Published by Wanda Rich
Posted on July 29, 2025
Schengen travel insurance is important for travelers heading to Europe, especially when it’s required (which sometimes, it is). In both cases…when can you purchase it? Can you buy it at the last minute? Well, it depends.
Visa applicants: You need to get it early
If you’re applying for a Schengen visa to head to Europe, you cannot wait until the last minute. This is because travel insurance must be included within your Schengen visa application. You will need to get your proof of coverage before you attend your visa appointment, as you’ll be required to show it there and submit it with your application.
Most travelers apply for their visa weeks, sometimes months in advance to allow time for processing. This means that your travel insurance needs to be purchased before that, since it’s part of the documentation that you’ll submit.
For visa applicants, skipping this step isn’t optional. Without valid coverage, your visa will be rejected.
Non-Visa Travelers: You have some flexibility
For travelers who don’t need to apply for a Schengen visa for their trip (for instance, US citizens on short trips), but want to get European insurance, you technically can buy travel insurance right before you leave.
That said, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind:
Mandatory waiting periods
Some policies have mandatory waiting periods before coverage kicks in. This means that you wouldn’t be covered during that waiting period, even if you’ve already paid for your policy and submitted your travel dates.
How to avoid this:
Program or group requirements
Another consideration: If you’re part of a tour group, study program, etc., your group or the company you’re traveling with might have a travel insurance requirement you need to meet. In this case, make sure you fulfill whatever those requirements are, which could be securing your travel insurance in advance.
When can you buy travel insurance?
Generally speaking, travel insurance can be purchased at any time before you leave. Lots of people buy it when they’re booking their flights or hotels, but last-minute purchases happen too.
The main exception is when specific rules like visa requirements apply. In cases like this, coverage must be secured ahead of time.
Don’t wait if you can help it
Even if you aren’t a visa applicant and can get your insurance last minute, it’s always better to secure it early. Things like technical issues, last-minute hiccups, or even just running out of time can be sneaky culprits.
Get your travel insurance early if possible, but know that if you aren’t a visa applicant, it’s usually ok to get your travel insurance last minute. It’s better than not having it at all!
