It is always recommended, but usually not mandatory to purchase a travel insurance policy, when you go on a trip abroad. In some cases, you are required to get travel visa insurance, so that you can obtain your visa. Find out whether you need such a policy and how to obtain it using this guide. Find answers to all questions that you want to ask.

1) Do I need travel visa insurance?

You are obliged to purchase travel insurance, if you are a non-US citizen traveling to a country that has signed the Schenegen treaty. It is irrelevant whether you will stay in this country or transit through it. You need to present an insurance letter prior to issuance of the visa. This document is required from the consulates of Schenegen countries for the issuing of a visa.

2) Which countries require insurance letter for visa?

There are 15 Schenegen countries and they all have the same visa requirements, including travel insurance requirements, for foreign nationals who are not US citizens. The most widely visited countries are Germany, France, Greece and Italy. The other 11 ones are Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Luxembourg.

3) What types of coverage do I need to purchase?

In order to meet the Schenegen visa requirements, you have to purchase travel visa insurance that has medical and evacuation/repatriation coverage. There are no other mandatory types of coverage that you need to purchase. However, the insurer may not offer policies with this type of coverage only. Additionally, getting more types of covers gives you better protection. Delayed departure and loss, theft or damage of personal possessions as well as personal liability coverage may prove to be useful to all travelers, irrespective of the nature of their trip.

4) How much mandatory coverage do I need to purchase?

You are required to buy an amount of medical and evacuation/repatriation coverage no smaller than $37,500. This is the minimum travel visa insurance limit.

However, insurance experts recommend purchasing a larger amount of coverage for personal and financial safety purposes. You may want to consider getting medical and evacuation/repatriation coverage of around $100,000, even though it is not mandatory.

5) When do I need to purchase travel visa insurance?

You are required to present evidence of the possession of the mandatory visa travel medical insurance along with all other documents necessary for the issuance of a Schenegen visa. This means that you have to purchase a policy before you apply for a visa. You need to bring an insurance letter with you and include it in your application.

Since it is possible for you to be denied a Schenegen visa, you may consider purchasing a travel insurance policy that you can cancel. Just check carefully the insurance program terms and conditions.

6) What companies offer the required type of policy?

All insurers specializing in providing travel packages offer medical and evacuation/repatriation coverage. However, you are required to purchase a policy from a company that has a representative office in at least one of the Schenegen countries. Such information should be available on the websites of companies. It is important for you to check explicitly for an office in any of the 15 counties mentioned above.

7) What should the duration of my policy be?

You have to be covered while traveling. According to official requirements, the insurance medical coverage and evacuation/repatriation coverage has to be valid throughout your entire stay in the countries or a country of the Schenegen Treaty.

If you plan to just transit through one of the countries, you may opt for a short-term travel visa insurance policy. If you plan to stay in Europe for longer, the duration of your insurance policy has to match the duration of your stay exactly. This is important, since you may be denied a visa, if you have a policy that covers a shorter period of time than the period of your planned stay.

Now you know the most important requirements that you need to abide by, when purchasing travel visa insurance. You need such a policy, if you are a non-US citizen traveling to a Schenegen country. You need to purchase at least $37,500 of medical and evacuation/repatriation coverage. You are required to buy a policy that will be valid throughout your stay from an insurer that has an office in one of the Schenegen countries.