Schengen Travel Insurance

About Schengen Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for Schengen acts as your savior if any untoward event happens in the foreign soil. It covers your expenses that occur due to any medical and non-medical emergency. Whether you are traveling for work, studies, or a holiday you have to get travel insurance for Schengen Visa to move freely in 26 European countries. However, other European countries are not under the ambit of Schengen regulations. You are required to get a separate visa and insurance to visit these countries.

You cannot predict the uncertainties, but you can keep yourself protected with travel insurance. So pack your bags, pick the right Schengen travel insurance plan and explore the charm of Schengen countries.

Is Schengen Travel Insurance Mandatory?

Yes, it is mandatory to get travel insurance for Schengen visa if you are heading towards any of the Schengen member countries. It allows travelers to travel visa-free in Schengen countries, and travel insurance protects them in case of any medical or non-medical emergency. Immigration officers check for Schengen visa travel insurance before approving a permit.

Features of Schengen Travel Insurance Plan

Here are some prominent features of the Schengen travel insurance plan:

• Comprehensive travel insurance plans
• Innovative features and coverage options
• Region-specific plans
• Complete support in Medical and non-medical emergencies
• The option to apply for a refund if the trip is cut short
• A free-look period of 15 days for annual policies
• Multi-trip insurance for frequent flyers
• Flexible policy duration, with a maximum length of 365 days

What does Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa Covers?

Travel insurance for Schengen visa covers the following:

• Hospitalization expenses in case of medical emergencies
• Emergency expenses for medical evacuation to India
• Loss of check-in baggage due to theft, delay or damage in transit
• Cost of obtaining a duplicate passport in case of loss of passport
• Delay or flight cancelation
• Return of a minor
• Personal accident and personal liability
• Anesthetic teeth treatment due to injury
• Compensation for death or permanent disability due to accident
• Expenses incurred for transporting the insured’s mortal remains to homeland

At Religare, we ensure that you are covered every step of the way with international travel insurance. A thoughtfully designed product, Explore offers distinct benefits that make it the best travel insurance for Schengen.

What does Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa Not Cover?

Schengen travel insurance does not cover the following:

• Pre-existing diseases
• Traveling when not advised by the doctors
• Going for Overseas Treatment
• Deaths due to suicide, mental disorder, anxiety, stress or depression
• Injuries due to adventure sports
• War or nuclear threat
• Loss due to natural calamities

Eligibility for Schengen Travel Insurance?

All Indian and foreign nationals are eligible for Schengen VISA travel insurance including:

• Solo travelers
• Family
• Businessmen
• Students
• Employees

What is the Cost of Travel Insurance for Schengen VISA?

Schengen travel insurance plans are affordable. The actual cost is subjected to the number of travelers, age, destination country, trip duration, and the type of coverage selected.

Why Get Schengen Travel Insurance?

Schengen visa travel insurance plans cover your travel risks. It has worldwide acceptance. Read below why it is good to have it.

• Prerequisite for entry in Schengen zone
• Maximum risk coverage
• Emergency Cashless Hospitalization
• Repatriation To Home Country
• Emergency Transportation And Medical Evacuation
• Financial Assistance In Case Of Emergency
• Quick Claim Settlement Ratio
• Assistance In Case Of Loss Of Passport
• Trip Delay And Cancellation Reimbursement
• 24x7 Customer Support Service

Schengen is a geographical zone of 26 European countries. To enjoy the charm of Schengen countries, you have to opt for Schengen travel insurance.

How to Select the Best Schengen Travel Insurance Plan?

Now that we have covered the important question "do you need travel insurance for Schengen visa?", there are a few critical factors to consider before choosing one?

Schengen travel insurance is a highly customizable product that can be tailor-made to suit individual needs. Here are the essential questions one needs to ask before picking travel insurance for Schengen.

Schengen Approved Travel Insurance: While traveling to the Schengen territory, it is essential to cross-check if the travel insurance for Schengen visa is valid on the VFS website.

Frequency of Trip: While a once-in-a-lifetime trip needs a single-trip insurance plan, frequent flyers would benefit from picking travel insurance for Schengen visa which is annual. Student and senior citizens may choose from plans which keep their needs and budget in mind.

Trip Duration: The insurance premium is calculated on the basis of the number of days you plan to spend in any Schengen country in Europe. A shorter trip is sure to have a lower premium

Medical history: If you have a pre-existing life-threatening ailment, you will need to ensure that the policy you pick accommodates it. Smokers and Regular drinkers usually have a higher premium to pay than non-smoker and drinkers.

Destination: Destinations that are high-risk zones have insurance plans with a higher premium requirement. If you are headed to a country famous for adventure activities, you will need to check if your policy covers any injuries which may be caused because of them

What is a Schengen VISA?

Germany and France are the two pioneering countries that supported the idea of free Europe in 1984. Later on, other countries also took the initiative, and till now 26 European countries have signed the treaty, called the Schengen Agreement, and become the members of “Schengen Zone.” It is a free European area that has no borders. People who want to travel Schengen countries need to obtain a Schengen VISA. It is a special visa that allows the visa holder to move within the boundaries of the member countries without getting into cumbersome visa formalities. Schengen VISA is enough to travel for any purpose in the Schengen zone.

How to Get a Schengen Visa?

Schengen visa rules are strict so you should follow the below-mentioned steps and get it done easily.

• You have to buy travel insurance for Schengen to get the visa. It's mandatory to get medical insurance for a Schengen visa.
• Prepare a cover letter and mention your purpose of the visit and also give your travel itinerary.
• Collate related documents such as bank statement showing a minimum balance of €30,000 for the last six months, proof of civil status (birth certificates), employment contract, and income tax proof.
• Next, you have to book an appointment at least a month back for an interview to ensure the timely process of your visa.
• You have to appear for a visa interview at an embassy with the required documents. You should reach the venue on time.
• You have to pay the visa fee around INR 6000 as well. It is non-refundable.

Documents Required for Schengen Visa

Schengen visa is obligatory to visit Schengen zone. The process is not cumbersome. You need to submit all the below-mentioned documents on time and pack your bags to enjoy your journey.

• Travel Insurance Policy
• Application form
• Proof of Date of Birth
• Address proof
• Employment Contract
• A valid passport
• Travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation
• Bank account statement
• Income tax proof

Types of Schengen Visa

A Schengen visa obtained by any of the Schengen Area member countries gives free movement to the one holding the visa within the whole of Schengen Zone up to its validity and period limitations. The Schengen visa can have different restrictions depending on the Embassy directives.

The different types of visa to the Schengen region given are:

Uniform Schengen Visa

A Uniform Schengen Visa or USV is a permit given to Indian nationals traveling to any of the Schengen Area Member Countries to transit or reside in the desired territory for a certain period of time up to the maximum of 90 days every six-month period starting from the date of entry. It has two types: 'A' and 'B' which is Airport Transit Visa and C is short term visa.

Airport Transit Visa

Airport Transit Visa allows the holder of a visa to travel through the international zone of the Schengen Country Airport without entering the Schengen Area. Airport transit visa is mandatory for the citizens traveling from one non-Schengen state to another non-Schengen state through a change of flights in a Schengen country airport.

Single Entry Visa

A single-entry visa allows the holder of the visa to enter the Schengen region only once within the given period as mentioned on the visa sticker on the passport. Re-entry to the region is not permitted once the holder exits the region.

Double Entry Visa

A single-entry visa allows the holder of the visa to enter the Schengen region only twice within the given period as mentioned on the visa sticker on the passport. Re-entry to the region is permitted only once into the region as per the limitations on the visa.

Multiple Entry Visa

Depending on the frequency of travel to the Schengen region, Indian nationals can get a Multiple Entry visa rule for the region provided they do not violate the 90/180 Schengen Rule. This rule states that one cannot stay in the Schengen for more than 90 days within the 180 days limit. One just has to count 180 days backward and see if they were in the Schengen region for more than 90 days, before traveling to the region again on the multiple-entry visa.

Limited Territorial Validity Visa

This type of visa obtained allows the holder of the visa to travel to the certain Schengen States specifically mentioned when applying for the visa. The holder cannot travel to any other Schengen country. The first entry and final exit must be the same country as mentioned in the visa.

National Visa Type D

This type of visa is granted to those who are to study or work for a limited time in the Schengen area. This can be given as a single entry or multiple entries depending on the requirement. Here are the criteria you must meet to qualify for a multiple entry national visa:

• Emergency cases as a medical condition that prevents the individual from leaving the Schengen Area at the designated time frame.
• A professional who is traveling in any of the Schengen countries due to its expertise be it a sportsman, an artist or any other professional of its kind with the purpose of sharing its expertise.
• An international student who is about to start a full course in any of the Schengen countries. The visa is still issued for a year with the possibility of an extension
• An international student program will grant a visa for a period of not more than one year.

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa?

The application procedure for a Schengen Visa is simple and seamless. One needs to gather all the required documents and purchase travel insurance for Schengen visa before proceeding with the application.

1. Decide on the type of visa as per your individual requirement
2. Find out where you need to apply - A visa center to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced visa submission or the embassy itself.
3. Find out the best time to apply
4. Book an appointment for application and document submission at the embassy or visa center
5. Fill in the online application form and submit. Take a print-out of the same
6. Gather the required documents and submit
7. Attend the visa interview if necessary.
8. Pay the online visa fee
9. Wait for your passport to come back

List of Countries Included in Schengen Area

An area consisting of 26 European countries/states officially abolished all passports and other types of border control at their borders as part of the Schengen agreement in 1995. A single jurisdiction operates in this area for international travel purposes. They have a common visa policy. Over the years, some countries have imposed additional restrictions in view of recurring terror attacks, and if you are applying for a visa, you will need to identify the one which covers the countries you plan to travel to and procure insurance from India to Europe.

Europe has a state-of-the-art health care system which is among the best in the world, but availing it can be very expensive. Travel and health insurance is a good option in such a scenario since an insurer can provide aid to the traveler in an emergency. Students, especially those who are traveling to Europe for further studies can benefit significantly from travel insurance for Schengen visa.

Quick Facts about Schengen Zone

Travel Essentials to Schengen Countries

Till now, 26 European countries have signed the Schengen agreement. Under this agreement, tourists across the world can travel to these European countries without getting into the visa formalities every time they cross the borders of Schengen countries. It is a visa-free travel area. Due to terrorist attacks and the need for health safety measures, Schengen countries made it compulsory for foreign travelers, including Indians, to get a Schengen visa and Schengen travel insurance as travel essentials to enter in Schengen zone.

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