This is the short version: the checks to run before you pay for cover. Your passport or visa, country of residence, destinations, health, planned activities and the policy wording all decide what you actually need.
It cannot tell you what a consulate or insurer will accept in your case. Use it to build the list of questions you take to an insurer, then read the policy itself. For the longer walkthrough, see our Balkan travel insurance article.
Do You Need Travel Insurance for the Balkans?
Whether you need evidence of medical or motor insurance depends on your passport or visa, vehicle and route. If applying for a visa, use the issuing consulate's current checklist. If driving or renting, confirm in writing with the insurer and rental company which countries are covered and which documents you must carry.
Medical treatment, rescue and transport costs can be substantial and vary by provider, treatment and destination. Check the policy's medical, rescue and emergency-transport benefits and exclusions instead of relying on a general price estimate.
Entry rules that decide what cover you need
Four of the ten countries on this site are in the Schengen area: Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. The other six are not: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Whether a consulate can ask you to prove you are insured depends on which group you are entering.
Croatia joined in 2023. Bulgaria and Romania followed on 1 January 2025, which is why older guides still describe them as outside the area. Crossing between the six non-Schengen countries still means a stop at a border post, and each one sets its own entry conditions. Name every country and transit point when you ask for a quote rather than relying on a territory label.
What a Schengen visa application asks for
If you need a Schengen visa, you have to show travel medical insurance covering repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention, emergency hospital treatment or death. It must be valid throughout the Schengen area for the entire intended stay, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, set by Article 15 of the EU Visa Code.
Multiple-entry applications only need cover for the first intended visit, and you sign the statement on the form confirming that later trips need insurance too. For everyone else, expect to submit a certificate whose dates and territory match the visa.
ETIAS is not open for applications
Some sites charge a fee for an "ETIAS authorisation". The European Commission's ETIAS page still says the scheme is not in operation and that no applications are being collected. Until that changes, nobody can issue you an ETIAS and nobody needs one.
Official information
- European Commission: Schengen area, for the current member list and join dates
- Applying for a Schengen visa, for the document checklist and fees
- Visa Code Article 15, for the insurance wording and the EUR 30,000 minimum
- Official ETIAS site, for the status of the scheme
Last checked: September 2026. Entry rules change, so confirm them with the consulate handling your application. Our border crossings and visa guide covers the country-by-country detail.
What to Look For in a Policy
Medical care and assistance
- Compare benefits for medical treatment, emergency transport or repatriation, and any excess.
- Declare medical conditions when the insurer requires it, and check how the policy handles related treatment.
- Keep the emergency-assistance contact with you and check what the insurer asks you to do if treatment is needed.
Activity & Adventure
- For hiking, climbing, skiing, diving, rafting or other adventure activities, check the policy's own definitions, conditions and exclusions before buying.
- Confirm any altitude, depth, guide, certification, equipment, rescue or off-piste conditions directly with the insurer in writing when they matter to your trip.
Your route and trip costs
- Compare limits, excesses and exclusions against your non-refundable costs, destinations and itinerary.
- Check the current wording for cancellation, baggage, car-hire, communicable-disease and territorial exclusions.
- Do not assume a policy applies because its territory is labelled “Europe” or “worldwide”; confirm every destination on your itinerary.
Comparing providers
External insurers set their own eligibility, prices, benefits and exclusions. Read the current policy wording and quote for your country of residence; we do not compare all products or determine suitability.
If you want to compare a quote, you can review World Nomads or EKTA Travel Insurance. Check their current eligibility and wording before purchase.
EU Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC)
An EHIC or UK GHIC may help eligible holders access medically necessary state healthcare in participating countries on local terms. Eligibility and participating countries depend on the card issuer and destination.
An EHIC or UK GHIC does not replace travel insurance:
- It does not cover private treatment.
- It does not cover medical repatriation or mountain rescue.
- It does not guarantee free care; local charges can apply.
Does Your Health Insurance Cover You Abroad?
Some health plans include cover abroad. Check the policy itself for:
- Every destination and transit country on your route
- Medical treatment, emergency transport and assistance arrangements
- Any territorial, activity, duration or residence-country exclusions
Do not rely on a territory label alone. Confirm the full route with the insurer.
Making a Claim
- Seek urgent help first and contact the insurer's emergency-assistance service as soon as you can.
- Follow the policy’s instructions for authorisation, records and deadlines.
- Keep copies of invoices, receipts, medical records, police reports or other documents the policy requires.