Travel Insurance in France (2026)
Jules de Bruin
Editor
Updated: June 2026 | Found helpful by 3 others
- Tourists
- Expats
Updated June 2026. Assurance voyage covers what your public health cover does not: cancellation (annulation), medical costs abroad, repatriation, baggage, and liability abroad. The carte Vitale and EHIC/CEAM only cover basic care inside the EU/EEA, so you need travel insurance outside the EU and for cancellation or repatriation. Many bank cards (Visa Premier, Gold Mastercard) include cover when you pay with the card, and Schengen visa applicants need a compliant policy.
Key takeaways
- Travel insurance covers annulation, frais médicaux à l'étranger, rapatriement, bagages, and responsabilité civile à l'étranger.
- The EHIC (CEAM) covers state healthcare inside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, not private clinics, repatriation, or care outside the EU.
- Bank card cover (Visa Premier, Gold Mastercard) usually applies only when you pay the trip with the card and is often capped.
- Schengen visa applicants need at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover including repatriation.
- Insurers are supervised by the ACPR; the sector is represented by France Assureurs.
Do you need travel insurance from France?
For most trips it is not legally mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. Your carte Vitale and the EHIC (CEAM) only reimburse medically necessary care within the EU/EEA and Switzerland, on the same terms as local residents. They do not cover repatriation, trip cancellation, or any treatment outside the EU, where a hospital bill in the United States or Asia can run into tens of thousands of euros.
Travel insurance fills exactly those gaps. It is most valuable for long-haul or non-EU trips, for expensive prepaid bookings you would lose if you cancel, and for any trip where you would need help getting home after a serious illness or accident. General rules are explained on service-public.fr.
What does travel insurance cover?
A standard assurance voyage bundles several guarantees. Annulation reimburses non-refundable bookings if you have to cancel for a covered reason. Frais médicaux à l'étranger pays for emergency treatment abroad, often advancing the cost so you are not out of pocket. Rapatriement organises and pays for medical repatriation home. Bagages covers lost, stolen, or delayed luggage, and responsabilité civile à l'étranger covers damage you cause to others while travelling.
Every contract sets cover limits (plafonds), exclusions, and a franchise (the excess you pay per claim). Pre-existing conditions, extreme sports, and trips booked against official advice are commonly excluded. Always read the conditions générales and check the medical and repatriation limits before you buy.
Match the cover to the destination
Is card insurance enough?
Premium cartes bancaires such as Visa Premier and Gold Mastercard include built-in travel cover, but with an important condition: it usually only applies when you pay for the trip with that card. The cover is also typically capped, time-limited (commonly around 90 days per trip), and lighter on cancellation and high medical ceilings than a dedicated policy.
Card cover can be perfectly adequate for short European trips. For longer or far-flung travel, or where you want strong cancellation protection, a standalone assurance voyage is usually the safer choice. Check your card's notice d'assurance for exact limits, then decide whether to top it up. See our guide to French bank cards.
EHIC/CEAM vs travel insurance?
The Carte Européenne d'Assurance Maladie (CEAM), known in English as the EHIC, is free from ameli.fr and gives you access to state healthcare within the EU/EEA and Switzerland on the same terms as locals. It does not cover private clinics, repatriation, cancellation, or any care outside the EU.
Travel insurance covers exactly what the CEAM does not, so the two are complementary, not interchangeable. Carry your CEAM inside Europe to simplify reimbursement, and rely on your assurance voyage for repatriation, private care, cancellation, and any trip beyond the EU. Order the CEAM from your compte ameli at least two weeks before you travel.
The CEAM is free and complementary
Which travel insurance providers should you compare?
The French market includes specialist travel insurers like Chapka and AVA, large assistance networks like Allianz Travel (Allianz Partners / Mondial Assistance) and Europ Assistance, and the cover built into premium bank cards. Compare the medical and repatriation limits, the cancellation reasons accepted, and the franchise rather than headline price alone.
Chapka Assurances
Chapka (part of the Heymondo group) is a travel-insurance specialist with high medical and repatriation limits and clear formules for long stays, Schengen visas, working holidays, and students.
Why we recommend it: A specialist travel insurer with strong medical and repatriation limits and clear long-stay, Schengen, and working-holiday formules.
Best for: Long-stay travellers, students, and working-holiday makers
Pros
- +High medical and repatriation limits
- +Dedicated long-stay and Schengen formules
- +Online subscription with instant attestation
Cons
- −Specialist focus, less of an all-in-one insurer
- −Premium rises with high cover limits
- Cancellation, medical, repatriation, and baggage cover
- Schengen-compliant attestations available
- Distributed under ACPR-supervised insurers
AVA Assurance Voyage
AVA is a long-established French travel broker offering cancellation, medical, and Schengen-compliant cover, with both single-trip and annual multi-trip options to match how often you travel.
Why we recommend it: A long-established French travel broker offering cancellation, medical, and Schengen-compliant cover with flexible single-trip and annual options.
Best for: Travellers who want to mix single-trip and annual cover
Pros
- +Single-trip and annual multi-trip formules
- +Cancellation and medical cover options
- +Schengen-compliant policies available
Cons
- −Broker model spans several underwriters
- −Limits vary by formule, so compare carefully
- Annulation, frais médicaux, and rapatriement cover
- Single-trip and annual options
- Distributed under ACPR-supervised insurers
Allianz Travel
Allianz Travel is the travel brand of Allianz Partners (formerly Mondial Assistance), a large global assistance network offering broad medical, repatriation, and cancellation cover worldwide.
Why we recommend it: Allianz Partners (Mondial Assistance) is a large global assistance network offering broad medical, repatriation, and cancellation cover worldwide.
Best for: Travellers who want a large, worldwide assistance network
Pros
- +Global 24/7 assistance network
- +Broad medical and repatriation cover
- +Single-trip and annual formules
Cons
- −Large-insurer processes can feel less personal
- −Cover tiers need comparing for the right limits
- Cancellation, medical, and repatriation cover
- Worldwide assistance via Allianz Partners
- Supervised by the ACPR
Europ Assistance
Europ Assistance is a 24/7 assistance specialist with deep repatriation and emergency-medical experience, well suited to travellers who prioritise responsive on-the-ground support during a trip.
Why we recommend it: A 24/7 assistance specialist with extensive repatriation and emergency-medical experience, well suited to travellers prioritising on-the-ground support.
Best for: Travellers who value strong emergency assistance abroad
Pros
- +Extensive repatriation experience
- +24/7 multilingual assistance
- +Medical and cancellation cover options
Cons
- −Assistance focus over headline-cheap pricing
- −Formule limits vary, so read the conditions
- Medical, repatriation, and cancellation cover
- 24/7 emergency assistance abroad
- Supervised by the ACPR
Providers listed for comparison as of June 2026. We do not quote premiums; cost depends on your destination, trip length, age, and cover limits. Confirm current cover and pricing on each insurer's official site.
What cover do Schengen visa applicants need?
If you are applying for a Schengen visa, you must show travel medical insurance that meets the Schengen minimums. The standard requirement is at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover, including emergency hospital treatment and repatriation, valid across the entire Schengen area for the full dates of the trip.
- Step 1: Confirm your travel dates and the full Schengen itinerary.
- Step 2: Choose a policy that meets the EUR 30,000 medical minimum with repatriation.
- Step 3: Buy from a provider that issues a Schengen-compliant attestation (e.g. Chapka, AVA, Europ Assistance).
- Step 4: Check the certificate names the Schengen area and your exact dates.
- Step 5: Attach the attestation d'assurance to your visa application.
Sources: service-public.fr, ameli.fr (CEAM / Carte Européenne d'Assurance Maladie), ACPR, and France Assureurs, June 2026. Verify current visa rules and cover with your chosen insurer and consulate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need travel insurance to travel from France?
It is not legally required for most trips, but it is strongly recommended. The carte Vitale and the EHIC (CEAM) only cover medically necessary care within the EU/EEA and Switzerland. They do not cover repatriation, cancellation, or treatment outside the EU, where private medical bills can be very high. Travel insurance fills those gaps.
What does travel insurance from France cover?
A typical assurance voyage covers cancellation (annulation), medical costs abroad (frais médicaux à l'étranger), repatriation (rapatriement), lost or delayed baggage (bagages), and personal liability abroad (responsabilité civile à l'étranger). Cover limits, exclusions, and the franchise differ by contract, so always read the conditions générales.
Is the travel insurance on my bank card enough?
Cards like Visa Premier and Gold Mastercard include travel cover, but usually only when you pay for the trip with that card. The cover is often capped, time-limited (commonly around 90 days per trip), and lighter on cancellation and high medical limits. For long or far trips, a dedicated assurance voyage is usually stronger.
EHIC / CEAM versus travel insurance: what is the difference?
The Carte Européenne d'Assurance Maladie (CEAM), known in English as the EHIC, gives you access to state healthcare within the EU/EEA and Switzerland on the same terms as locals. It does not cover private clinics, repatriation, cancellation, or any care outside the EU. Travel insurance covers those, so the two are complementary, not interchangeable.
Do visa applicants need specific travel insurance?
Yes. Schengen visa applicants must show travel medical insurance meeting Schengen minimums, typically at least EUR 30,000 of medical cover including emergency hospital treatment and repatriation, valid across the Schengen area for the trip dates. Providers like Chapka, AVA, and Europ Assistance issue Schengen-compliant attestations.