A real concern for travellers who wish to see some parts of Europe is the fact that they need to spend extra to get a travel insurance for Schengen visa. The amount $80 to $100 may just be meager for some travelers but for budget travelers this is a significant amount. While the travel insurance policy for Schengen visa applicants may appear a turn-off to some, acquiring travel insurance in reality has a lot of pros to it too. This article will try to clear the issue on what the travel insurance is for and why Schengen visa applicants are required to get one.
Getting a travel insurance for Schengen visa is just one of several requirements to be granted a Schengen visa. If you wish to know how to apply for a Schengen visa, then just take these easy steps:
- Fill out a Schengen application form.
- Ready your valid passport with copies of the front and back pages.
- Have copies of current passport-sized photos with white background.
- Secure a proof of travel – You may get secure Flight Reservation for Visa or Hotel Reservation for Visa without actually paying for the ticket or the hotel booking yet.
- Have complete bank details.
- Secure a Travel Insurance.
Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa – Frequently Asked Questions:
Here are some frequently asked questions about the travel insurance requirement for Schengen visa:
Is there a rule that states that an applicant really needs to get a travel insurance?
Yes, there is a law that states that all travelers who wish to secure a Schengen visa and will set foot on any of the countries within the Schengen area must get a travel insurance. According to the law set by the Schengen members, all “applicants for uniform visa for one or two entries shall prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons…” All applicants, according to the law, must have travel insurance that is valid during the period of travel within the Schengen area.
Can an applicant get travel insurance from any company?
Yes, applicants can choose any insurance company to get travel insurance for Schengen visa provided it is a valid company and the insurance/medical coverage follows the requirements of the Schengen visa application. Here is the required travel insurance coverage for Schengen visa applicants:
- Includes urgent medical expenses as well as repatriation to your state of residence, just in case the tourist needs to be urgently flown back to home country
- Validity period must cover the dates of travel within the Schengen area
- Minimum coverage of the insurance should be €30,000
Should you wish to acquire travel insurance for your Schengen visa application, then it is best to get it from a trusted company. Click the link and it will lead you to the right webpage.
Are there any other benefits that are included in the travel insurance?
Yes, aside from the above mentioned mandatory coverage of your Schengen travel insurance, many companies also include other benefits to make the purchase more attractive and more worth the price. Here are some additional benefits that may come with your travel insurance for Schengen visa:
- Lost and/or stolen luggage
- Broken luggage
- Damaged personal property or travel documents
- Delayed luggage due to airline error
- Delayed or cancelled flight due to weather
- Accidental death or injury
- Injury or death due to acts of terrorism, and
- Pre-existing disease
Why are Schengen visa applicants required to get travel insurance?
Apart from the law that states that all USV applicants must have travel insurance, the main reason why the organization wants to require travel insurance is to protect both the governments under the Schengen organization and the travellers who are within the region.
Imagine if you are travelling on a tight budget and you get sick or lose your wallet or your luggage, you do not have any buffer or safety net to protect you and save you from a big expense. In effect, the $80-$100 travel insurance may just save you from thousands of euros expense should you get sick, lose items, or worse meet an accident. The travel insurance is an investment that you need when you are travelling.
Can I now join extreme activities and still be covered by my travel insurance?
Again, the reason there is a mandatory travel insurance for Schengen visa is for the protection of both the government of the country being visited and the traveller. Of course insurance companies also need to protect themselves from the potential large expense incurred by insurance policy holders that are potentially entering in extreme sports and extreme activities.
Therefore it is just fair for insurance companies to put a limit to the coverage of the policy holders. For example, injuries due to involvement in extreme activities like sky diving, rappelling, scuba diving may be excluded from your policy. Another exclusion in the policy is injury or medical illness due to prohibited drugs and alcohol abuse.
Before you get involved in anything risky, remember that your policy coverage has its limitations and exceptions so you also need to be careful in selecting what you’ll do within the Schengen area.
What if a traveller refuses to get travel insurance?
The Schengen area has a strict policy about travel insurance for transient visitors; therefore if a traveller refuses to get travel insurance then the Schengen embassy will also refuse that traveller’s visa application. Again the travel insurance is mandatory for all USV applicants and there are no exceptions to this rule.
Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa – Get Covered Now!
There are many insurance companies that offer almost the same travel insurance policy for travellers who wish to step foot in the Schengen area. If you want to get the best coverage with minimal costs, then you need to check out this link which will lead you to right place to get your Schengen travel insurance. If you need further assistance to acquire a visa, you may contact us through our website or leave us a message via WhatsApp (+1 201-554-8735).
Comply to the mandatory travel insurance for Schengen visa and travel the entire area with ease.
