When preparing a family visa file, many people forget that every travelling child needs travel medical insurance in their own name, just like their parents, even if they are exempt from the visa fee. One missing policy for a single child can hold up the whole family’s file. This page covers the requirements for children’s insurance, the difference between individual and family policies, and the details needed to issue it online.
- A policy in the child’s name as in their passport
- €30,000 cover valid in all Schengen countries
- Same dates as the parents’ policies, delivered to your email
Does a child need separate insurance?
Yes. The EU Visa Code requires travel medical insurance for every Schengen visa applicant, regardless of age, including infants. Each child has a separate visa file that the officer reviews on its own, so their name, date of birth and passport number must appear on a policy that clearly covers them. Some family policies list all members’ names, but in a visa file it is easier for each applicant to have a certificate in their own name attached to their file.
Policy requirements for a child’s Schengen visa
- Cover: at least €30,000 for emergency treatment, hospital treatment and repatriation.
- Scope: all Schengen countries, not only the country you are applying to.
- Duration: the whole trip, with the same dates as the parents’ policies.
- Name: matching the child’s passport letter by letter, including the middle name.
These are the same requirements as for adults, detailed on our Schengen travel insurance page. Countries outside Schengen have different requirements, such as Georgia, which has required insurance for all tourists since 2026, including children.
Individual or family policy?
| A policy for each person | A family policy | |
|---|---|---|
| In the visa file | Easier, as each file has its own certificate | Copied and attached to every file |
| At border checks | Each person carries their own policy | The family must stay together |
| Requirement | The child’s name and full details | All members’ names and full details |
That is why we usually issue a separate policy for each traveller with the same dates, so you don’t need to copy one policy and spread it across the files.
Details needed to issue a child’s insurance
- The child’s name in English as in their passport, date of birth and passport number.
- The destination country and travel dates, which are the same as the parents’.
- Contact details for one of the parents.
For a child’s visa file, embassies usually also ask for the birth certificate, the family register for Saudis, and consent from the non-travelling parent if the child travels with only one parent. The full list is in our guide to Schengen visa requirements.
How to choose the length of a child’s insurance
The cost of a policy depends on the length of the trip and the territorial scope, so choose a period that covers the trip exactly plus one day on each side, not a full month for a two-week trip. Current prices for each length are on our travel insurance page.
What does a child’s insurance cover during the trip?
It covers emergencies: fever and infections that need a doctor’s visit, injuries and accidents, hospital treatment, and repatriation for medical reasons. It does not cover vaccinations, routine check-ups or chronic conditions that existed before travel. Save the emergency number written on the policy on your phone before you travel; it is the first thing you will need if your child falls ill abroad.
The insurer issuing the policy
Policies are issued by Atlas, AXA and Allianz, among the best-known insurers in the world. Travelosca is an intermediary that prepares the policy and sends it to you; cover and claims are handled directly with the insurer through the emergency number on the policy. You can verify the policy by contacting the insurer with the policy number and the insured person’s name.
Order travel insurance for your children
- Open the travel insurance form.
- Add each family member with their details as in their passport.
- Enter the country and travel dates.
- Pay online, and you will receive a policy for each traveller with the same dates.
Travel insurance for every family member with cover that meets Schengen requirements, usually delivered to your inbox within hours.
Frequently asked questions
Does an infant need insurance for a Schengen visa?
Yes. Every applicant needs insurance regardless of age, even if exempt from the visa fee.
Can a child be added to a parent’s policy?
Some family policies allow this if the child’s full details are shown, but a separate certificate is easier when the file is reviewed.
Does the insurance cover vaccinations or routine check-ups?
No. It only covers emergencies during the trip.
Are the requirements different for a child travelling with only one parent?
The insurance itself is the same, but most embassies require written consent from the non-travelling parent in the visa file.
Sources
- EU Visa Code (EC) 810/2009 – Article 15
- European Commission – Visa policy
