Updated August 2026. The Schengen requirement below is quoted from the EU Visa Code itself and is the one figure here you can rely on flatly. Requirements for other countries change — always check the embassy’s own current page before applying.
Nepali travel advice repeats that you need travel insurance for a visa. For most destinations that is simply not true — and for one it is a hard legal requirement with a specific number attached. Knowing which is which saves money and prevents a rejected file.
Schengen: The Requirement, From the Law Itself
Article 15 of the EU Visa Code sets it out. Your policy must:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum coverage | EUR 30,000 |
| Must cover | Repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and emergency hospital treatment, or death |
| Geographic validity | Valid throughout the territory of the Member States |
| Duration | The entire period of intended stay or transit |
| Multiple-entry visas | Proof required for the first intended visit, plus a signed statement acknowledging the need for cover on later stays |
What Other Countries Actually Require
| Destination | Travel insurance required? | What applies instead |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen area | Yes — EUR 30,000 minimum | Hard legal condition of the visa |
| United Kingdom | No | For stays over 6 months, the Immigration Health Surcharge applies instead |
| United States (B1/B2) | No | Recommended only, not a visa condition |
| Australia | No for visitor visas | But OSHC is mandatory for the student visa (subclass 500) |
| Japan | No | Strongly recommended by their foreign ministry |
Should You Buy It Anyway?
“Not required” and “not sensible” are different things. A single hospital admission in the US, Japan or Australia can exceed what many Nepali families hold in savings, and no visa rule protects you from that.
Buy it if
You are travelling far, travelling with elderly parents or children, doing anything physical, or would struggle to fund an emergency abroad from savings.
Check the exclusions
Pre-existing conditions, adventure activities and pregnancy are the three most common exclusions. Read them before, not after.
Match the dates exactly
Cover must span the whole trip. A day short at either end is a gap on the day you are most likely to need it.
Carry proof with you
Policy number and the insurer’s emergency number, saved offline on your phone and printed. An unreachable policy is no policy.
🤝 Preparing a visa file and unsure what insurance you need?
Tell us the country and visa type, and Digital Solution will tell you whether insurance is actually required, what the coverage wording must say, and what else the file needs.
Buying It in Nepal
Nepali non-life insurers do sell overseas travel and travel medical policies, and online purchase with digital wallet or bank payment is described. We were not able to verify a specific insurer’s travel product page, its sum insured, or whether its wording is Schengen-compliant — so we are not going to name companies or quote premiums we could not check.
- Does the certificate state coverage of at least EUR 30,000, in those terms?
- Is it valid across all Schengen states, not one country?
- Does it explicitly include medical repatriation and emergency hospital treatment?
- Do the dates cover my entire itinerary?
- Will you issue the certificate in English, stamped, suitable for embassy submission?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for a Schengen visa?
Yes. The EU Visa Code requires travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, valid across the Member States for the whole stay.
Do I need travel insurance for a UK visa?
No, it is not a condition of a standard visitor visa. Stays over six months involve the Immigration Health Surcharge instead.
Is it required for the USA?
No. It is recommended, not required.
What about Australia?
Not for visitor visas. But Overseas Student Health Cover is mandatory for the student visa, and ordinary travel insurance does not substitute for it.
What must the Schengen policy cover?
Medical repatriation, urgent medical attention and emergency hospital treatment, or death — across all Member States, for the full period.
Can I buy travel insurance online in Nepal?
Nepali insurers do sell it and online purchase is described, but we could not verify specific products, so compare directly with the insurer.
What are the common exclusions?
Pre-existing conditions, adventure and high-risk activities, and pregnancy are the usual ones. Read the exclusions before buying.
Do I need cover for a multiple-entry Schengen visa?
Proof is required for the first intended visit, along with a signed statement acknowledging the need for cover on subsequent stays.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (EU Visa Code), Article 15 — travel medical insurance requirement and EUR 30,000 minimum, consolidated text.
- Secondary sources on UK, USA, Australia and Japan visitor visa insurance requirements, consistent across sources but not confirmed against each government’s own page.
Related Reading
- Education loan and the MoE NOC for study abroad
- International Driving Permit in Nepal
- Receiving international payments in Nepal
Disclaimer: Digital Solution Nepal is an independent educational and digital-service assistance website — not an insurer, not an insurance agent or broker, and not a law firm. We do not sell insurance and receive no commission from any insurer. Policy terms, premiums and regulations differ by company and change over time, and nothing here is financial, legal or insurance advice — your policy document, your insurer and the Nepal Insurance Authority are final.
Rabin Paudel
Rabin Paudel is the Founder of Digital Solution, a Content Creator, and an AI Trainer. He shares practical and easy-to-understand content on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Literacy, Online Services, FinTech, and Technology. His mission is to make technology simple, accessible, and useful for everyone.
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