Europe is one of the most popular destinations for wanderlusts all over the globe. With the growing popularity of Europe as a travel destination, travel insurance for Schengen visa is also becoming quite mainstream. Whether you are travelling alone or with your family, you should consider investing in this insurance policy. But before you buy it, explore important details about Schengen visa insurance in this article.
Countries Covered Under Schengen Visa Insurance
Before investing in Schengen travel insurance, it’s important to know whether it will be useful in the European country you are visiting. You should know that the European Union nations have made it mandatory for travellers to have Schengen insurance. Therefore, travel insurance for Schengen countries is available for 26 nations within the European Union.
Once you obtain the Schengen visa, it will remain for three months at a time. Any travel insurance for Schengen countries will remain valid for the entire duration of these three months.
Benefits of Schengen Travel Insurance
When you buy travel insurance for a Schengen visa, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Automatic extension of the policy for up to 7 days before the trip begins
- Medical coverage for healthcare emergencies like unexpected surgery, diagnostic tests like scans, X-rays, and any other tests prescribed by a physician.
- Emergency dental cover
- Provisions for covers like personal accident, loss of passport or baggage, personal liability, trip delay, and more
- Some insurers also offer home insurance coverage with Schengen visa insurance while you are abroad.
What Is Covered Under Schengen Visa Insurance?
The things usually covered under Schengen visa insurance are as follows:
- Medical emergencies
- Hijacking
- Emergency situations that demand evacuations
- Return of a minor
- Trip cancellations, interruptions, or rescheduling
- Accidental death, injury, dismemberment, or disablement
- Overseas hospitalisation, medicine, outpatient, death, and funeral expenses
- Delayed baggage or replacement due to emergencies
- Lost, damaged, or stolen baggage, personal items, and travel documents
- Travel delays due to unfavourable weather
- Repatriation of remains in case of death
- Pregnancy cover during the first trimester
Exclusions Under Schengen Travel Insurance
Usually, the following are excluded under the Schengen travel insurance policies:
- Risks associated with adventure sports like scuba diving and skydiving (unless you don’t have an add-on cover)
- Pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure. In case of pre-existing medical conditions, you should try getting add-on covers with travel insurance for a Schengen visa.
- Risks associated with travelling to certain geographical locations like war-torn countries, countries prone to natural disasters, or countries where acts of terrorism are common.
Cost of Schengen Travel Insurance
Every policyholder has to bear a minimum travel insurance for Schengen visa cost. After that, travellers can increase their coverage as much as they want as per their requirements. The travel insurance for a Schengen visa cost is at least 50,000 USD or 30,000 EUR.
The total cost of the Schengen travel insurance will cover you against medical as well as non-medical emergencies. The minimum travel insurance for a Schengen visa cost is the same, irrespective of which European country you are visiting.
Process of Applying for Schengen Visa Travel Insurance
The process of applying for Schengen visa travel insurance can seem a little complicated. But if you follow the right steps, you will get adequate and accurate coverage on your trip abroad. Learn about how to apply and the documents required to apply for Schengen travel insurance.
How to Apply
If your destination is inside one of the Schengen countries, you should directly apply at the consulate or embassy of that specific nation. At times, people plan to visit multiple Schengen countries during a single trip. In that case, you should directly apply for the visa at an embassy or consulate of your prime destination country.
Documents Required
During your initiative entry, you will need a visa and a passport valid for 3 months and more. If you want to visit any Schengen country for a duration of 2 weeks, you must have a passport with a validity of at least 5 months. You will also have to submit specific documents for Schengen travel insurance according to the purpose of your trip.
Business:
- An invitation from a firm
- Documents confirming the existence of the event you are invited to
Tourism:
- Invitation from the host or any document of your lodging
- Tickets (in case of transit)
Official Delegation:
- A third-party letter to confirm your delegation
- Official invitation copy
Bottom Line
A standard travel insurance policy is not enough when you are visiting Europe. Therefore, you should get travel insurance for a Schengen visa from a reliable insurer. It will ensure that you and your family members have sufficient coverage while on the international trip.
