Schengen Travel Insurance Requirements for Pakistan

The requirement is in Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, the EU Visa Code (EUR-Lex consolidated text). The European Commission's Schengen visa page also lists "medical insurance covering emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation (including in the event of death)" among the standard documents for every application (European Commission).

Because this is EU law, the core rules are the same whether you apply to France, Italy, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands or any other Schengen State. Missions can still publish local practice on top, such as lists of insurers they accept.

Article 15 sets out what counts as "adequate and valid" travel medical insurance. In plain terms, the policy must:

1. Cover the right risks: repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment, and death.
2. Meet the minimum amount: at least €30,000 of cover. A policy issued in rupees must be worth at least that much in euros. The Greek embassy asks for cover equal to "Rupees equivalent Euro 30.000".
3. Apply everywhere you can travel: valid throughout the territory of the Schengen States. If a visa with limited territorial validity is issued, the cover must at least apply in the States concerned.
4. Cover the whole trip: valid for the entire planned stay or transit, from the day you enter to the day you leave.
5. Be in your name and show the details: the Greek embassy asks for a policy that shows the policy number, the insured person's name, the validity dates and the schedule of benefits.

If you are asking for a visa with more than two entries, Article 15 says your insurance only has to cover your first intended visit. You then sign a statement on the application form confirming that you know you need valid travel medical insurance for every later trip. In practice, frequent travellers buy a new policy before each trip on the same visa and carry it with them. Border guards can ask to see it.

Two Schengen missions in Pakistan publish lists of local companies that can issue Schengen-compliant travel insurance:

• German missions in Pakistan (list updated March 2022): companies including Adamjee Insurance, Alfalah Insurance, Askari General, Atlas Insurance, Chubb Insurance Pakistan, EFU General, IGI, Jubilee General, Pak-Qatar General Takaful, Salaam Takaful, TPL Direct, UBL Insurers and others (German missions list).
• Embassy of Greece in Islamabad: a shorter list including ACE, AIG, Asia Insurance, Askari General, Century Insurance, East West Insurance, EFU General, IGI, New Jubilee, Premier Insurance, Shaheen Insurance, SPI Insurance, TPL Direct, UBL Insurers and UIC (Greek embassy list).

Both lists come with the same reminder: you need full Schengen travel insurance covering at least €30,000 of medical, hospital and repatriation costs, plus associated care, for each trip into the Schengen States.

These lists are not identical, and they are not updated on a fixed schedule. Being on a list does not make a particular policy compliant. What matters is the wording of the product you buy.

The EU rule is about what the policy covers, not which country the insurer is in. Greece's visa service provider, GVCW, says openly that you "can purchase insurance coverage from any insurer of your selection", as long as the policy meets the Schengen standard. If you buy online from a foreign company, make sure the certificate names you, shows the €30,000 cover, and lists the Schengen area as the territory. A consulate that cannot read or verify your policy may ask for another one.

GVCW's Greek checklist notes that holders of diplomatic passports are exempt. Any other exemption is decided by the consulate for an individual case, so ordinary tourists, family visitors and business travellers should plan to buy a compliant policy.

Put the policy schedule next to your itinerary and ask:

• Does the start date fall on or before my first day in the Schengen area?
• Does the end date fall on or after my last day, and does it cover the whole stay if my flight changes by a day or two?
• Does it say Schengen or list all Schengen States, not just "Europe" in general or one country?
• Is the amount at least €30,000, or the rupee equivalent, per person?
• Does it mention repatriation (including of remains) as well as emergency medical and hospital care?
• Is there a separate certificate for each traveller, including children?
• If my visa is refused, can I cancel and get a refund? Only the insurer's own terms answer this, so ask before you buy.

• A family policy that lists only the main applicant
• Cover that ends on the flight home date when the return is after midnight
• A domestic health card or credit-card travel benefit with no Schengen certificate
• A policy for a single country when the itinerary includes others
• Buying a whole-year plan without checking it meets the €30,000 per-trip standard

A visa does not guarantee entry. The GVCW FAQ for Greece advises travellers to carry copies of the documents used in the application, including travel insurance, because border officers may ask for them. Keep a printed copy and a copy on your phone.