Schengen Travel Insurance from Pakistan: €30,000 Rule and What Embassies Check

What travel insurance does a Schengen visa need?

Every Pakistani applying for a Schengen visit visa must include travel medical insurance in the file. It sounds like a formality, but the policy is checked line by line, and "you have not provided proof of possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance" is one of the standard refusal grounds on the EU's refusal form.

This guide explains Schengen travel insurance for Pakistan in plain terms: what the law requires, how to check a policy before you pay, whether a Pakistani insurer is acceptable, and the mistakes we see most often in files. It is written for first-time applicants, families and older travellers.

For the full document list, see our Schengen visa from Pakistan guide.

What does Article 15 of the Visa Code require?

The rules are in Article 15 of the EU Visa Code. They are the same for every Schengen embassy in Pakistan:

1. What it must cover: any expenses "in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death" during your stay.
2. Where it must be valid: "throughout the territory of the Member States", meaning all Schengen countries, not only the one you apply to.
3. How long: the entire period of your intended stay or transit.
4. How much: a minimum cover of €30,000.
5. Where to buy: "in principle" in your country of residence. If that isn't possible, you may buy it elsewhere.
6. Can someone else buy it: yes, a sponsor can buy it in your name, but the same conditions apply.
7. Can claims be paid in Europe: consulates check that claims against the insurer "would be recoverable in a Member State". In practice, this means the insurer needs a claims or assistance arrangement that works in Europe.

The European Commission's guide to applying for a Schengen visa lists the same thing in simpler words: medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation, including in the event of death.

What German missions in Pakistan add

The German Missions in Pakistan health insurance page asks for a "full Schengen travel insurance" covering at least €30,000 for medical, hospital and repatriation costs during any single trip. Germany's tourist visa checklist asks for the signed original policy plus one copy and says: "Your policy must cover all Schengen countries not only Germany."

Single-entry vs multiple-entry visas: what's different?

If you are granted a multiple-entry visa, buy a new policy before each later trip and carry it. Border guards may ask for it.

Can I use a Pakistani insurance company?

Yes. Article 15 says applicants should, in principle, insure in their country of residence, and many Pakistani insurers sell dedicated Schengen policies.

German missions in Pakistan publish a list of insurers whose policies they describe as complying with Schengen requirements. As published (the page says "updated March 2022"), it includes, among others:

• Adamjee Insurance, EFU General, Jubilee General, IGI and TPL
• Askari General, Atlas, Habib, UBL Insurers and United Insurance (UIC)
• Chubb Insurance Pakistan, Alfalah Insurance, Century, Premier and Shaheen
• Takaful options: Pak-Qatar General Takaful and Salaam Takaful

That list is from 2022, and being on it doesn't make every product suitable. Always check the policy wording against the checklist below. Other embassies may not publish a list but apply the same Article 15 rules.

How to check a Schengen insurance policy before you pay

Use this checklist with the actual policy schedule, not the sales brochure:

• Your name exactly as in your passport, with passport number
• Territory says Schengen or lists all Schengen countries, not "Europe" with exceptions
• Medical cover of at least €30,000 (or the equivalent shown clearly)
• Emergency medical treatment and emergency hospital treatment included
• Repatriation for medical reasons and repatriation of remains included
• Start date on or before your arrival date, end date on or after your departure date
• A 24-hour assistance number that works from Europe
• Policy signed or stamped, as the embassy asks (Germany wants the signed original and a copy)
• Name, dates and destination match your flights, hotels and cover letter

Tips from the files we review

These are practical suggestions, not official rules:

• Add a small buffer. Many applicants buy cover a day or two longer than the trip, in case of a delayed return flight.
• Read the exclusions. Pre-existing conditions, older age bands and adventure sports are common exclusions. Older travellers should check these carefully.
• Check the deductible. A high excess on each claim can make the cover less useful, even if it meets the €30,000 minimum.
• Ask about refusals. Refund or cancellation terms if the visa is refused are set by the insurer, so ask before paying.

Common Schengen insurance mistakes

1. Dates shorter than the trip. The policy ends the day before your return flight. This is the mistake we see most.
2. Cover for one country only. A policy for "Italy" or "Germany" alone fails the all-Schengen rule.
3. Cover below €30,000, or an amount in PKR that doesn't clearly reach the euro minimum.
4. No repatriation cover. Emergency treatment without repatriation is incomplete.
5. Wrong traveller details. A misspelt name or old passport number invites questions.
6. One policy for the family without names. Each traveller should be clearly named on the policy or have their own.
7. Changing dates and forgetting the insurance. If your trip moves after the visa is issued, the policy must move too.
8. Treating it as just paperwork. The policy is your protection if you fall ill in Europe. Hospital treatment there can be very expensive.

Is insurance checked at the border too?

It can be. A Schengen visa does not guarantee entry. Border guards check that you still meet the entry conditions and may ask to see the supporting documents for your trip. Since 10 April 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System records your entry and exit with your fingerprints and facial image, replacing passport stamps. Carry a printed copy of the policy and the assistance number in your hand luggage.

Where insurance fits in the whole application

Insurance is only one part of a strong file. The embassy also checks your purpose, funds, ties to Pakistan and itinerary, and the main-destination rule decides which embassy you apply to. For appointment timing, see our Schengen appointment booking guide.

Other figures to keep in mind, as of October 2026:

• Visa fee: €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11 under Delegated Regulation 2024/1415. Pakistan has no fee-reducing visa facilitation agreement with the EU.
• When to apply: no more than 6 months and, as a rule, no later than 15 days before travel (Visa Code Article 9). Buy insurance once your dates are fixed, before the appointment.

How Sky Raah can help

Sky Raah Travels in Lahore checks Schengen insurance policies against Article 15 and against your itinerary, so that names, dates and cover match the rest of your file before submission. We cannot influence any embassy's decision, but we can help you avoid avoidable gaps. See our Schengen visa service.

Official sources

• EUR-Lex: Visa Code, Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (Article 15), consolidated text
• European Commission: Applying for a Schengen visa
• German Missions in Pakistan: health insurance companies
• German Missions in Pakistan: tourist visa checklist
• EUR-Lex: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415 (visa fee)
• European Commission: Main differences between EES and ETIAS

Rules are correct as of October 2026. Always confirm the latest insurance requirements on the embassy's official website before buying a policy and applying.