Can I apply for Schengen Visa without a Travel Insurance Policy?

Have you even gone on a solo trip if you have not back-packed across Europe? Ask any millennial and a destination on top of their travelling list will be Europe. Whether it is with family, friends or just on your own, the Schengen area is one of the most visited places in the world. The world-class architecture, cobbled pathways, highest quality food and some of the greatest monuments in the world make for a travellers delight. However, the reality is not always as beautiful as the Eiffel Tower and it is always better to start from the base, one step at a time, otherwise it can be a pretty long fall from the top. In other words, travelling to a new destination without having anything to take care of you during unexpected circumstances can prove to be a disaster.

A lot of countries do not make it a necessity to have travel insurance before applying for a visa but travel insurance for Schengen visa is a mandatory. The European embassy wants their tourists to have a hassle free trip and hence they require you to have travel insurance for Schengen areas. Before following the requirements of the European embassy it is important to know which countries make up the Schengen area. There are twenty six countries in total and they are – Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Denmark, Slovakia, Estonia, Portugal, Finland, Poland, France, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Hungary, Luxembourg, Iceland, Lithuania, Italy, Liechtenstein and Latvia.

If a trip is being made to any of the above mentioned areas then the requirements of the European embassy will have to be followed. As per them, following are the mandatory requirements for a Schengen visa:

• A trip which is over three months requires special travel insurance. This is regardless of the purpose of the visit.
• The insurance must be valid across all the countries under the Schengen area.
• The insurance must be valid for the entire duration of stay.
• Some of the Schengen countries will require a visa letter from the insurance company that has issued the travel insurance. This letter should provide proof that all the coverage requirements are met.

Once the visa requirements have been set, there are certain parameters of the Schengen visa insurance that have to be followed as well:

• The coverage amount should be a minimum of 50,000 USD or 30,000 EUR.
• The insurance should cover all the members that are a part of the Schengen area.
• The insurance should cover all the expenses that might come up in relation to repatriation for medical reasons, emergency hospital treatment, urgent health attention or death.

There are a total of 110 countries whose nationals and passport holders require a visa and therefore travel insurance to visit the Schengen areas but for citizens coming from visa-free third countries a visa is not required and hence they do not have to hold travel insurance but nonetheless it is still recommended for them as well.

The cost of Schengen visa insurance typically varies from company to company and is usually dependent upon the duration of travel and the price per person. This also takes into account the age of the person that is getting insured.

Have a great time in Rome, but don’t forget to have an insurance plan in place for a time when someone decides to roam around with your luggage!