Schengen visa insurance by destination: France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands
Quick answer
Do France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands ask for different insurance? No. All four apply Article 15: at least EUR 30,000, valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay, covering medical repatriation, urgent care or emergency hospital treatment, and death. The official pages we read add only small points: the Dutch page lists prescription medicine and repatriation to your country of residence, and one Spanish consulate says renewable policies count only until their expiry date. Germany publishes more specific conditions, so it has its own guide.
People often assume each destination has its own insurance list. We looked for one. This page reports only what the official pages themselves say, with links, and says where we found nothing.
What each destination publishes
| Destination | What the official page or document says |
|---|---|
| France (France-Visas FAQ) | Valid travel insurance covering medical repatriation and emergency or hospital treatment is mandatory; valid throughout the Schengen territory and for the whole stay; "it must allow you to access services in the Schengen area"; minimum EUR 30,000. At the border you must hold a certificate covering medical and hospital costs, repatriation and costs in the event of death, and multiple-entry holders must carry one on every trip. We found no list of approved insurers. |
| Italy (Consulate Istanbul, Embassy Cairo) | Istanbul's fact sheet: health insurance valid in the Schengen area with a minimum of EUR 30,000 for hospitalisation and repatriation costs. Cairo's checklist for medical-care visas: cover of at least EUR 30,000 for urgent hospital admission and repatriation. Both describe the document list as guidance and say the office may ask for more. |
| Spain (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consulate Rabat) | The ministry page: cover for repatriation, urgent care and hospital treatment for the whole stay across Schengen, minimum EUR 30,000 or the local-currency equivalent; for multiple-entry visas, valid for the first trip with a commitment to insure later trips. Rabat's requirements add that renewable policies are considered valid only until their expiry date and that the policy must cover the whole period of the visa applied for. |
| Netherlands (Netherlands Worldwide) | Proof can be the first page of the policy (the policy schedule). It must show you are covered, in all Schengen countries for the whole stay, with at least EUR 30,000 for hospital admission and treatment, emergency treatment, prescription medicine and repatriation to your country of residence (including death). If no insurer in your country offers Schengen visa insurance you can buy in another country, and if your insurer cannot issue proof with your name and the required details, use another insurer. |
Sources: the official pages and documents linked in the table, read October 3, 2026. Examples from specific missions, not a complete list.
What this means in practice
- Check the certificate against the common list. The same Article 15 items apply everywhere. Our free certificate checker walks through them.
- Netherlands: look for medicines and for repatriation to your country of residence on the document. If you live in a different country from your passport country, check how the policy defines repatriation.
- Spain (Rabat's wording): if you use a plan that renews automatically, such as SafetyWing's subscription option, choose fixed travel dates (SafetyWing's own quote tool offers a specific-dates mode) so the certificate shows an end date that covers your stay.
- France: the official page does not name a list of approved insurers. Be wary of "approved by consulates" claims you cannot trace to an official source, including on comparison sites.
- Italy: the pages we read restate the standard rule and say the office may request more documents, so keep the policy schedule and certificate ready.
What this page does not say
- It does not describe how a visa centre or an officer will read your file.
- The sources are examples. Other missions of the same country can publish different wording, and pages change.
- Visa decisions are made by the destination country, and nothing here is a guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Is the insurance requirement different for France, Italy, Spain or the Netherlands?
The amount and the core rule are the same: at least EUR 30,000, valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay, covering medical repatriation, urgent care or emergency hospital treatment, and death. The official pages we read add only small points, such as the Dutch page listing prescription medicine and repatriation to your country of residence, and one Spanish consulate saying renewable policies count only until their expiry date.
Does France publish a list of approved insurers?
Not on the France-Visas pages we read, which only restate the Article 15 requirements. We could not find an official list from French consulates, so a site that says an insurer is approved by consulates is not citing a list we can see.
Can I buy the policy in another country for a Dutch visa?
Yes, according to the Dutch government page: if no insurer in your country of residence offers Schengen visa insurance, you can take out insurance in another country. It also says to choose another insurer if yours cannot issue proof with your name and the required details.
Is a subscription-style policy accepted for a Spanish visa?
The Spanish consulate in Rabat says renewable policies count as valid only until their expiry date. If you use a plan that renews, such as SafetyWing's subscription mode, set fixed travel dates so the certificate shows an end date that covers your stay. This is one consulate's statement, not a rule we have seen on every Spanish page.
Where does Germany fit in?
German missions publish the most specific extra conditions we found, such as an insurer-office condition on some declaration forms. They have their own guide.
Ready to choose a plan?
Compare plans, then check the certificate against the checklist before you submit.