Schengen Travel Insurance

Schengen Travel Insurance

Europe is the most beautiful continent that attracts a number of tourists across the world, including India. Schengen zone is a part of Europe that includes 26 European countries. These countries allow travelers to move freely within their boundaries without getting into cumbersome visa formalities. However, if you are traveling for work, studies, or a holiday to the Schengen zone, you have to get travel insurance for Schengen Visa. It acts as your savior if any untoward event happens on foreign soil. It covers your expenses that occur due to any medical and non-medical emergency. So pack your bags, pick the right Schengen travel insurance plan, and explore the charm of Schengen countries.

However, other European countries are not under the ambit of Schengen regulations. You are required to get a separate visa to visit these countries.

Is Travel Insurance for Schengen 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.

Benefits of Travel Insurance for Schengen

No matter what your travel purpose is, ' 'we've got you covered to make your journey joyous and stress-free. Summarizing below the benefits of opting for the best travel insurance for Schengen:

• Comfort: Having a travel insurance cover for your Schengen trip will save you, especially senior citizens and students, from the stress of travelling.
• Protection in Medical Emergency: The policy provides coverage to help you get immediate medical attention.
• Compensation in case of Mishaps: The plan offers compensation to the nominee in case of uncertain death of the insured person.
• Covers you in other Contingencies: Trip delays and loss of belongings and documentation will be taken care of under the travel plan. 
• Multi-Trip Policy: If you are a frequent flyer, you can avail of the multi-trip travel policy.
• Cashless Claim Settlement: You can apply for the cashless claim facility.
• Region-specific Plans: Our region-specific customized international travel insurance plans help you to relish your trip and leave all your travel worries with us.

What is Covered in Travel Insurance For Schengen?

We offer comprehensive travel insurance policies. Below is what all we covered under Schengen travel insurance India:

• Emergency hospitalization: In case you find yourselves in a medical emergency that requires hospitalization, the travel insurance plan for Schengen will provide you complete cover encompassing IPD and OPD expenses.
• Accidental hospitalization: Get up to 100% sum insured in case of accidental hospitalization. We also cover Accidental Death/Permanent Total Disability.
• Pre-existing diseases: Schengen Travel Insurance Plan will provide a sum insured for the treatment of a life-threatening condition for pre-existing diseases.
• Treatment in home country: In case you require further treatment in your home country, there is coverage for expenses for up to 30 days or up to the policy end date, whichever is earlier.
• Medical Evacuation: Get cover during an emergency when there is a need for medical evacuation to the home country.
• Common Carrier Accidental Death: A lump sum amount as compensation will be paid if the insured person loses his/her life while traveling in a common carrier/ public transport.
• Trip delay, cancellation, or interruption: You will get the compensation for the trip delayed, cancellation, or interruption up to the sum insured and subject to policy terms and conditions.
• Loss of passport and checked-in baggage: Get coverage up to USD 750 for loss of checked-in baggage or delay of checked-in baggage. For delay of checked-in baggage, you will get the cover for up to USD 100. In case of loss of passport, the plan offers a cover of up to USD 300.
• Up-gradation to Business Class: For a comfortable journey, if you require an up-gradation to business class, you will receive coverage of USD 1,000 under the Schengen travel insurance policy.

What is Not Covered in Schengen Travel Insurance Plan?

It is beneficial to check the exclusions of the travel insurance policy. Some of the exclusions are given below:

• Expenses of treatment of HIV/AIDS/ other transmitted diseases are not covered under Schengen Travel Insurance Plan.
• Expenses arising out of hazardous activity, the influence of drugs or alcohol, or consequences of war/nuclear perils.
• Costs incurred due to exposure to ionizing radiation or contamination.
• Expenses due to the treatment of self-inflicted injury, suicide, etc
• Any liability related to any professional services offered by the insured
• Expenses incurred by engaging in business activities
• Costs incurred due to ownership of any aircraft, watercraft, motor vehicle, etc.
• Personal liability of the insured towards another individual (whether personal, official, or commercial)
• Expenses due to wrongful detention, false arrest, wrongful eviction, defamation or mental trauma, and shock resulting from such situations
• Costs incurred due to encroachment of intellectual property rights like patent, copyright, and trademark.
• Liability related to possession of animals, insects, bird, and reptiles and their byproducts
• Expenses arising as a result of an insured person engaging in Breach of Law

Eligibility for Schengen Travel Insurance?

Check the below eligibility criteria according to the plans:

Please refer to the prospectus for more details on eligibility. 

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.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying Schengen Visa Travel Insurance from India

Before you make your final decision over selecting travel insurance for Schengen, here are some essential things to keep in mind:

• Schengen Approved Travel Insurance: While traveling to the Schengen territory, it is essential to cross-check if the travel insurance is valid for a Schengen visa.
• Frequency of Trip: While a once-in-a-lifetime trip needs a single-trip insurance plan, frequent flyers would benefit from picking multi-trip travel insurance plans.
• Trip Duration: The insurance premium is calculated based on the number of days you plan to spend in Schengen. The shorter the trip, the lower is the premium.
• Medical history: If you have a pre-existing life-threatening ailment, you 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.
• High-Risk Zones: 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 need to check if your policy covers adventure or sports injuries.

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 members of the """ "Schengen Zone" "." It is a free European area that has no borders. People who want to travel to 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 of around INR 6000 as well. It is non-refundable.

Documents Required for Schengen Visa

The Schengen visa is obligatory to visit the 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 a 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. An 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 from 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 a Schengen visa before proceeding with the application.

• Decide on the type of visa as per your individual requirement
• 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.
• Find out the best time to apply
• Book an appointment for application and document submission at the embassy or visa center
• Fill in the online application form and submit. Take a print-out of the same
• Gather the required documents and submit
• Attend the visa interview if necessary.
• Pay the online visa fee
• 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 of 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.

Schengen Countries

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Quick Facts about Schengen Zone

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