# Travel Insurance Requirements for a Germany Visa from India > German missions in India accept travel medical insurance only from approved Indian insurers, with at least EUR 30,000 of Schengen-wide cover. What to check before you buy. _Published: 2026-10-20 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1158_ ## TL;DR For a German Schengen visa you need travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000, valid in every Schengen country for the entire trip. German missions in India accept Indian policies only from their approved insurer list, which carries age limits, and you also sign a declaration on medical insurance. ## Key takeaways - Minimum cover is EUR 30,000, valid throughout the Schengen territory for the entire trip. - Indian policies count only if the insurer is on the German missions' approved list, which sets age limits. - The checklist includes a signed declaration of travel with valid medical insurance. - VFS states insurance is required even in transit cases where a visa is applied for. - The Schengen visa fee of 90 EUR / 9,900 INR is not refunded if the visa is rejected. **Germany's Schengen visa needs overseas travel medical insurance with minimum cover of EUR 30,000, valid in every Schengen country for your whole trip. German missions in India accept Indian policies only from their approved list of insurers, such as Acko, Bajaj Allianz, HDFC ERGO, ICICI Lombard, New India Assurance and Tata-AIG, subject to age limits.** ## Article Every Schengen application lodged at a VFS centre in India goes to the German Consulate General in Mumbai for a decision, and the medical insurance certificate is one of the documents examined there. With Germany, the insurer's name matters as much as the cover amount. Requirements and fees below are as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-10. For the full document list, centres and fees, see our Germany visa guide for Indians. ### Germany's insurance requirement at a glance PointWhat German missions and VFS publishMinimum coverEUR 30,000Where it must be validThroughout the Schengen territory, in all Schengen countriesHow longThe entire tripWhich insurerIndian travel medical insurance is accepted only from the approved list of Indian travel insurance companiesAgeThe approved list carries age limitsDeclarationA signed declaration of travel with valid medical insurance is part of the checklistTransitVFS states insurance is required even in transit cases ### Why the approved-insurer list decides whether your policy counts The cover amount and territory are only half of Germany's rule. German missions in India add a condition about the company itself: Indian travel medical insurance is accepted only from companies on their approved list. Names on that list include Acko, Bajaj Allianz, HDFC ERGO, ICICI Lombard, New India Assurance and Tata-AIG, but the list is longer than these examples, so open the current version on the German Missions' travel medical insurance page before paying a premium. The practical result is simple. A policy from an Indian company that is not on the list does not meet the rule, however high the sum insured. If you are buying through a travel portal or a bank tie-up, check which company actually underwrites the policy; the certificate should carry that insurer's name. #### Age limits when insuring parents or older travellers The approved list attaches age limits to insurers. If you are applying for parents visiting a son or daughter in Germany, or for any traveller in an older age band, check the limit shown against each insurer before choosing one. Buying from a listed company whose limit your parent exceeds leaves you with a policy that does not satisfy the requirement. ### Matching policy dates to Germany's processing timeline Your policy has to cover the entire trip, so its dates should come from your flight reservation and hotel bookings, both of which are on the Schengen checklist. Germany also sets a window for applying, which affects when you can sensibly buy cover: - Apply not earlier than six months and not later than 15 working days before travel. - Processing takes 15 working days from the day the file reaches the visa section, not counting the day of submission at VFS. - Transfer of the file from VFS to the Consulate can take up to six working days. - The missions' own guidance says processing can take up to two weeks, and longer in individual cases. Because the decision may arrive close to your departure, choose a policy whose travel dates can be amended if your plans move. Buying cover months before your dates are fixed only creates a mismatch to correct later. ### Filing the policy and the signed insurance declaration Germany's Schengen checklist asks for two signed declarations alongside the VIDEX application form: one on true and complete information, and one on travel with valid medical insurance. Place the insurance certificate directly with the insurance declaration so the two can be read together. What to print: - The policy schedule showing your name and passport number, the insurer's name, the sum insured, the territory and the travel dates. - A separate certificate for each traveller, including children, since each applicant needs cover that meets the rule. - Any page that lists the geographical scope, if it is not on the first page. The same standard applies whether you are applying for tourism, a family visit or business. For national (D) visas lodged through the Consular Services Portal, follow the checklist for your category, as the published insurance terms above relate to Schengen visas. ### Transit, fees and what a rejected file costs Since June 2026, Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport. If you are only changing planes in Frankfurt or Munich, there is no visa application and so no insurance to submit. VFS's note that insurance is required even in transit cases applies where a transit visa application is still being made. For everyone else, a weak insurance document is an expensive mistake, because the fees are not returned: ChargeAmountNoteSchengen visa, adults90 EUR / 9,900 INREmbassy figure, subject to change; not refundable if the visa is rejectedSchengen visa, minors 6 to 1245 EUR / 5,000 INREmbassy figure, subject to changeVFS service feeINR 1933Inclusive of CGST and SGST; pre-paid when booking the appointmentThe VFS one-pager shows an older rupee figure (INR 9100 for adults), so confirm the current amount when you book. ### Checks before you pay the premium - Confirm the insurer is on the approved list and that each traveller is within its age limit. - Check that the sum insured is at least EUR 30,000. - Make sure the territory covers all Schengen countries, not only Germany. - Set the start date to your departure day from India and the end date to your return day. - Match the spelling of every name to the passport. - Sign the medical insurance declaration and file it with the certificate. If you need help with the rest of the file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa applications, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I buy Germany visa insurance from any Indian insurer? No. German missions in India accept Indian travel medical insurance only from the companies on their approved list. Check the current list on the German Missions' insurance page before buying. #### Do children need their own travel insurance for a Germany visa? Each applicant, including a child, needs cover that meets the EUR 30,000, Schengen-wide, whole-trip requirement. Print a certificate for each traveller and check the insurer's age limits on the approved list. #### Should my Germany visa insurance start from my departure date in India? The policy must cover the entire trip, so set the start date to the day you leave India and the end date to the day you return. Use the dates on your flight reservation so every document matches. #### Is the Germany visa fee refunded if my insurance is not accepted? No. The Schengen visa fee is not refundable even if the visa is rejected. The VFS service fee is also pre-paid when you book, so it is worth checking the policy against the rules before submission. ## FAQ ### Can I buy Germany visa insurance from any Indian insurer? No. German missions in India accept Indian travel medical insurance only from the companies on their approved list. Check the current list on the German Missions' insurance page before buying. ### Do children need their own travel insurance for a Germany visa? Each applicant, including a child, needs cover that meets the EUR 30,000, Schengen-wide, whole-trip requirement. Print a certificate for each traveller and check the insurer's age limits on the approved list. ### Should my Germany visa insurance start from my departure date in India? The policy must cover the entire trip, so set the start date to the day you leave India and the end date to the day you return. Use the dates on your flight reservation so every document matches. ### Is the Germany visa fee refunded if my insurance is not accepted? No. The Schengen visa fee is not refundable even if the visa is rejected. The VFS service fee is also pre-paid when you book, so it is worth checking the policy against the rules before submission. ## Sources 1. [German Missions in India - Information on Travel Medical Insurance](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/1984578-1984578) — German Missions in India 2. [German Missions in India - Visa fees for Schengen Visa](https://india.diplo.de/in-en/service/1984596-1984596) — German Missions in India 3. [VFS/German Mission - Checklist for a Schengen visa for Tourism (Feb 2023)](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/germany/india/new-delhi/english/pdf/tourism.pdf) — VFS Global 4. [VFS Global - Apply for VISA to Germany In New Delhi (North India and Bhutan)](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/germany/india/new-delhi/english/) — VFS Global