+49 228 97735-44· German & English spoken
    Health Insurance for Foreigners in Germany
    All tariffsFind a tariff
    Find a tariff
    Care Visa Protect (Schengen-recognised)from €0.85/day (up to 92 days)

    Schengen Health Insurance: Requirements, Proof, Coverage and Validity Area for Germany

    Sources: EU Regulation 810/2009 Art. 15 · Council Decision 2004/17/EC · § 5 AufenthG · HanseMerkur AVB

    A Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) requires travel health insurance that meets four hard criteria under Art. 15 of EU Regulation 810/2009 (the Visa Code): a minimum coverage of €30,000, inclusion of repatriation costs (in case of illness or death), validity throughout all 29 Schengen states, and validity for the entire planned stay. The fastest embassy-recognised option is Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day — the PDF certificate is issued instantly and accepted by every German embassy worldwide.

    Credit-card travel insurance is routinely refused because it lacks the required certificate, the €30,000 anchor or the explicit Schengen-wide validity. For stays beyond 90 days within 180 days the Schengen Type C no longer applies — you need a national visa (Type D) and a long-term Incoming policy: Care Economy from €30/30 days (visitors, Chancenkarte, up to 2 years) or Care Expatriate from €58/month (expats, freelancers, up to 5 years).

    Below: the four binding requirements explained one by one, the embassy-PDF format checklist, what counts as "repatriation" under the Visa Code, when Schengen Type C stops fitting and the switch routes to Care Economy or Care Expatriate.

    Trusted Providers

    Care Concept · HanseMerkur · DAK where applicable

    Visa Proof

    Proof of insurance for embassy or consulate documents

    Fast Online Process

    Receive the available confirmation after successful application

    4.9/5

    Over 10,000 policies issued · Since 2009

    Schengen visa appointment booked? Get the embassy-recognised PDF in 5 minutes.

    🏛️ Authority-approved📄 Instant proof🔒 DAK / HanseMerkur🏷️ Transparent pricing
    4.9/5· Since 2009 · 10,000+ policies· Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued

    Four reasons embassies reject Schengen insurance certificates

    Quick answer: "Why was my Schengen visa application rejected over the insurance proof?" — most refused certificates fail one of four criteria from Art. 15 of the Visa Code: coverage below €30,000; repatriation not explicitly included; validity restricted to one country instead of all 29 Schengen states; or the coverage period does not span the entire requested stay. A credit-card travel policy typically fails on at least two of these.

    Avoid the mistakes that can delay your application

    Schengen proof missing?

    For short Schengen stays, choose insurance that meets the €30,000 minimum-coverage requirement.

    Short stay or longer stay?

    Care Visa Protect fits many 1–92 day Schengen visits; Care Economy may fit longer or more flexible stays.

    Wrong insurance can cost time

    Before your embassy appointment, check that the proof matches your visa type, dates and destination.

    Multiple entries planned?

    If you travel more than once, check the multiple-entry option and the annual day limit before applying.

    What an undercovered Schengen trip really costs

    One wrong insurance choice can cost you money, time and your application deadline

    A medical incident can become expensive fast — but the wrong certificate can also delay your visa, enrollment, residence permit or work start.

    🏥

    €500–€1,500

    Emergency doctor visit

    One urgent doctor or emergency-room visit can already create a painful bill — before tests, medication or follow-up treatment are added.

    🏨

    €2,000–€10,000+

    Hospital treatment

    If observation, surgery, overnight stay or specialist treatment is needed, costs can quickly move from hundreds to thousands of euros.

    🛂

    1 wrong certificate

    Visa appointment at risk

    Wrong dates, missing coverage details, unclear validity area or missing repatriation wording can delay your documents exactly when time matters.

    • Wrong or incomplete proof can delay your visa, enrollment or authority process.
    • Cheap home-country policies may miss the exact coverage, dates or repatriation wording required.
    • The cheapest policy can become expensive if it is the wrong proof for your situation.

    Before you apply, check: coverage amount, validity dates, destination area and repatriation cover.

    Embassy slot tomorrow? You can have the Schengen-PDF in 5 minutes

    Why act before the visa appointment

    Visa appointments can be hard to reschedule. Missing or unsuitable insurance proof can create avoidable delay exactly when time matters.

    📅

    Appointment pressure

    If your documents are incomplete, you may need extra time to prepare corrected proof.

    📄

    Certificate must fit

    Check coverage amount, validity dates, destination area and repatriation wording before the appointment.

    ⚡

    PDF proof after application

    Several online tariffs provide a PDF certificate after successful application.

    🛡️

    Avoid last-minute panic

    Choose the right insurance before submitting your visa file, not after a document problem appears.

    From application to embassy-PDF — in 3 steps

    5 minutes online. Care Visa Protect PDF certificate by email immediately, in German and English, with the exact travel dates, the €30,000 medical anchor, repatriation clause and Schengen-wide validity statement required by Art. 15 of the Visa Code.

    Schengen-ready in 3 steps

    Proof of insurance for Schengen visa applications, including the €30,000 minimum-coverage requirement.

    1. Pick the right plan

      Care Visa Protect for short Schengen stays · Care Economy for the Opportunity Card or longer visitor stays.

    2. Apply online

      Enter passport, travel dates and destination. For Care Visa Protect, purchase before entry when required.

    3. Submit your proof

      Receive the PDF certificate after successful online application and submit it with your visa or authority documents.

    What travelers say about Care Visa Protect for the German Schengen visa appointment

    4.9/5 · Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued
    5/5
    “My biggest worry was that the embassy wouldn't accept the insurance.
    The proof was accepted immediately — no questions asked.
    That saved me a lot of stress.”
    Georges from Cameroon

    Georges

    Cameroon

    5/5
    “I needed proof of insurance urgently for my visa appointment.
    The confirmation arrived within minutes by email.
    Everything worked first time at the embassy.”
    Olga from Russia

    Olga

    Russia

    5/5
    “Found the best solution and best service for health insurance for foreign visitors and guests in Germany.
    Fast, simple and affordable.
    Highly recommended!”
    Michael from Germany

    Michael

    Germany

    5/5
    “The online sign-up was done in just a few minutes.
    When I actually had to see a doctor, the billing went smoothly.
    I was really covered — not just on paper.”
    Yunhee from Australia

    Yunhee

    Australia

    Now choose your plan

    4.9/5 · Since 2009 · Over 10,000 policies issued

    Care Visa Protect — full price table by tier and duration

    Quick answer: Care Visa Protect starts from €0.85/day (Einheitstarif — single tier) for trips up to 92 days. Minimum premium €8.50. All tiers include the €30,000 medical anchor, repatriation and Schengen-wide validity required by EU Regulation 810/2009.

    Care Visa Protect Daily premium Multiple Visa
    (annual contract)
    up to age 64 €0.85/day €110/year
    65 – 74 years €2.60/day €215/year

    Prices per person. Minimum premium €8.50 per trip. Maximum benefit €50,000 (well above the Schengen minimum of €30,000). Deductible €0. Must be purchased before travel. As of 2026.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the minimum coverage for Schengen visa health insurance?

    €30,000 (thirty thousand euros) for emergency medical treatment AND repatriation costs combined, valid throughout all 29 Schengen states for the entire planned stay. This is set by Art. 15 of EU Regulation 810/2009 (the Visa Code) and applies to every Schengen Type C visa, regardless of nationality. Care Visa Protect (from €0.85/day) is recognised by every German embassy worldwide.

    Does my credit-card travel insurance count for the Schengen visa?

    Almost never. German embassies require a PDF certificate explicitly naming the insured person, the coverage period, the €30,000 minimum and the Schengen-wide validity. Credit-card travel cover usually lacks one or several of these elements and is refused at the appointment. Use a recognised Incoming policy (Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day) — the embassy PDF is issued instantly by email.

    What if my stay exceeds 90 days within 180 days?

    Then the Schengen Type C visa no longer applies — you need a national visa (Type D) and a long-term Incoming policy. For stays up to 2 years use Care Economy (from €30/30 days for ages 0–49); for stays beyond 2 years (and up to 5 years) use Care Expatriate (from €58/month at ages 18–29). After 5 years you typically transition to substitutive PKV, GKV via employment or KVdR via the 9/10 rule.