What travel insurance documents do I need?
Many countries require proof of travel insurance with minimum medical coverage. Bring your policy certificate, insurer contact details, and emergency hotline number.
Updated
Why travel insurance documents matter
Travel insurance is one of those documents you hope you never need - but if you do, you need it fast. Some countries even require proof of insurance before they will let you enter, and most travelers have at some point needed insurance to cover medical costs, trip cancellations, or lost baggage.
What documents your insurance should provide
- Certificate of Insurance with your full name and policy number.
- Policy validity dates that cover your entire trip.
- Coverage amounts for medical expenses, evacuation, and repatriation.
- 24/7 emergency hotline number and email address.
- List of covered countries (Schengen, worldwide, etc.).
- Claim form or claim instructions.
Schengen visa insurance requirements
Schengen visa applicants must show travel insurance with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 (around USD 32,000), valid across all 29 Schengen countries, covering medical emergencies, hospitalization, and repatriation.
The insurance certificate must be issued by an approved provider and submitted with your visa application. Standard travel insurance from most reputable providers meets these requirements.
Other countries that require insurance
Cuba, Turkey (for some visa types), Antarctica tours, and certain Russian visa categories all require proof of travel insurance. Some adventure or expedition destinations also require evacuation coverage.
Where to keep your insurance documents
Save digital copies in three places: your phone, an email account you can access from anywhere, and a printed copy in your luggage. Keep the 24/7 hotline number written separately in your wallet.
What travel insurance documents do I need - FAQ
The key document is a certificate of insurance showing your full name, policy number and validity dates covering your whole trip. It should also show your coverage amounts for medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, the countries covered, and your insurer's 24/7 emergency hotline. Keep the claim form or claim instructions with it.
Schengen visa applicants must show travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000. Cuba requires all visitors, including US citizens, to have non-US medical insurance, which US airlines usually include in the ticket price. Some other countries require insurance for certain visa types, so check the consulate's document list for your passport and visa.
At least EUR 30,000 of medical cover. The EU Visa Code says the policy must be valid across all Schengen countries for your entire stay and cover emergency medical treatment, urgent hospital care and medical repatriation. The Schengen area has 29 countries, so check the certificate says Schengen or Europe-wide rather than naming only one country.
It is worth it. Save digital copies in three places: your phone, an email account you can open from anywhere, and a printed copy in your luggage. Write the 24/7 emergency hotline number on a separate card in your wallet, so you can still call for help if your phone is lost or flat.
Your insurer's claim instructions list exactly what it needs, so keep them with your certificate. Claims generally rely on your policy number, proof of the trip, and evidence of the loss, such as medical reports, receipts or a police report. Call the 24/7 hotline before paying for major treatment where you can, and keep every receipt.
Often not. Medicare usually does not pay for health care outside the United States, apart from a few narrow exceptions, and the US government does not pay citizens' medical bills abroad. The State Department suggests asking your insurer what it covers overseas and buying a short-term travel medical policy if the answer is no.