How to easily get a travel insurance certificate for a Schengen visa

Written by the AXA Schengen team
Date: 05/05/2025

Your palms are sweaty, your hands are slightly shaking, you have difficulty breathing. No doubt about it: you are in the midst of your Schengen visa application process. You’ve completed the form online, you’ve booked your appointment to submit your file and now you’re trying to gather all the required documents for your visa application to be examined. And on the list, you come across the travel insurance certificate. What is this??! do you ask in a frenzied panic.

Relax! Once again, the AXA team has prepared a clear and simple guide to help you successfully complete your Schengen visa application file. Let’s start reading!

• What is a Travel Insurance Certificate?
• When is it compulsory to provide a Travel Insurance Certificate?
• Can any insurance company provide a Travel Insurance Certificate?
• A quick reminder of the different steps of the Schengen visa application process
• When should you subscribe to Schengen travel insurance?
• How to obtain your Travel Insurance Certificate quickly and simply?
• 10 reasons why AXA Travel Insurance is the best choice for you

What is a Travel Insurance Certificate?

A Schengen Travel Insurance Certificate is a simple but essential and sometimes compulsory document which states that you have subscribed to travel insurance and thus, that your medical expenses will be covered during your future trip in the Schengen zone. However, this travel insurance must meet several criteria to be accepted with your Schengen visa application but more on that later.

When is it compulsory to provide a Travel Insurance Certificate?

Providing a Travel Insurance Certificate is compulsory for Schengen visa applicants

You will have to provide a travel insurance certificate if you need a Schengen visa.

In compliance with Article 15 of the European Union Visa Code, anyone applying for a visa needs to provide proof that “they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance” covering their medical expenses in case of health issues during their stay in the Schengen area.

That proof comes in the form of a travel insurance certificate issued by a certified insurance company.
This certificate is not some random document you can do without.

A visa request will be denied if the applicant “presents insufficient travel medical insurance”.

Furthermore, the Schengen Borders Code also specifies in article 6 that visitors to the Schengen area must be able to present the document to the Border police upon their arrival. Failing to do so can lead to a refusal of entry in the Schengen area.

Bonus info: Some travellers, such as seafarers, are exempt from providing this certificate as their professional activity already entails coverage by appropriate travel medical insurance. So move on Popeye, you don’t need one!
This exemption also applies to holders of diplomatic passports.

Travel insurance is highly recommended even if you don’t need a Schengen visa

Nationals of several countries do not need a Schengen visa to visit this European area. However, authorities highly recommend that all foreign travellers subscribe to travel insurance and international medical insurance to make sure that the medical expenses which could occur in case of hospitalisation or emergency repatriation during their trip to Europe are covered.

Without it, they could have less access to proper medical care or end up with an abyssal bill to settle. Not the best souvenir you want to bring back from your Euro trip!

Can any insurance company provide a Travel Insurance Certificate?

Travel insurance certificates are issued by insurance companies offering Schengen travel insurance policies.

Careful though, to be considered “adequate and valid” this travel insurance must meet the requirements of article 15 of the Visa Code (yes, him again). While we are sure that you have already thoroughly read the Code, here is a little reminder for good measure.

Schengen Travel insurance must meet the following criteria:

• It must provide €30,000 minimum coverage.
• It must cover expenses entailed by medical repatriation, emergency medical care, hospitalisation, or in case of death during the traveller’s stay on the territory of one of the Schengen Member States.
• It must be valid in all the countries part of the Schengen area.
• It must remain valid during the entire length of your stay in the area.
• It must be certified by the consular services of all Schengen States.

Beware!

• If you have subscribed to an insurance policy which does not comply with these requirements, your Schengen visa application will be denied.
• The European Union administration does not sell or supply Schengen visa travel insurance. You must subscribe with a private insurance company.

Don’t forget to read our step-by-step guide on how to choose the best Schengen travel insurance.

A little reminder of the different stages of the Schengen visa application process

• Check what type of visa you need and where you must submit your application.
• Fill in the visa application form online.
• Book your appointment to submit your application file in person if need be (most cases).
• Gather all the compulsory documents, including your passport, travel insurance certificate, itinerary, proof of accommodation , proof of financial means, etc.
• Hand in your visa application in person during your appointment at the consular services or visa centre of the Schengen country you wish to visit.
• Wait impatiently for the answer. During this nerve-racking stage, don’t forget to check out our guide on how to track your visa application file.
• Pack your bags!

When should you subscribe to Schengen travel insurance?

We recommend that you subscribe to Schengen travel insurance before completing your Schengen visa application form.
Why? As the Schengen travel insurance certificate is one of the compulsory documents you need to enclose with your visa application file, in case of mishap, you will have time to deal with it. Bear in mind, if one item is missing, your Schengen visa request will be denied.

Therefore, the sooner you obtain your travel insurance certificate the better.
All the more so if you choose AXA Schengen Travel Insurance as your subscription will be reimbursed if your visa request is denied.
Early online subscription is thus risk-free and potentially trip-saving in case of trouble.

How to obtain your travel insurance certificate quickly and simply?

In the harrowing and time-consuming Schengen visa application process, getting your hands on the insurance certificate can be the easiest part if you choose to subscribe to certified travel insurance online.

Once you’ve subscribed online, your travel insurance certificate will be sent to you very quickly and even immediately depending on the chosen insurance company. Meaning that even if you’ve forgotten to subscribe, you can still do so at the very last minute, at any hour, as long as it is before you submit your file in person!

When you subscribe to AXA Schengen Travel Insurance online, whatever the Schengen country you want to visit, your travel insurance certificate will be sent to you immediately after payment, via email. All you’ll need to do is download/print it and enclose it with the other compulsory documents of your Schengen visa application file.

You can also retrieve it from your personal user account. You will need your login and password featured in the email received confirming your subscription to AXA Schengen Travel Insurance.

Our recommendation: If you haven’t received your Schengen travel insurance certificate, check your spams and junk mail. It could have ended up in the wrong folder!

10 reasons to subscribe to AXA Travel Insurance online

1. You will obtain your Schengen travel insurance certificate immediately via email.
2. You can print and enclose it with your Schengen visa application file then and there.
3. You can download your insurance certificate and attach an electronic copy if you apply for a visa online.
4. AXA Schengen Travel Insurance complies with all the European demands concerning visa applications.
5. It is validated and thus accepted by the consulates and embassies of all Schengen Member States.
6. Our certificates are certified and referenced under a unique number which allows consular services of all countries to quickly check that your travel insurance meets all requirements.
7. If you subscribe to AXA Schengen Travel Insurance for someone living abroad, you can print the certificate in other languages (including English, Russian, Chinese, Spanish and German). All you need to do is choose your preference in the drop-down menu.
8. Subscribing online is easy and fast.
9. Your subscription will be refunded if your visa application is denied.
10. AXA Schengen Travel Insurance is affordable.

Not only does it meet all the requirements to be accepted with your Schengen visa application, additional AXA guarantees are available to cover you and your loved ones during your different activities abroad.

Discover the different AXA Schengen travel insurance options and choose the one that best suits your needs and budget!

Commitment-free, no personal information required, get your free online quote now!

You might find these articles interesting:

• How to subscribe to long-stay visa insurance?
• All you need to know about compulsory Schengen travel insurance
• How to apply for a Schengen visa from India?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa from China?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa from the UK?

FAQ

How much does a Schengen travel insurance certificate cost?

The certificate in itself doesn’t cost anything. However, to obtain a valid one, you need to subscribe to travel insurance in compliance with all Schengen visa application requirements. AXA Schengen Travel Insurance is available online and meets all these criteria while offering great value for money.

I want to subscribe to Schengen travel insurance for someone else. What information will I need to provide?

When you subscribe, you will need to provide the future beneficiary’s name, date of birth, passport number, nationality and country of residence.

I haven’t received my AXA Schengen Travel Insurance certificate, what should I do?

Start by checking your spam folder in case the email has landed there. If it hasn’t, contact us online or retrieve your certificate via your personal user account.