Travel insurance for Europe
You need travel insurance for Europe, even in the countries where Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement. Those agreements cover only medically necessary public treatment, in only some countries, and none of them pays to fly you home. France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Austria and most of the rest of Europe have no agreement at all, so tourists pay for all care.
Europe also brings its own mix of risks: a multi-country itinerary that has to fit one policy, the Schengen 90-day rule, different driving-permit rules country by country, summer wildfires and heat, strikes, and snow in the Alps. Our guide to compare travel insurance covers the rest of the policy.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team ยท Last reviewed
General advice only. It doesn't consider your circumstances. Read the PDS and TMD before you decide.
Advice levels, health agreements and driving, country by country
Smartraveller sets a level for each country, and the reciprocal health care agreements cover only some of them. This is how the most-visited countries stood on 2 October 2026.
| Country | Smartraveller level (page updated) | Reciprocal health care agreement | Driving on an Australian licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Exercise a high degree of caution, terrorism (11 Sep 2026) | Yes: NHS care within 6 months of arrival | Up to 12 months; no IDP required |
| Ireland | Exercise normal safety precautions (19 Feb 2026) | Yes: public hospital care within 12 months of arrival | Up to 12 months; check with your hire company about an IDP |
| France | Exercise a high degree of caution, terrorism (25 Jul 2026) | No | Australian licence; rental firms may also require an IDP |
| Italy | Exercise normal safety precautions (5 Aug 2026) | Yes: public care within 6 months of arrival | IDP or official translation required, as well as your licence |
| Netherlands | Exercise normal safety precautions (29 Sep 2026) | Yes: needs an A111 certificate | IDP plus your Australian licence for short visits |
| Spain | Exercise normal safety precautions (11 Sep 2026) | No | Australian licence plus IDP; fines and impounding without one |
| Portugal | Exercise normal safety precautions (7 Jul 2026) | No | Original Australian licence; digital licences not accepted |
| Greece | Exercise normal safety precautions (30 Sep 2026) | No | Licence may be recognised without an IDP; check with the Greek embassy for your licence type |
| Croatia | Exercise normal safety precautions (26 Sep 2026) | No | Licence plus IDP; driving without one could void your travel and vehicle insurance |
| Germany | Exercise normal safety precautions (5 Aug 2026) | No | Australian licence only in some cases; get an IDP before you travel |
| Switzerland | Exercise normal safety precautions (7 Sep 2026) | No | Australian licence valid; some hire companies need an IDP |
| Austria | Exercise normal safety precautions (2 Sep 2026) | No | Licence for up to 6 months, plus an IDP or a German translation |
What the reciprocal agreements do and do not do
Australia's agreements in Europe are with the UK, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Slovenia. They give Australians publicly funded care that is medically necessary, meaning care that can't wait until you get home. You need your Australian passport and a current Medicare card, and some countries add conditions: the Netherlands needs an A111 certificate, Italy and the UK limit cover to your first six months, and Belgium, Sweden and Finland charge co-payments or fees per service.
Smartraveller lists what they do not cover: private care, non-urgent needs, non-subsidised medicines, the full cost where a co-payment applies, and medical evacuation, which it notes often costs thousands of dollars. In the other European countries, private hospitals will want payment up front, a guarantee or a deposit. Our travel insurance guide compares all 11 agreements.
Schengen, the 90/180 rule and EES
Australians can visit the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The count runs back 180 days from each day of your stay, across every Schengen country combined, so a long European summer plus an earlier trip can put you over the limit.
The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and replaces passport stamping at Schengen borders. It records your fingerprints and photo on first entry, and makes overstays easier to detect. The separate ETIAS travel authorisation was still not in operation on 2 October 2026; the EU says it will announce the start date several months before launch. None of these is an insurance matter, but an overstay can end a trip and the policy will not pay for the consequences.
European river cruises
River cruises on the Rhine, Danube and other rivers are a popular way for older Australians to see Europe, and insurers treat them differently from ocean cruises. Allianz covers river cruises automatically, and Cover-More doesn't require its Cruise Cover for them, while ocean cruising needs the cruise option on both. Check how your insurer defines a cruise before you pay for an option you may not need.
The usual cruise checks still apply: a cancellation amount that covers the full non-refundable fare, every pre-existing condition declared, and a policy that covers every country the river passes through. See cruise travel insurance and travel insurance for seniors.
One policy, many countries
A European itinerary often includes the UK and Switzerland, which are outside the EU, a stopover in Asia or the Middle East, and sometimes a side trip to Turkey or Morocco. Your policy has to cover every country on the route, including transits, and every country has its own Smartraveller level. If any part of the trip is in a region rated 'Reconsider your need to travel' or 'Do not travel', check the policy before you book that leg.
Quad bikes, scooters and islands
Smartraveller's Greece advice (updated 30 September 2026) is a useful warning for the whole Mediterranean. Quad bike and motorcycle accidents have caused serious injuries and deaths among Australian visitors, your licence must be valid for the type of vehicle you ride, including quad bikes and scooters, and you need specific travel insurance for quad biking because many policies exclude it. On the islands, a serious case can mean evacuation to Athens or elsewhere, and Smartraveller notes medical evacuation can be very expensive.
Summer heat, wildfires and strikes
Smartraveller lists forest fires through the northern summer in Italy, Spain and Greece, heatwaves across southern Europe, and floods and earthquakes in several countries. Strikes regularly disrupt flights and trains. Cancellation and delay cover can respond to all of these, but only if the policy was in force before the fire, strike or storm became known. Buy when you book, and read how the policy treats industrial action.
Skiing in the Alps
Snow sports need the policy's snow option. France, Switzerland and Austria have no reciprocal agreement with Australia, and Smartraveller warns that skiing off marked runs can void your insurance and, in parts of France and Switzerland, lead to arrest or prosecution. See our ski travel insurance page for what the option covers.
General advice only. This information doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether the product is right for you and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before you decide. We don't compare every product in the market, and we may earn a commission if you take up a product through our links.
What to watch for
- Most European countries have no reciprocal agreement; the ones that do still exclude evacuation and private care.
- Cover every country on the route, including the UK, Switzerland and any transit stop.
- Quad biking is excluded by many policies; ride only with the right licence and a helmet.
- Get an International Driving Permit in Australia if any country on your route requires one.
- Strikes and wildfires become known events quickly. Buy the policy when you book.
Common questions
Do I need travel insurance for Europe?
You should, even though it isn't required for a visa-free visit. Only some European countries have a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, those agreements cover only medically necessary public care, and none covers medical evacuation home.
Which travel insurance company is best for Europe?
No company is best for every trip. Compare comprehensive policies that cover every country on your route, with a high overseas medical limit, cancellation cover that matches your prepaid bookings, and the snow, cruise or motorcycle options you need, then compare price. Many brands share an insurer, which our table of who issues each brand shows.
Does Medicare cover me in Europe?
Not directly. Medicare doesn't cover you overseas. In the UK, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Slovenia a reciprocal agreement gives access to medically necessary public care, with conditions. Elsewhere, including France, Spain, Germany and Greece, you pay for all care.
How long can Australians stay in the Schengen area?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, counted across all Schengen countries together. The EU's Entry/Exit System now records entries and exits electronically, which makes overstays easier to detect.
Do Australians need ETIAS to visit Europe?
Not yet. On 2 October 2026 ETIAS was still not in operation and no applications were being collected. The EU has said it will announce the start date several months before launch.
Are river cruises covered by travel insurance?
It depends on the insurer. Allianz covers river cruises automatically and Cover-More doesn't require its cruise option for them, while ocean cruises need the option. Check the PDS definition of a cruise.