures below are typical starting ranges and need verification against each insurer's live quote S2.
| Trip length | Adult under 60 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week | ~₹400 to 800 | Single-trip, basic compliant plan. |
| 2 weeks | ~₹600 to 1,300 | The most common tourist case. |
| 30 days | ~₹1,000 to 2,200 | Premium rises with duration, not linearly. |
| Frequent flyer | ~₹3,500 to 6,000/yr | Annual multi-trip, 30/45/90-day per-trip caps. Cheaper if you go more than twice a year. |
Over 60, or with pre-existing conditions, premiums climb and some plans add medical questions. Buy early so you have time to switch if a quote comes back high.
Compliant providers.
| Insurer | Often noted for | |
|---|---|---|
| Tata AIG from ~₹26/day* | Low premiums; some plans include adventure sports without an add-on. | Link soon |
| ICICI Lombard | Low premiums; app-based claim initiation. | Link soon |
| Bajaj Allianz | Flexible age limits; good fit for travellers over 60. | Link soon |
| HDFC ERGO | Extensive medical cover; 24/7 assistance; annual multi-trip options. | Link soon |
| Reliance General | Schengen-specific plans, medical plus cancellation. | Link soon |
*Starting figures cited by the insurer for a young adult; your quote depends on age, duration and plan. We don't rank these as "best", the right pick depends on your age, trip and budget. Verify on the insurer's own site.
Buy before, but check the refund.
You must submit a policy with your application, so you buy before you know the outcome. Most approved insurers refund the premium if your visa is refused and you did not travel, as long as you cancel per their terms (often with passport copies proving no travel). Confirm this refund-on-refusal condition is in writing before buying, and you carry almost no risk on the insurance line even if the visa doesn't come through.
Verify everything here yourself.
- S1, approved list of Indian travel insurance companies applied by the Schengen states, published via VFS Global one-pagers, e.g. the official approved-insurer PDF. Also check the specific consulate's page, since some (Switzerland) maintain a narrower list.
- S2, the insurers' own quote pages for current premiums and certificate wording: Tata AIG, ICICI Lombard, Bajaj Allianz, HDFC ERGO, Reliance General. Premiums and plan terms change; the live quote is the truth.
- S3, your country checklist on VisaFile, which links the consulate insurance guidance for the country you're applying under: all checklists.
Last verified: NOT YET. A human checks the approved list and figures against these sources before this page carries the verified stamp. Spotted an outdated detail? Email us: contact coming soon.
Insurance quick answers.
What exactly must the €30,000 cover?
Medical emergencies, hospitalisation and medical repatriation, valid across all Schengen states, for your entire stay. All four conditions together. A trip-cancellation-only policy, or one that excludes some Schengen countries, does not qualify.
Does any Indian insurer's policy work?
Only insurers on the official approved list, and for some consulates a narrower country-specific list. Buying from an unlisted company means redoing it. Confirm against S1 and your country checklist before paying.
How much will it cost me?
For a healthy adult under 60, roughly ₹600 to ₹1,300 for two weeks, more with age or duration. Annual multi-trip plans (₹3,500 to 6,000) pay off if you travel more than twice a year.
Before or after the visa decision?
Before, because the policy goes into your application. Most approved insurers refund if the visa is refused and you didn't travel, provided you cancel per their terms. Get that condition in writing first.