Do I need health insurance for a France Visiteur visa?

When you apply, French authorities require an attestation of health insurance that covers the full period of your visa. Because you are not working and not contributing to the French social security system, you generally cannot rely on public coverage at the start of your stay.

Choose a policy that meets the consulate's requirements for coverage amount and validity dates. Keep this in mind as a recurring cost, since you will usually need to show valid cover again each time you renew the card.