Many tourists that plan to apply for a Schengen visa have the same question in mind: “Who needs a travel insurance to the Schengen area?” The answer to this question is quite simple. As stipulated in the Schengen visa rule that was amended in 2003, “It is necessary for visa applicants to hold, among the supporting documents they are required to produce, proof of individual or group insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and / or emergency hospital treatment during their stay in the territory of the member states that fully apply the provisions of the Schengen Acquis.” This clear-as-crystal rule must be adhered to by Schengen tourist visa applicants otherwise the receiving embassy has every right to deny the request.
Aside from the required travel insurance, there are other several requirements that one applicant must complete before submitting all documents to any Schengen member embassy. Commence your travel plans by completing all the necessary documents to acquire a Schengen visa:
- Valid passport and copies of the front and back pages
- Current passport-sized photos with white background
- Completed Schengen Visa application form
- Proof of travel such as flight booking, travel itinerary, and hotel booking – You may get a Flight Booking for Visa and Hotel Reservation for Visa just for your visa application without having to pay for the airfare or hotel booking.
- Travel Insurance – It is better to acquire this from Schengen Travel Insurance, an affordable and reliable insurance company.
- Personal Coverage Letter
- Bank Documents
- For employed travelers, a No Objection Letter is highly recommended
Who Needs a Travel Insurance to the Schengen Area? – Other FAQs
While the rule clearly states the scope of the travel insurance rule, there are still some other gray areas that confuse tourists. This article will try to cover most of these areas for further clarifications.
Do passport holders that are exempted from the Schengen visa required to have travel insurance?
There are several countries that have existing mutual agreement with the Schengen group which allows their citizens to enter any Schengen member country without going through the visa application process. The following countries can freely enter any Schengen member country for up to 90 days:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Holy See/Vatican City
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Macau
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Timor Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- United Arab Emirates
- USA
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
All the above-mentioned countries still have existing visa exemptions agreement with the Schengen group. Passport holders of these mentioned nations are allowed to enter any Schengen member country without having to go through the visa application process. This means that the mandatory travel insurance may not apply to such tourists; however upon entry in any of the Schengen member country, entering tourists must show the following documents to the immigration officer:
- Valid passport
- Bank documents
- Hotel booking
- Flight itinerary
Even if the travel insurance is not listed in required documents, it is still best to have one ready just in case the immigration officer asks for it.
Do Airport Transit Visa applicants need to get travel insurance?
The Schengen member embassies are authorized to grant 3 different kinds of tourist visas and one of these is the A-visa or the Airport Transit Visa. This visa is given to travellers who are travelling from one country to another but will have a routine stop or layover in a Schengen member airport. Whether the layover is an hour long or 24 hours long, travellers with passports that are not exempted from a Schengen visa must apply for a Schengen visa. Furthermore, depending on the embassy you are applying a visa from and depending on your nationality, the Airport Transit Visa applicant’s requirements may vary. However most of the embassies still do require the mandatory travel insurance even if the transient traveller will stay for a short time only.
Can Schengen visa applicants just get any travel insurance?
Schengen visa applicants can purchase travel insurance from any legitimate and internationally recognized travel insurance provider; however the travel insurance coverage must meet the requirements of the Schengen embassy. 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 web page.
Which company offers affordable rates and best coverage?
One of the more reliable travel insurance providers is Schengen Travel. With over 5 years of insurance providing experience, this California-based company provides a variety of travel insurance to travelers from all over the world. The best thing about Schengen Travel is its efficiency and accessibility in providing travel insurance online. Travelers may now get insured without going through the hassle of going to the provider’s office and applying personally. With Visitors Coverage, a travel insurance can be acquired with just a click of a mouse.
Who Needs a Travel Insurance to the Schengen Area? – Be informed now!
Every traveler who are visiting the Schengen area must have travel insurance to be allowed entry in it. More than just compliance to the mandatory rule set by the Schengen group, any traveler must always get travel insurance whenever one leaves his/her country of residence. The protection and peace of mind that travel insurance provides makes the extra expense all worth it.
The next time you hear the question “Who needs a travel insurance to the Schengen area?” you’ll know the answer.