New Zealand: what are the best Schengen visa insurance options in 2025?

Are you planning a trip to the Schengen Area and need a visa? If so, be aware that travel insurance is mandatory to obtain your Schengen visa. This insurance covers your medical expenses and assistance during your stay. But not all policies offer the same level of protection, so choosing the right one is essential.

Price, benefits, exclusions, certificate—after comparing dozens of Schengen visa insurance policies from New Zealand, here’s everything you need to know to choose the best one.

Schengen visa insurance: key facts

• It is mandatory to obtain a short-stay visa (type C).
• It must cover at least €30,000 in medical expenses.
• It must include repatriation and 24/7 assistance.
• It must be valid in all Schengen countries, even if you're visiting only one.
• It typically costs between NZ$27 and NZ$42 for a one-week trip, depending on your age and level of coverage.
• It offers limited coverage and does not replace full travel insurance, which includes broader and better-covered guarantees.
• Credit card insurance almost never meets Schengen visa requirements set by embassies.
• You can get your travel insurance certificate 100% online, securely and in less than 5 minutes on the HelloSafe website.

Why take out Schengen visa insurance?

1. What is it for?

Schengen visa insurance is required to protect both visitors and European healthcare systems.
It ensures that medical expenses, repatriation, or hospitalisation costs are covered—even for a foreign traveller without local insurance.

It is essential to obtain a visa for entry into the Schengen area, which can be granted for purposes such as tourism, business travel, family visits, short-term training, internships, or paid activities with a temporary work permit.

2. Who needs it?

Anyone residing outside the European Union and applying for a short-stay Schengen visa (type C, meaning less than 90 days) must purchase this insurance. This includes tourists, family visitors or business travellers coming from a non-EU country.

Example: A Chinese citizen invited by a friend in Germany for a two-week holiday must provide proof of Schengen insurance with their visa application.

Good to know

Some foreign nationals are exempt from the type C visa requirement—and therefore from Schengen visa insurance—for stays under 90 days:

• Those holding a residence permit or long-stay visa issued by a Schengen state
• Holders of a diplomatic mission card
• Citizens of non-Schengen European countries (e.g. Cyprus, the UK, Ireland)
• Citizens of countries with specific agreements with the Schengen area, such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Israel, and many others

⚠️ About sixty countries are exempt from the Schengen visa requirement. You can find the full list on the website of the European Commission.

Also, in the case of an airport transit without leaving the international zone of the airport, some foreign nationals must apply for a type A visa (e.g. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DRC, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, etc.). However, a Schengen visa is not required in that case.

3. Is it mandatory?

Yes. Providing a valid insurance certificate, clearly showing that you are covered by a policy that meets at least the minimum required guarantees, is a prerequisite for your visa application to be processed.

4. What area must be covered?

The insurance must cover all Schengen countries, even if you are only visiting one (e.g. just France or Spain).

When purchasing your policy, you will need to provide your travel dates as well as the country or countries you plan to visit.

5. What are the minimum requirements?

• Coverage of emergency medical expenses up to €30,000
• Coverage for medical repatriation (including return of remains)
• Valid in the entire Schengen area
• Valid for the entire duration of your stay in the Schengen zone
• Certificate must be submitted with your visa application

6. Are there different types of plans?

Yes, they are generally divided into:

• Short-stay plans – up to 90 days (type C visa)
• Long-stay plans – from 90 to 365 days (type D visa)
• Multi-entry plans – for travellers making several trips within the Schengen area

7. How do you get the certificate?

The certificate is issued immediately after purchase, often by email. It meets consular requirements and must be printed and included with your visa application.
⚠️ Keep in mind that your Schengen visa insurance must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in the Schengen area. When purchasing your policy, you’ll need to enter your travel dates.

Good to know

Schengen visa insurance is a requirement for travellers wishing to enter the Schengen Area. This area consists of 29 European countries that have removed border controls between them. Here is the list:

Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland.

What does Schengen visa insurance cover?

Here are the main benefits included in Schengen visa insurance plans. For each benefit, I have indicated whether it is essential or optional. I have also shown the usual coverage limits and the impact of the benefit on the overall price of the insurance.

1. Medical and hospital expenses abroad – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers unexpected healthcare expenses abroad (consultations, hospitalisation, prescribed medicines, urgent tests).
• Excess: from NZD 0 to NZD 170 depending on the plan.
• Reimbursement limit: generally from NZD 52,000 (legal minimum) to NZD 870,000 for premium plans.
• Common exclusions: pre-existing conditions, comfort treatments, non-urgent care, mental health disorders.
• Impact on price: 🔺 Very high – the higher the coverage limit, the higher the cost. NZD 52,000 is enough for the visa but may be insufficient for serious emergencies.
• Expert advice 💡: in Schengen countries, medical care is expensive. Higher coverage than NZD 52,000 is recommended, especially for long stays or hospitalisation.

2. Medical repatriation – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers transport to your home country or a better-equipped hospital in case of serious health problem.
• Excess: none in most plans.
• Reimbursement limit: actual costs (no limit if approved by the insurer).
• Common exclusions: repatriation refused if not medically justified or without insurer approval.
• Impact on price: 🔸 Moderate – usually included in the basic coverage without extra cost.
• Expert advice 💡: choose insurers offering 24/7 emergency assistance to handle procedures quickly, especially if travelling alone or with health conditions.

3. Transport of remains in case of death – 🛑 Essential

• Description: covers the repatriation of the body to the home country and funeral preparation costs.
• Excess: none.
• Reimbursement limit: from NZD 870 to NZD 2,600 depending on the plan and destination.
• Common exclusions: suicide, death in a non-covered country, non-compliance with subscription conditions.
• Impact on price: 🔸 Moderate.
• Expert advice 💡: check if funeral expenses are included in addition to transport costs for better coverage.

4. Emergency dental treatment – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers dental care in case of sudden and severe pain (e.g. infected cavity, abscess).
• Excess: from NZD 0 to NZD 140.
• Reimbursement limit: from NZD 150 to NZD 260 depending on the plan.
• Common exclusions: prosthetics, cosmetic care, non-urgent treatments.
• Impact on price: 🔻 Low.
• Expert advice 💡: no need to pay extra for this benefit if you have good oral health and recent dental check-ups.

5. Personal liability abroad – 🟡 Optional

• Description: covers material or bodily damage you accidentally cause to a third party.
• Excess: from NZD 0 to NZD 170.
• Reimbursement limit: up to NZD 7,000,000 depending on the plan.
• Common exclusions: intentional damage, damage caused while driving a motor vehicle.
• Impact on price: 🔺 High, especially with high coverage limits.
• Expert advice 💡: useful if you stay with friends, family, or rent Airbnb-type accommodations during your trip.

6. Lost, stolen or delayed luggage – 🟡 Optional

• Description: compensation in case of loss, theft or damage to your personal belongings during the trip.
• Excess: around NZD 170.
• Reimbursement limit: from NZD 870 to NZD 1,740 depending on the plan, often limited to transported items and excluding valuables or jewellery.
• Common exclusions: valuables (jewellery, cash, official documents), unchecked luggage, unattended bags, or delays shorter than 12 or 24 hours.
• Impact on price: 🔺 Medium to high, often included in premium plans or available as a paid option.
• Expert advice 💡: if this benefit matters to you, avoid low-cost plans that rarely include luggage cover. Risk of loss increases with stopovers in large airports like Paris, Brussels or Frankfurt.

7. Trip cancellation or interruption – 🟡 Optional

• Description: reimbursement of expenses incurred if you cancel your trip for legitimate reasons (illness, death of a relative, unexpected professional reasons). Often offered as an option.
• Excess: from NZD 35 to NZD 90 depending on the plan (not always applied).
• Reimbursement limit: usually from NZD 1,700 to NZD 8,700 per person depending on the plan.
• Common exclusions: cancellation without proof, known situations at the time of booking, non-urgent reasons.
• Impact on price: 🔺 Significant – can increase the premium by 15% to 30%.
• Expert advice 💡: if you book a long-haul flight, this cover is very useful. Accommodation in the Schengen area is expensive, so getting a refund in case of emergency is reassuring.

Warning

Some very low-cost insurance plans (less than NZD 17) offer no assistance and minimal unclear benefits. Always check the terms and conditions carefully before subscribing.

How to choose the right Schengen visa insurance?

Here are the key criteria you should carefully consider before choosing your Schengen visa insurance.

How much does Schengen visa insurance cost?

The factors that influence the price

The price of a Schengen visa insurance depends on several factors:

• The length of the trip: the longer the stay, the higher the premium because the risk covers a longer period.
• The traveller’s age: insurers often apply extra charges for travellers over 60 or 70, considered higher risk.
• The level of coverage chosen: a “basic” plan with the Schengen minimum will cost less than a comprehensive plan including luggage, liability, etc.
• The number of countries visited: with some insurers, the price may increase if you plan to visit the UK or Cyprus in addition to Schengen countries.
• The country of residence: some insurers adjust their rates based on the traveller’s origin country. Travellers from New Zealand often pay higher prices than those from Europe or North Africa.
• The insurer and its options: each company has its own pricing and refund rules. Optional benefits like cancellation or teleconsultation may increase the final price.

Here are some examples of Schengen visa insurance prices:

* These prices are indicative only, as many factors can affect the final price.

How to pay less for your Schengen visa insurance?

Now that you have an idea of the prices, here are some smart tips to optimise your insurance without compromising essential coverage.

Expert advice

Don’t rely on your credit card insurance. While it’s true that some New Zealand credit cards, especially premium ones like Visa Platinum or Mastercard World, offer travel insurance benefits, these rarely meet the specific requirements for obtaining a Schengen visa. The medical coverage limits are usually too low.

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and an experienced entrepreneur in the insurance and personal finance sector, Antoine uses his experience and in-depth knowledge of the market to help Internet users make the right choices. With an MBA in economics, he is a committed expert whose mission is to make personal finance and insurance issues simple and understandable. With a rich career marked by the creation of innovative companies, Antoine's ambition has always been to bring transparency to complex issues and to give power back to consumers. With HelloSafe, he continues to translate this vision by providing accurate advice, impartial comparisons and detailed explanations of travel insurance. He has analysed hundreds of contracts to reveal the best options available on the market.