Last updated: 12 August 2026 · Reviewed by Małgorzata Zep, lawyer and travel industry specialist
Which insurance a student needs depends on one question: is your course under 90 days or longer? The two cases follow completely different rules, and the €30,000 figure you read everywhere applies only to the first.
Short Courses: Under 90 Days
A summer school, language course or exchange of up to 90 days runs on a short-stay (type C) visa. The insurance rule is the standard one under Article 15 of the EU Visa Code:
- €30,000 minimum for emergency medical expenses and repatriation
- Valid in all Schengen states
- Covering the entire course period, plus arrival and departure
An ordinary compliant travel policy is enough. Our Basic plan covers €60,000 from €20 for 30 days, which is double the legal minimum.
Full Degrees and Long Courses: Over 90 Days
⚠️ Here everything changes, and this is where students lose money.
A course longer than 90 days requires a national long-stay visa (type D) or a residence permit. These are governed by national law, not the EU Visa Code — so the €30,000 rule does not necessarily apply, and requirements differ by country:
- Some countries require enrolment in the national public health system once you register as a resident.
- Some require a higher sum insured than €30,000.
- Some accept only insurers licensed locally.
- Some require cover for the full academic year, not just the first semester.
Check the requirements of the specific country and, where relevant, the university — institutions often publish exactly which policies they accept. A travel policy sold for a short-stay visa will not satisfy a type D application.
The gap nobody warns about
Public health enrolment usually starts only after you arrive and register — a process that can take weeks. Travel insurance covering the journey and the first weeks bridges that gap. Students who cancel their travel cover on arrival are frequently uninsured during exactly the period when they are settling in.
What EU and UK Students Should Know
If you hold an EU/EEA or Swiss passport you do not need a visa, and your EHIC gives access to state healthcare on the same terms as locals. UK students have the GHIC.
⚠️ Neither is travel insurance. Both cover state healthcare only, never private clinics, and never repatriation — the cost that turns an accident into a family crisis. They also do nothing for lost baggage or a laptop. Treat them as a supplement, not a substitute.
What Student Policies Often Exclude
Read these before assuming you are covered:
- Pre-existing conditions — declare any chronic condition or ongoing medication before buying.
- Mental health treatment — frequently limited or excluded, despite being a real need during a long stay abroad.
- Sports — university teams, skiing, climbing. Common exclusions.
- Alcohol-related incidents — a standard exclusion across the industry.
- Part-time work — injury while working is usually not covered by a travel policy.
- Laptops — the item most likely to be stolen. Ours covers electronics to €250 on Extended; Basic does not cover them at all.
See the full list in what Schengen insurance covers and excludes.
Practical Points
- Cover the whole course plus buffer days — not just the exact dates on your acceptance letter.
- Check the university’s requirements first — buying twice is a common and avoidable expense.
- Keep the certificate accessible: it is needed for the visa file and often for enrolment.
- Take a laptop into account when choosing between Basic and Extended.
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance do I need for a student Schengen visa?
For a course under 90 days: a standard compliant policy with €30,000 medical cover and repatriation, valid in all Schengen states. Over 90 days: a type D visa with requirements set by that country’s national law.
Is €30,000 enough for students?
For a short-stay visa, yes — it is the legal minimum. For a longer stay, the country may require more; check its rules rather than assuming.
Does my EHIC cover me as a student?
It covers state healthcare, not private treatment and not repatriation. It is not a substitute for travel insurance and will not satisfy a visa requirement.
Do I need insurance for the whole academic year?
Often yes for a long-stay visa. Some countries also require proof of continuous cover at renewal.
Is my laptop covered?
Only under a plan with electronics cover — €250 on our Extended plan. Basic includes no baggage or electronics cover at any level.
