Guide

Your visa was refused over insurance? What to do next

By Covered Abroad Research Desk · Last verified July 2026

Most insurance refusals come down to the certificate wording, not bad luck: it was travel cover, under the limit, carried a deductible, or did not state the right territory and dates. The fix is usually a compliant certificate and a fresh application. Here is how to diagnose it and reapply.

The rule in writing

“For a long-stay visa (VLS-TS), you must hold private health insurance covering your full stay in France. Travel insurance and short-stay Schengen policies are not accepted.”

Official source: France-Visas (france-visas.gouv.fr) & FrenchEntrée long-stay guide — Last verified: July 2026

The rule in writing

“Travel insurance is not accepted for the elective residence visa. Cover must be a health policy valid in Italy and the Schengen area; some consulates ask for a letter confirming validity in Italy.”

Official source: Italian consulate guidance & documented ERV rejection reasons (Future Italian) — Last verified: July 2026

First, read the refusal reason

Consulates usually state why a file was refused. If it points to the insurance, match the reason to the common ones below. Knowing the exact reason keeps you from changing the wrong thing on your next attempt.

The common insurance refusal reasons

Most insurance refusals are one of these: it was a travel or short-stay policy, the limit was too low (Italy expects €30,000), there was a deductible on the core cover, or the certificate did not state the territory or the full dates. See the cited rules below.

Fix the certificate, then reapply

The fix is a certificate that meets the rule: private health cover, valid in the destination, for the full period, inpatient and outpatient, no disqualifying deductible, and repatriation for Italy. Arrange a compliant policy, then reapply following your consulate's process for a fresh application.

Get it checked before you resubmit

Do not resubmit the same certificate and hope. Run the new one through our free policy checker against the published rule first. A compliant certificate removes the insurance reason for refusal, though the consulate keeps discretion over the whole file.

Get a certificate that meets the published rule

Tell us your destination, visa, and who’s moving. Our team reviews it against the current requirement and calls you with a quote — no obligation.

Before you request a quote: cover is worldwide but excludes treatment in the United States, and pre-existing conditions are not covered — including conditions you did not know about. We say this up front so a quote is worth your time.

Common questions

Why was my visa refused over insurance?

Usually the certificate wording: a travel policy, a limit that was too low, a deductible on the core cover, or missing territory or dates. Read the refusal reason and match it to these.

Can I reapply after an insurance refusal?

Yes. Fix the certificate so it meets the rule, then reapply following your consulate's process for a fresh application.

How do I fix the insurance certificate?

Get a policy that produces a compliant certificate: private health cover, valid in the destination, for the full period, no disqualifying deductible, and repatriation for Italy.

Will a compliant certificate guarantee approval?

No. It removes the insurance reason for refusal, but consulates keep discretion over the whole file. It clears one common obstacle, not all of them.