Do You Need Travel Insurance for ETIAS?

What ETIAS asks for (and what it does not)

The ETIAS form covers your identity, passport and security questions (background, past stays). No insurance certificate, accommodation proof or means of subsistence is required to obtain the authorisation. That is the key difference from the Schengen visa, whose file requires insurance of at least 30,000 euros compliant with Article 15 of the Visa Code.

Why insurance stays essential without being mandatory

• Healthcare in Europe is not free for visitors: a consultation is paid out of pocket, hospitalization runs to thousands of euros, medical repatriation to tens of thousands.
• At the border, guards may check general entry conditions (purpose of stay, means of subsistence); insurance strengthens your file even if ETIAS itself does not require it.
• Useful coverage goes beyond medical: baggage, cancellation, liability, teleconsultation in your language.

Which insurance to choose for an ETIAS trip?

The same plans as for the Schengen area: medical coverage of at least 30,000 euros (the market standard, even though no minimum is imposed on you), emergency hospitalization, repatriation, validity in all countries visited. From around 1 euro per day depending on age and duration: compare for your profile, price gaps between insurers exceed 50% for identical coverage.

Special cases

• You require a Schengen visa (not ETIAS): insurance is then mandatory for your file; see our requirements page.
• Long stays, studies, relocation: ETIAS only covers short stays; beyond 90 days you need a long-stay visa with its own insurance requirements.
• Senior travelers: ETIAS is free after 70, but that is precisely when insurance is most useful and comparing saves the most.