Travel insurance for visa application is a slightly tricky topic that many travellers get confused with. Certain visa application procedures, especially the Schengen visa, require the applicants to submit a copy of their travel insurance in order to be considered eligible for the visa. If you’re not sure how to go about purchasing a suitable travel insurance and not aware of the nitty gritty of the visa application requirements, read on to find out about all of this and more!
WHAT IS A TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR VISA APPLICATION?
A Travel Insurance for visa application is a cover for any medical or other emergencies that may occur during travel in a foreign country. As you can imagine, such emergencies are typically expensive in nature which makes it worthwhile to have a travel insurance handy. Travel insurances can be of many different types and what they cover differ from one package to another. But in general, most travel insurances cover the following in one way or the other:
- Medical emergency
- Emergency evacuation
- Repatriation (dead or alive)
- Return of a minor
- Trip cancellation or interruption
- Accidental death, injury or disablement benefit
- Overseas funeral expenses
- Lost, stolen or damaged baggage, personal or travel documents
- Delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items)
- Flight connection missed due to airline schedule crash
- Travel delays due to weathe
- Hijacking
Usually, the insurers cover pregnancy-related expenses, if the travel occurs during the first trimester. Beyond that, insurance coverage varies across different insurance companies.
In addition to knowing what is covered under insurance, it is important to know what are the exclusions, so you can take precautions accordingly. Here’s a generic list of conditions that are normally not covered by travel insurance:
- Preexisting diseases (e.g. Cancer, diabetes)
- High-risk sporting activities (e.g. Skiing, scuba diving)
- Travel to high-risk countries (e.g. Due to war, natural disasters or acts of terrorism)
Please do note that these terms and conditions vary from one insurance company to the other. So it is always advisable to thoroughly check before purchasing one that suits your needs.
WHY DO YOU NEED A TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR VISA APPLICATION?
Life on the roads in pretty unpredictable these days, and more so when you are in a foreign nation. A travel insurance ensures that all your emergencies are taken care of during your travel and you have the resources to handle the situation. The biggest cost centres happen to be medical emergencies.
An urgent treatment at the local hospital can set you back by thousands of dollars. Even worse, you may not even know how to handle the situation because of lack of local information. Some countries don’t even give you access to medical help if you do not have a health/medical insurance. In addition to that, there are numerous cases of lost luggage or cancelled flights that not only cause a lot of inconvenience, but also loss of money. Travel insurance is a great way to cover these unexpected events and be prepared.You do not want to be caught off-guard in such situations!
But apart from these practical reasons, the other major reason why you need to get a travel insurance is to meet your visa application requirements. For several countries, a travel insurance for visa application is absolutely mandatory! It is one of the most important documents that need to be submitted to the embassy for processing your visa, along with your flight reservation for visa as well as a hotel reservation for visa application.
The Schengen visa is one of the most popular visas that need a travel insurance for visa application. Accordingly, the “Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009” says that,
“Applicants for a 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, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States.
The insurance shall be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen Area Member States and cover the entire period of the person’s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage shall be EUR 30,000”
As stated by the law, the value of the travel insurance for visa application for the Schengen countries needs to be at least EUR 30,000. You can choose anything beyond that depending on your travel duration and your personal circumstances. But whatever it is that you choose, this is one requirement you must fulfill in order to get your visa application approved.
HOW CAN YOU GET A TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR VISA APPLICATION?
This is probably one of the most burning questions many travelers face – which travel insurance to buy and how. Before you choose a particular travel insurance for visa application, make sure all the following terms are met:
- Must provide minimum cover of €30,000
- Medical and hospitalization charges must be covered in all the countries you are applying for visa
- Repatriation expenses to your home country
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Preferably $0 deductible expense (Deductible expense is the out-of-pocket expense you have to incur before claiming insurance)
- You must be covered for the entire duration of your travel
Check for the above mentioned items before you purchase insurance so you are assured that the visa application will not get rejected because of inadequate travel insurance.
Now coming to the question of how to purchase a travel insurance for visa application. This can be done in one of two ways. One of your options is to search for an insurance company in your country that can provide you with a travel insurance for visa application with suitable coverage. But this is a cumbersome process.
Imagine having to look through different packages offered by a bunch of different insurance companies and then comparing all of them in order to pick one. In this process, you may even have to reach out to the companies individually to understand which one would suit you better. This could potentially lead to a whole lot of mess! Holiday planning should be fun, not stressful!
Flyyeer.com (Best Travel Solutions) 