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Which health insurance do visitors to Germany need for a Schengen visa?

In short

Which health insurance do visitors to Germany need for a Schengen visa? Travel health insurance that is valid in the whole Schengen area for the entire stay and covers at least EUR 30,000, including emergency treatment, hospital and repatriation. That is what Article 15 of the Visa Code requires. Visa tariffs cost about EUR 1.20 to 4.90 per day, and the longer the visit, the cheaper each day.

Which health insurance do visitors to Germany need for a Schengen visa?

What it costs

Published prices for dedicated visa tariffs for visitors to the Schengen area, checked in November 2026.

ExampleTypical range
Basic tariff with EUR 30,000 cover, 1 to 2 daysEUR 4.90 per day
Basic tariff with EUR 30,000 cover, 25 to 31 daysabout EUR 62.50
Basic tariff with EUR 30,000 cover, 106 to 180 daysabout EUR 189.90
Tariff with EUR 100,000 cover, 25 to 31 daysabout EUR 99.50
Tariff with EUR 2 million cover, 25 to 31 daysabout EUR 149.95
Visa tariff of a German insurer for foreign guestsfrom EUR 1.20 per day

Guide values as of November 2026 from publicly quoted tariff prices.

The worked example is a guide value from our advisory practice.

Some tariffs refund the premium if the visa is refused and you send in the refusal notice.

We obtain the right tariff for your visitor.

Worked example

A mother visits her daughter in Germany for 30 days

How the tiers compare for the same visit.

Basic tariff, EUR 30,000 coverabout EUR 62.50
Tariff with EUR 100,000 coverabout EUR 99.50
Tariff with EUR 2 million coverabout EUR 149.95
Extra cost from minimum to high coverabout EUR 87.45

For about EUR 87 more, cover rises from EUR 30,000 to EUR 2 million. If the daughter signed a formal obligation letter, the higher cover is usually the better deal. Worked example with guide values.

What the Visa Code actually requires

Anyone applying for a short stay Schengen visa must show adequate and valid travel medical insurance. It has to cover repatriation for medical reasons or in case of death, urgent medical attention and emergency hospital treatment.

The policy must be valid in all Schengen states for the whole planned stay and cover at least EUR 30,000. For a multiple entry visa, proof for the first stay is enough; the visitor then signs a statement that they know they need insurance again for later trips.

As a rule the visitor buys the policy in the country where they live. If that is not possible, they may buy it elsewhere, and another person may buy it for them, for example family in Germany, as long as the same conditions are met. The consulate checks whether claims could be enforced against an insurer in a Schengen state.

How consulates judge a policy

Dedicated visa tariffs built around these rules are the easiest route. A normal travel policy from the visitor's home country can also work if it meets every point.

RequirementWhat to look for
Cover of at least EUR 30,000the amount is stated explicitly on the certificate
whole Schengen areanot only Germany or a single country
whole length of staystart and end dates cover arrival and departure, with a day to spare
repatriation includedalso in case of death, not only illness
deductibleonly acceptable if the visitor could pay it in an emergency
insurer reachableseat or partner in a Schengen state

Why EUR 30,000 is only the floor

The amount is a minimum, not a guide to what a serious illness costs. Anything above the sum insured is paid by the visitor, or in the end by the host.

Visa tariffs therefore come in tiers: basic ones with EUR 30,000, better ones with EUR 100,000 and high ones with up to EUR 2 million. For older visitors and guests with existing conditions, read the exclusions closely, because some tariffs pay less above a certain age or exclude known illnesses.

Hosts and the formal obligation letter

Many hosts in Germany sign a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) at the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). It commits them to cover the guest's living costs, expressly including care in case of illness and need of nursing care. The obligation lasts five years from the entry it made possible and can be enforced.

The letter does not replace travel health insurance in the visa process. That is why a strong policy matters twice for the host: if the cover runs out, the host may end up paying the hospital bill.

When no visa insurance is required

The proof is only required for a visa application. Visitors from countries without a visa requirement do not have to show insurance for a short stay, but it is still sensible. Diplomatic passport holders are exempt, and for some professional groups, such as seafarers with occupational cover, the requirement counts as met.

These rules apply to short stay visitor visas. Anyone coming to work or study for longer needs a national visa with its own requirements.

Step by step

  1. Set the travel dates with one day to spare before arrival and after departure.
  2. Choose a tariff that covers the whole Schengen area and at least EUR 30,000.
  3. State the visitor's age and existing conditions honestly and read the exclusions.
  4. Check that repatriation is included in case of death as well.
  5. Attach the insurance certificate showing sum, territory and dates to the visa application.
  6. If the visa is refused, ask about a premium refund.

Checklist

  • Cover of at least EUR 30,000, ideally much more
  • Valid in all Schengen states
  • Term covers the whole stay
  • Repatriation for illness and death included
  • No deductible the visitor could not afford
  • Insurer with seat or partner in the Schengen area

Common mistakes

  • Buying a policy for Germany only although the visitor also travels to a neighbouring country
  • Setting the end date exactly on the flight day and losing cover after a delay
  • Relying on the obligation letter instead of choosing a high sum insured
  • Hiding existing conditions and getting nothing when they flare up

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

How much cover does a Schengen visa require?

At least EUR 30,000, as set out in Article 15(3) of the Visa Code.

More is allowed and often sensible.

Can I as the host buy the insurance for my visitor?

Yes.

The Visa Code allows another person to take out the insurance as long as it meets the same

requirements.

Does an obligation letter replace the insurance?

No.

The Verpflichtungserklärung is separate proof for the authorities.

The travel health insurance must be shown as well.

How long am I liable under an obligation letter?

Five years from the entry it made possible, including care in case of illness,

under § 68 of the Residence Act.

What does visa health insurance cost for a month?

About EUR 62.50 to 150 depending on cover.

Basic cover with EUR 30,000 is around EUR 62.50.

Does it cover several trips on a multiple entry visa?

For the application, proof for the first trip is enough.

For every later trip the visitor must take out insurance again.

Does a visitor without a visa requirement need health insurance?

It is not required for entry.

Without it, though, they pay for any treatment in Germany themselves, so it is still worth having.

Sources

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