Travel Insurance Requirements for a France Schengen Visa From the USA

Travel insurance is a mandatory document for any France Schengen visa application submitted from the United States. Under Article 15 of the European Union Visa Code, every visa applicant must provide proof of a compliant insurance policy before the consulate will process their application. Without it, the application is rejected outright – no exceptions. This guide walks you through exactly what to get, how to verify it meets French consulate standards, and how to submit it correctly alongside your other required documents.

Step 1: Confirm You Need Travel Insurance for This Application

US citizens applying for a short-stay France Schengen visa (stays up to 90 days) are required to submit a travel insurance certificate as part of their document package. This requirement applies regardless of which French consulate or visa application center is handling your case – whether you are applying through the French consulate in New York, Miami, San Francisco, Houston, or the Washington, DC embassy, the insurance requirement is identical.

Standard US domestic health insurance does not satisfy this requirement. Most domestic plans do not provide coverage abroad and none meet the specific Schengen coverage thresholds. You must purchase a dedicated Schengen travel insurance policy before submitting your application.

Step 2: Understand the Minimum Coverage Requirements

The French consulate will reject any insurance policy that does not meet all of the following criteria simultaneously. These are not suggestions – they are non-negotiable minimums established by EU Visa Code Article 15.

Minimum Medical Coverage

Your policy must cover at least €30,000 (approximately $33,000–$35,000 USD as of 2026) in emergency medical expenses. This ceiling must apply per incident or per trip – not as a lifetime aggregate. The coverage must include emergency hospitalization and inpatient treatment for illness or injury occurring during your stay.

Emergency Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

The policy must explicitly cover medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate medical facility and repatriation to the United States in the event of serious illness or death. A policy that covers treatment costs but excludes repatriation does not meet Schengen requirements.

Valid Across All Schengen Countries

France is one of 29 Schengen member states. Your policy must be valid across the entire Schengen Area for the full duration of your authorized stay – not just for France. If your itinerary includes a connecting stop through Germany, Switzerland, or any other Schengen country, that coverage must extend there as well.

Full Coverage Duration

The policy must be active from your first day of entry into any Schengen country through your last day of departure. Consulates commonly check that the insurance start and end dates match or exceed – the travel dates listed on your application. A policy that starts one day late or expires one day early will be flagged.

No Deductible or Excess Clause

Many standard travel policies include a deductible or excess – an amount the insured must pay before coverage kicks in. Schengen-compliant policies must provide 100% coverage with no deductible. A policy with a $250 or $500 excess does not satisfy this requirement.

Step 3: Purchase a Schengen-Compliant Policy

Once you understand what the policy must cover, purchasing one is straightforward. Schengen-specific travel insurance plans are widely available and typically affordable. For a 25-year-old traveler with a $50,000 medical maximum and a $0 deductible, costs typically run between $8 and $15 per week, according to American Visitor Insurance.

When comparing plans, verify the following before purchasing:

• The policy explicitly states "Schengen visa compliant" or references EU Visa Code compliance
• Medical coverage meets or exceeds €30,000 per trip
• Repatriation is listed as a covered benefit
• The coverage territory includes all Schengen countries
• There is no deductible or excess on medical claims
• The provider issues an insurance certificate (not just a policy summary) that can be submitted with your visa application

For a broader comparison of what travel insurance entry requirements look like across destinations, the requirements for France represent some of the most specific standards you will encounter.

Step 4: Obtain the Insurance Certificate

Purchasing a policy is not sufficient on its own. The French consulate requires a formal insurance certificate – a document separate from your policy terms and conditions – that confirms coverage details in a format consular officers can review quickly.

Your insurance certificate must display all of the following:

• Full name of the insured (matching your passport exactly)
• Policy number
• Coverage start and end dates
• Geographic coverage territory (must reference Schengen countries or Europe)
• Medical coverage amount in euros or a currency equivalent meeting the €30,000 threshold
• Confirmation that repatriation is included
• The insurer's name, contact details, and emergency assistance number

Most Schengen-compliant insurers issue this certificate instantly by email after purchase. Download both a digital copy and a printed copy. Some border officers and consulates verify insurance at the point of entry, so carrying a physical copy separately from your main travel documents is advisable.

Step 5: Pair Your Insurance With a Flight Itinerary

Travel insurance alone does not complete your visa application. The French consulate also requires a flight itinerary showing your intended entry and exit from the Schengen Area and this is where many US applicants make a costly mistake.

Purchasing a confirmed round-trip airline ticket before your visa is approved puts hundreds of dollars at risk. If the consulate denies the application, that money may not be recoverable. The financial exposure from booking flights before visa approval is one of the most common and preventable errors applicants make.

The solution is a flight itinerary reservation – a verifiable provisional booking that satisfies the consulate's requirement without requiring a full ticket purchase. ProvisionalBooking has issued over 60,000 flight itineraries across 190+ countries, and each document is delivered as a PDF within 60 seconds of ordering. A round-trip itinerary costs $19; a one-way costs $15. The document includes a real PNR (Passenger Name Record) that consular officers can verify through the airline's booking system.

The French consulate accepts provisional flight bookings as proof of travel intent. For a detailed breakdown of what the consulate actually requires – a ticket or an itinerary – the distinction matters more than most applicants realize.

Step 6: Assemble Your Full Document Package

Travel insurance and the flight itinerary are two components of a larger document checklist. The complete France Schengen visa document checklist for US applicants covers every required document, but the insurance-related items to include in your submission are:

1. Insurance certificate – printed and, if the consulate accepts it, uploaded digitally
2. Policy summary page – showing coverage amounts and territory
3. Emergency assistance contact number – some consulates want this listed separately on the application form

Keep these documents organized as a dedicated subsection of your visa package. Officers reviewing high-volume applications move quickly, and a clearly labeled insurance section reduces the chance of a document being overlooked.

Step 7: Submit Your Application and Verify Acceptance

When you submit your application – either through a visa application center or directly at a French consulate – the officer processing your intake will check that the insurance certificate is present and that the coverage amounts are visible. This is a visual check, not a deep policy audit, but the certificate must clearly show the €30,000 coverage minimum.

If your insurance is flagged as insufficient, you will typically be asked to provide a supplementary policy before the application proceeds. Some applicants avoid this risk entirely by using the fastest available route to prepare and submit a complete file from the start.

Common reasons for insurance-related rejections include:

• Coverage amount listed in USD only without a euro equivalent meeting the threshold
• Policy that covers only France rather than all Schengen countries
• Certificate showing a deductible or co-pay clause
• Dates that do not align with the travel dates on the application

Avoiding these errors before submission is significantly easier than addressing a rejection after the fact. The most common France visa rejection reasons frequently include insurance documentation gaps alongside incomplete financial and itinerary documents.

FAQ

Does the French Consulate Require Travel Insurance for a Schengen Visa?

Yes. Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for every France Schengen visa application, regardless of the applicant's nationality or which US consulate they apply through. The requirement is established by EU Visa Code Article 15 and applies uniformly across all Schengen member states. Applications submitted without a compliant insurance certificate are refused.

What Is the Minimum Medical Coverage Required for a France Schengen Visa?

The policy must cover a minimum of €30,000 (approximately $33,000–$35,000 USD as of 2026) in emergency medical expenses, including hospitalization, emergency treatment, and repatriation of remains in the event of death. The coverage must apply across all 29 Schengen countries, not just France, and must be valid for the full duration of your stay.

Can I Use My US Health Insurance for a French Schengen Visa Application?

No. Standard US domestic health insurance does not satisfy Schengen visa requirements. Most domestic plans do not cover medical expenses abroad at all, and none meet the specific €30,000 minimum, the Schengen-wide validity requirement, or the zero-deductible condition. You must purchase a dedicated Schengen travel insurance policy from a qualifying insurer.

Does the Insurance Policy Need to Cover All Schengen Countries?

Yes. Even if you are only traveling to France, your insurance must be valid across all Schengen countries. France is one of 29 member states, and the EU Visa Code requires coverage for the entire Schengen Area for the full duration of your authorized stay. A policy limited to France or a subset of EU countries will not be accepted.

Can I Get a Refund on My Travel Insurance If My Visa Is Denied?

Some insurers offer refunds if your visa is refused, provided you submit the embassy's official rejection letter as proof. The refund policy varies by insurer, so you should confirm this before purchasing. Insurers that specifically market Schengen-compliant policies often advertise visa refusal refund options as a standard feature.

Do I Need a Confirmed Flight Ticket or Just an Itinerary for My France Visa?

The French consulate requires proof of your intended travel dates, but you do not need to purchase a confirmed airline ticket before your visa is approved. A verifiable flight itinerary reservation – a provisional booking with a real PNR code – satisfies the requirement. This protects you from losing the cost of flights if your visa application is denied.

How Much Does Schengen Travel Insurance Cost for a Trip From the USA?

Schengen travel insurance typically costs between $8 and $15 per week for a traveler in their mid-twenties with $50,000 in medical coverage and a $0 deductible, according to American Visitor Insurance. Premiums increase with age and trip length. Travelers over 60 or those with pre-existing conditions should prioritize plans that specifically cover pre-existing health issues and confirm that repatriation is included.

What Happens If My Insurance Certificate Dates Do Not Match My Travel Dates?

The consulate will flag the discrepancy and may refuse the application or ask you to provide a corrected certificate. Your insurance must be active from the first day you enter any Schengen country through your last day of departure – including any transit countries. Purchase your insurance only after you have confirmed your intended travel dates on your visa application.

What to Do Now

Gather your insurance certificate before you finalize any other part of your France Schengen visa file. Confirm the policy shows €30,000 in medical coverage, covers all Schengen countries, includes repatriation, and carries no deductible. Then pair it with a verifiable flight itinerary – a complete document package submitted together is significantly less likely to be returned or delayed.

Visit provisionalbooking.com to get your flight itinerary delivered instantly and move your application forward today.