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SafetyWing vs Genki — for visa applications
Last checked: July 2026 · Product details from the insurers' official pages; visa rules from each government source.
The direct answer: for the €30,000-minimum countries (Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Italy) both usually satisfy the written requirement — SafetyWing's $0 deductible makes its certificate the cleaner read, while Genki offers higher per-case coverage. Neither qualifies for Spain, which demands full no-co-pay health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain.
⚠️ Insurance requirements are set by each government and change. We summarise them to help you shop, but the consulate has the final say on whether a specific policy is accepted. Confirm the wording of any policy before you buy.
The comparison that matters for a visa officer
Most SafetyWing-vs-Genki articles compare them as insurance. This page compares them as visa evidence — because that's the job you're buying them for.
| SafetyWing (Nomad Insurance) | Genki (Traveler) | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage ceiling | $250,000 (Essential) / $1.5M (Complete) | Up to €1M per case |
| Deductible | $0 — no deductible on either tier | €50 per case |
| Meets €30,000 Schengen benchmark | Yes, comfortably | Yes, comfortably |
| Visa proof document | Downloadable proof-of-insurance letter from your account | Confirmation of coverage available on request |
| Price from (under 40, checked July 2026) | ~$63 / 4 weeks | ~€52 / month |
| Long-term health upgrade | Complete (full health, $1.5M) | Native (long-term health, up to unlimited) |
| Qualifies for Spain's nomad visa | No | No |
Where each one wins
- Pick SafetyWing when the certificate is the point. The $0 deductible means there is no cost-sharing line for a strict consulate to query, and the self-serve visa letter states coverage, dates and scope the way officers expect to see them. For Portugal's D8 or an Estonia Type D file, that's the path of least resistance.
- Pick Genki when you want more headroom per incident. Up to €1M per case is a higher practical ceiling than SafetyWing Essential's $250k, adventure sports are included by default, and if you later settle somewhere, Genki Native is a genuine long-term health policy. The €50 per-case deductible is normally fine for €30,000-minimum countries — but if your consulate is known to be picky, the zero-deductible certificate is the safer artefact.
- Pick neither for Spain. Spain's rule — full cover, no co-payments, insurer authorised in Spain — excludes travel-medical products entirely. Here's what Spain actually accepts →
Country-by-country: does travel-medical cover pass?
- 🇵🇹 Portugal: yes — the rule is €30,000+ coverage valid for the full stay. Details →
- 🇬🇷 Greece: yes — the rule is €30,000+ coverage valid for the full stay. Details →
- 🇮🇹 Italy: yes — the rule is €30,000+ coverage valid for the full stay. Details →
- 🇭🇷 Croatia: yes — the rule is €30,000+ coverage valid for the full stay. Details →
- 🇪🇪 Estonia: yes — the rule is €30,000+ coverage valid for the full stay. Details →
- 🇪🇸 Spain: no — full private health insurance only. Details →
Get a quote
Flexible monthly nomad health cover, popular for visas that accept the €30,000 standard.
Check SafetyWing Nomad Insurance →Subscription-style nomad health insurance with simple, continuous coverage.
Check Genki →Whichever you choose: before paying, confirm the certificate names your destination (or the Schengen area), states the coverage amount, includes repatriation, and runs for your entire requested visa period. Those four lines are what applications are approved or refused on.
Frequently asked
Is SafetyWing accepted for digital nomad visa applications?
For countries whose rule is a coverage minimum (typically €30,000 valid in the Schengen area) — Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Estonia, Italy — SafetyWing Nomad Insurance generally meets the written requirement and provides a downloadable proof-of-insurance letter. It does not qualify for Spain, which requires full health insurance with no co-payments from an insurer authorised in Spain.
Is Genki accepted for digital nomad visa applications?
Genki Traveler generally satisfies €30,000-minimum countries and covers up to €1M per case. One caveat: it carries a €50 per-case deductible, and a few strict consulates read "deductible" as cost-sharing. Genki Native is real long-term health insurance and is the stronger fit where a residence permit requires comprehensive cover. Neither is a fit for Spain's "no co-payments, authorised in Spain" rule.
Which is cheaper, SafetyWing or Genki?
They are in the same band for under-40s: SafetyWing Essential from about $63 per 4 weeks, Genki Traveler from about €52 per month (checked July 2026). Price moves with age and with US coverage. The real difference is structure — deductible, coverage ceiling, and how each certificate reads to a visa officer — not a few euros of premium.
What insurance do I need for the Spain digital nomad visa instead?
Spain requires comprehensive private health insurance from an insurer authorised in Spain, with no co-payments and no waiting periods. That means a full health plan (Spanish insurer or qualifying international plan), not travel-medical products like SafetyWing Nomad Insurance or Genki Traveler.
Compare all the visas these policies are for →
Check your country's exact insurance rule →