How to obtain a Schengen visa for medical treatment 

The Schengen visa for medical treatment is a subtype of the type C visa for short‑stay visits. Foreigners obtain it to visit European clinics for checkups, therapy, or surgeries.  

The required list of documents for application is similar to that for a regular tourist visa. In addition to the standard package of papers, the applicants need to provide a treatment confirmation. In urgent cases, the application is processed within 3 days.  

The Schengen Area includes 27 states. Among these, Germany, Malta, and Switzerland are regarded as the top medical systems in the world. Visas for medical treatment to these countries are applied for most often. The visa regulations are similar in all Schengen countries, but there are some subtleties.      

When a visa for medical treatment is required

If you’ve decided to get your treatment at a clinic in a Schengen state, you need to apply for a visa for medical treatment.  

For adults. The visa is a must if long-term treatment is required. Another case eligible for a medical visa is when the only doctor who can provide qualified treatment resides and works in a Schengen state. Besides, it applies to situations when the duration of treatment is unknown.

If an adult is planning to travel to Europe for short-term treatment, for instance, for a dentist visit, they don’t need to obtain a special visa for medical treatment. A regular type C visa for tourism will be enough. 

For children. Children up to 12 years old don’t need to pay a visa fee and submit biometric data. Children of 12 to 18 years need to submit their fingerprints, and the fee for them must be paid.

For accompanying persons. To obtain a visa, an accompanying person must provide the same paperwork as the patient. Any person can accompany the patient, regardless of whether they are a relative or not. 

Documents for a Schengen visa for medical treatment

The requirements for a visa for medical treatment are quite similar to those for a regular short-stay Schengen visa. However, there are some significant nuances. 

The final list of documents depends on the country of entry and the current international situation. Look for details on the website of the consulate you’re going to apply to. Alternatively, you can use the services of a visa centre to apply for you. 

Documents required for a patient and accompanying person over 18: 

1. Application form.
2. Passport valid for international travel that doesn’t expire until three months after the intended trip. It should have been issued within the last 10 years and have at least two empty pages. 
3. Copies of the passport pages with personal information. 
4. Two colourful photos for documents of the size of 3.5 х 4.5 cm.
5. Health insurance valid in Europe with a minimal coverage of €30,000⁣.
6. A statement from the employer with information on the applicant’s income. Students can provide a statement from their university.
7. Invitation from the clinic and proof of down payment for the medical care.
8. Bank statement.
9. Flight reservation.
10. Hotel reservations or proof that the patient will stay at the hospital.

For children under 18, regardless if they are the patient or the accompanying person, the following documents are required: 

1. Parents’ consent if they are not travelling with the child.
2. Certificate from the school if the child is studying.
3. Proof of sponsorship, for instance, a bank statement of the person who is going to travel with the child.

Additionally, the applicant might include documents proving that medical care is necessary:

1. Medical statements.
2. Justification for why treatment in a specific Schengen country is required, provided by the patient’s attending physician in their home country. 
3. Correspondence between the attending physician and the receiving physician.
4. Letter of guarantee from the patient confirming their financial capacity to cover any unforeseen medical expenses. 
5. A written agreement between the patient and the hospital stating that the patient will stay there.

Validity period of the Schengen visa for medical treatment and how to extend it

The visa allows staying within the Schengen Area for 90 days every six months for both tourists and patients. So is it really worth it to bother with additional paperwork?  

If treatment doesn’t go as planned and requires more time, the patient will need to extend their visa. With a tourist visa, it’s more difficult to do than with a medical visa. 

To extend a Schengen visa for medical treatment, the patient and the accompanying person need to contact the migration service 30 days before the visa expires. Along with the application, the visa holder needs to submit medical statements proving that further treatment is necessary. There are no guarantees that the visa will be extended.

Reason for refusal of a medical visa and the appeal process

Reasons why the applicant can be rejected:

• doubtful documents from the clinic or their absence;
• unpaid fines in any Schengen country;
• Schengen visa refusals in the past. 

Therefore, it is recommended to appeal the rejections. It is not uncommon for a visa application to be rejected due to a consular error.

If your application was rejected, you can appeal within 30 days after the decision. The appeal is submitted in writing, indicating the reasons for it.

You can appeal the refusal personally or through a representative by proxy. The address for sending the appeal is indicated on the consulate’s website. There is an appeal fee to pay. 

Frequently asked questions