DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE TO VISIT THE SCHENGEN AREA? WHICH DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO GET A SCHENGEN VISA?

If you need a Schengen Visa, then it is mandatory to get a Europe travel insurance to apply for the Visa. However, even if you don’t need a Schengen Visa, but an ETIAS, it is recommended to buy travel insurance for Europe before your trip.

European travel insurance is always a good choice if you want security and peace of mind in any unexpected situation. Lost baggage? You’re covered. Flight delay? All set. Medical emergency? No worries.

Whatever your visa situation, get some kind of European travel insurance coverage when you visit Europe. As we’ve mentioned above, it’s always best to be prepared and protected in case of any unexpected situation.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVEL INSURANCE DO I NEED FOR A SCHENGEN VISA?

As we’ve covered above, travel insurance for a Schengen Visa is mandatory. You won’t get your visa without it! However, not any travel insurance is valid to get your visa. A minimum requirement should be met in order your visa is approved.

Here are the Schengen Visa travel insurance requirements:

•           A minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical emergencies and accidents: keep in mind that European medical expenses aren’t cheap. If you buy cheap European travel insurance that only covers the minimum of 30,000 euros and you end up needing an operation that costs €50,000, you’ll have to pay €20,000 out of pocket. Do yourself a favor and shell out a bit more for extra coverage and security.

•           Coverage of repatriation fees in case of medical incidents or death: if you suddenly need to return to your country, your insurance has to cover the cost.

•           Coverage of all 26 Schengen Area countries that lasts the entire length of your trip: Even if you’re not planning to visit all 26 countries (which would be mega ambitious!), you need to be covered in all of them. Make sure you check the fine print of your insurance policy to ensure you don’t have any problems when you apply for your visa.

THESE DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO GET A SCHENGEN VISA:

If you’re traveling to the Schengen Area and need a SchengenVisa, these are the documents required:

•           Visa application form

•           Two recent photos

•           A valid passport

•           Full trip reservation or itinerary

•           Travel insurance for Europe

•           Evidence of where you’re staying

•           Evidence of sufficient finances

•           Evidence that you’ve paid the visa fee

This means that countries in the Schengen Area are the countries in Europe where you absolutely need travel insurance. For countries that aren’t in the Schengen Area, you should check with the specific embassy of that country for document requirements.